Book description
Ben Goldacre's wise and witty bestseller, shortlisted for the Samuel
Johnson Prize, lifts the lid on quack doctors, flaky statistics,
scaremongering journalists and evil pharmaceutical corporations.
Since 2003 Dr Ben Goldacre has been exposing dodgy medical data in his
popular Guardian column. In this eye-opening book he takes on the MMR
hoax and misleading cosmetics ads, acupuncture and homeopathy, vitamins
and mankind's vexed relationship with all manner of 'toxins'. Along the
way, the self-confessed 'Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General' performs a
successful detox on a Barbie doll, sees his dead cat become a certified
nutritionist and probes the supposed medical qualifications of 'Dr'
Gillian McKeith.
Full spleen and satire, Ben Goldacre takes us on a hilarious,
invigorating and ultimately alarming journey through the bad science we
are fed daily by hacks and quacks. 'From an expert with a mail-order
PhD to debunking the myths of homeopathy, Ben Goldacre talking the
reader through some notable cases and shows how to you don't need a
science degree to spot “bad science” yourself.' Independent (Book of the Year)
'His book aims to teach us better, in the hope that one day we write
less nonsense.' Daily Telegraph (Book of the Year)
'For sheer savagery, the illusion-destroying, joyous attack on the
self-regarding, know-nothing orthodoxies of the modern middle classes,
“Bad Science” can not be beaten. You'll laugh your head off, then throw
all those expensive health foods in the bin.' Trevor Philips, Observer
(Book of the Year)
'Unmissable…laying about himself in a froth of entirely justified
indignation, Goldacre slams the mountebanks and bullshitters who misuse
science. Few escape: drug companies, self-styled nutritionists, deluded
researchers and journalists all get thoroughly duffed up. It is
enormously enjoyable.' The TImes (Book of the Year) Ben Goldacre is a
doctor, writer, broadcaster and academic who specialises in unpicking
dodgy scientific claims from drug companies, newspapers, government
reports, PR people and quacks. Bad Science reached Number One in the
non-fiction charts, sold over 400,000 copies in the UK alone, and has
been translated into 25 languages. He is 38 and lives in London.
