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patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
The message here is, don't blindly believe the media. It's quite shocking at how much rubbish has been made up by the media around medicine in recent years. Whilst I'm not a big newspaper reader (I sometimes get them at the weekend to read the 'arts' sections), I'm definitely going to have to do more digging when I hear a health story that interests me.
I like Dr Ben's style of writing, there are a few laugh out loud moments, but beware that there is quite a lot of sections where you need your brain turned on. It's not really a read in one go type of book either, unless you're a real geek, I liked dipping in for a few chapters at a time.
I like Dr Ben's style of writing, there are a few laugh out loud moments, but beware that there is quite a lot of sections where you need your brain turned on. It's not really a read in one go type of book either, unless you're a real geek, I liked dipping in for a few chapters at a time.
jessthebp's review against another edition
Honestly really wish I could force people to read this book. There were things I don't agree with (all authors have biases) but I haven't read such a clear and concisely written pop-science book that digs into biases, how we process information, and how the way individuals process information can add up into massive systemic issues. Especially as an ML researcher/engineer, the chapters on statistics and using statistical variance really spoke to me. Complimented well by the podcast Maintenance Phase and hbomberguy's "Vaccines: a Measured Response" video for more pop breakdowns of the same subject, as well as The Doctor Who Fooled the World and Fooled by Randomness.
notthesandpaper's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book, and one that everyone should read before being allowed to discuss anything related to health, nutrition, or medicine (at the very least, people should read the chapters "The Placebo Effect", "Why Clever People Believe Stupid Things", and "Bad stats" - especially the chapter about bad stats...).
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
There's a lot of bad science out there. Luckily Dr Ben Goldacre is ready to point out some tools for us to spot it ourselves and is amusing along the way. Having read his column and been a sporadic visitor to his website I'm surprised it took me this long to get around to his book (and now there are a couple of newer ones out too...)
itinerant_spirit's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.0
There is some value here, but it’s endlessly frustrating to see the author continuously exemplify the very shortcomings (references and imprecise use of language) he accuses others of.
solanpolarn's review against another edition
5.0
Funny, cutting, and well-written book on what is wrong with science (specifically medical science) reporting, as well as an excellent put-down of the claims from alternative/complementary 'medicine' and how plenty of studies have actually been done on its non-effectiveness.
christinebeswick's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Pretty much what I expected - nothing surprising - but worrying all the same