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agirlandherlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
An eye opening and frankly disturbing read. A little theatrical from Ben but solid I think
seclement's review against another edition
4.0
This book provides a sobering account of a wide range of problems with the pharmaceutical industry. It isn't sensationalist nor is it conspiratorial - because it doesn't need to be. Goldacre does a brilliant job of outlining the problems, providing evidence to support his claims where possible, and noting where data is lacking. All of that is more than can be said of the industry he is writing about.
If you read and enjoyed Bad Science, you will probably notice that this book is not nearly as entertaining. It is still written in Goldacre's trademark style, i.e. very clear, concise, and witty. But it is also much longer (yes, I just said concise and longer - bear with me) because he is trying to deliver a much more in-depth analysis of a particular industry. With Bad Science he provided a broad survey of the quackery landscape, whereas Bad Pharma drills down into the bad behaviour of just one industry. The humour is still there in Bad Pharma, but it is darker, and the content even more depressing. At times deeply so.
What I have to commend most about this book is how it always sums things up with answers. I was always taught that you shouldn't complain about problems unless you've thought about solutions. Of course there will be disagreement with the solutions he proposes, and he doesn't outline every potential fix. But he provides more than enough material to start the conversation, and move from criticism to productive reform. I don't know if the book will have an impact, but I certainly hope it does.
If you read and enjoyed Bad Science, you will probably notice that this book is not nearly as entertaining. It is still written in Goldacre's trademark style, i.e. very clear, concise, and witty. But it is also much longer (yes, I just said concise and longer - bear with me) because he is trying to deliver a much more in-depth analysis of a particular industry. With Bad Science he provided a broad survey of the quackery landscape, whereas Bad Pharma drills down into the bad behaviour of just one industry. The humour is still there in Bad Pharma, but it is darker, and the content even more depressing. At times deeply so.
What I have to commend most about this book is how it always sums things up with answers. I was always taught that you shouldn't complain about problems unless you've thought about solutions. Of course there will be disagreement with the solutions he proposes, and he doesn't outline every potential fix. But he provides more than enough material to start the conversation, and move from criticism to productive reform. I don't know if the book will have an impact, but I certainly hope it does.
clairewilsonleeds's review against another edition
3.0
This had a lot of valuable knowledge and definitely some shocking info, but I think it was just a bad pick for me - too dense and things were repeated multiple times that I had already grasped some time ago.
jon_a's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book. Goldacre lays out a very ugly picture of current evidence-based medicine. Using academic research and specific examples, he describes missing trial data, ineffective regulation, misleading pharmaceutical advertising campaigns, and many other aspects of the field that hurt both doctors and patients. Reading this book can really get you up in arms.
But then Goldacre goes farther and offers up a series of suggestions to help correct this situation. Suggestions for every layer, from patients to regulators and even to the pharmaceutical corporations themselves. Bad Pharma was not written just to provoke outrage, but actually bring about some change.
But then Goldacre goes farther and offers up a series of suggestions to help correct this situation. Suggestions for every layer, from patients to regulators and even to the pharmaceutical corporations themselves. Bad Pharma was not written just to provoke outrage, but actually bring about some change.
wearsteel's review against another edition
5.0
The information in this book can be applied to many industries. I doubt that they impact you everyday like the medical industry does.
This book can be wordy but it is still presentable #passionate and commendably clear in its aim.
This book can be wordy but it is still presentable #passionate and commendably clear in its aim.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
The missing data that Dr Ben Goldacre talks about in this book is really infuriating. I've followed a bit of the AllTrials work and so thought it would be interesting to read this book that was very much a call to action in 2012 (and still is to be fair). It's a pop science book (he says so himself) and is a very readable one for all that it goes into the many layered details around why we don't know as much as we should about the drugs that are out there for us to use. But yeah, the missing data is a gaping hole.
Also, I hadn't realised that ghostwriting medical articles for journals is a thing?!? Having just gone through the academic telling-off about plagiarism for students (pre-emptive I mean, I haven't been done for plagiarism...) it does feel a bit rich that that is what is going on in journals!
Also, I hadn't realised that ghostwriting medical articles for journals is a thing?!? Having just gone through the academic telling-off about plagiarism for students (pre-emptive I mean, I haven't been done for plagiarism...) it does feel a bit rich that that is what is going on in journals!
solanpolarn's review
5.0
Interesting, thought-provoking, well-written and above all scary and anger-inducing book about how badly designed trials and the withholding of data are harming and killing patients.
tasurima's review
3.0
Basically Big Pharma is shady AF.
Reading this has opened my eyes to the world of medicine in industry, academia and regulation. I would give this 5 stars for making me so much more informed - HOWEVER, I've settled for 3 simply because I found it a complete drag to read at times.
Reading this has opened my eyes to the world of medicine in industry, academia and regulation. I would give this 5 stars for making me so much more informed - HOWEVER, I've settled for 3 simply because I found it a complete drag to read at times.