So, I’m on to book three! Since staring this book it has been all hands on deck for me. I get the keys to my new house on Wednesday so we’ve been up to our eyeballs in paperwork. Can’t wait to get the keys, but it’s still going to be a few weeks before we move in. We have plans to paint walls, get new flooring in and generally get the place looking spick-and-span before we start to move in.

Our wedding invites also went out while reading this book. It’s been fun. I have been excited about everyone getting them and seeing what the response would be to my design. We’ve had loads of RSVP’s already and it’s shaping up to be an amazing day! Me and Gemma have also been secretly working on other surprise wedding day stuff that I am super excited about! The lip has to be bitten.

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Anyway, onto the book.

About two and a bit years ago I bought myself an iPhone. I was trying to explore all the different ways I could take advantage of media available through it and I came across a podcast called ‘The Skeptics Guide To The Universe‘. I think I have always been a critical thinker but I’ve been very nonchalant in my attitude to it. After getting into this podcast I became very passionate about the importance of rational thinking, science based medicine and critical assessment of all things ‘supernatural’.

Being interested in this I had naturally heard of Ben Goldacre, and had been interested in his blog and guardian articles. I was happy to see that this book was in the top 20 of my little project. This is the first book on the list that I would have picked up from a book store at my own accord.

The book took a different approach than I thought it would. I was expecting a book just dismissing many aspects of alternative medicine but, in many ways, this book is a guide to spotting the ‘Quacks’ and making an informed decision yourself.

It goes into how the media skew and dismiss statistics for the ‘big headline’, talks about the process of testing medicine to prove it’s efficacy and how many people just ignore the facts in the hope of miracle cures.

I’ve heard of most of the concepts in the book, but it was great to hear lots of first hand stories from Goldacre, to hear specifics that will make you laugh but enrage you all at he same time.

Overall this was an easy read for me from start to finish. Loved it. This book should be on the curriculum in schools.

Rating:

Here is my ReadMore stats after completing the book:
10.4 hours of reading over 16 days
Started on May 16
Finished on May 31
36 reading sessions (18 min per session)

Here is nice video featuring Ben Goldacre that sums up the general content of the book:

I thought I would also share some of my favourite videos on the same subject of dispelling the quacks and down-right bullshitters out there.

Next up it’s The Average American Male by Chad Kultgen as Suggested to me by Jen in the comments here. Looking forward to this one.