Review of Bad Science

Ben Goldacre

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Editorial Rating

The rating – what does it mean?

At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria:

Enlightening – You’ll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions.

Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
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Qualities

Analytical
Scientific
Eye Opening

While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.
Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.
Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.
Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.
Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.
Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.
Controversial – You’ll be confronted with strongly debated opinions.
Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.
Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.
Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.
For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.
For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.
Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.
Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.
Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.
Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.
Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.
Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.
Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.
Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

Review

Doctor, academic and science writer Ben Goldacre remind you that science is not a magical authority you should unquestioningly accept. He makes clear that science is a process accessible to everyone, and that it allows you to gain a more accurate view of the world. Goldacre uses stories and examples to help you understand proper research methods and how scientists and laypeople violate them. Cynics will surely enjoy Goldacre’s acerbic wit. The gullible, who will likely bristle when Goldacre tears their favorite fad diets, pills and other “commodifiable solutions” apart, may emerge from reading him with a healthy sense of skepticism. In a era when everything from cranberries to cosmetics markets using statistics and when reporters create public health crises via sensationalist headlines, Goldacre seeks to empower you recognize the difference between flimflam and legitimate information. He will help you develop this instinct and help you recognize false claims and faulty science.

About the Author

Doctor, academic and science writer Ben Goldacre is the author of the Bad Science website and three books: Bad Science, Bad Pharma, and I Think You’ll Find It’s a Bit More Complicated than That.

Impure Purification

Goldacre asserts that pharma companies, reporters and marketers co-opt and misinterpret research to legitimize and sell products, publications and services. Most of these products prove harmless when they reach the public – except to people’s pockets. Even so, Goldacre says their claims derive from pseudoscientific claims that make the public dumber and enable dependence on “experts” who demonstrate a frightening lack of knowledge.

Goldacre offers detox treatments as an example. Purification rituals have been around for a long time and for good reason: They act as a reset button after unhealthy behavior. While fasting and special diets might retrain you to have healthy eating habits, other approaches – such as footbaths, ear candles and detox patches – don’t remove “toxins” from the body, whatever those “toxins” may be. Most purification rituals, Goldacre says, include unnecessary superstitious features, and couching these features in pseudoscientific terms is only natural for a culture that adopts science as its primary means of understanding the world.

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