Book Swap Thread - 'Bad Science' - by Ben Goldacre - New readers needed!

[Rob_B]

Hi guys,

I've finally got round to reading this book (twice!) & thought it was great! It's a book to debunk, demystify & generally educate you a bit regarding health scares/pseudo-sciecne & general bunk such as Homeopathy etc.

Guardian columnist Dr Ben Goldacre takes us on a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the bad science we're fed by the worst of the hacks and the quacks!
When Dr Ben Goldacre saw someone on daytime TV dipping her feet in an 'Aqua Detox' footbath, releasing her toxins into the water and turning it brown, he thought he'd try the same at home. 'Like some kind of Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General', using his girlfriend's Barbie doll, he gently passed an electrical current through the warm salt water. It turned brown. In his words: 'before my very eyes, the world's first Detox Barbie was sat, with her feet in a pool of brown sludge, purged of a weekend's immorality.' Dr Ben Goldacre is the author of the 'Bad Science' column in the Guardian and his book is about all the 'bad science' we are constantly bombarded with in the media and in advertising.
At a time when science is used to prove everything and nothing, everyone has their own 'bad science' moments -- from the useless pie-chart on the back of cereal packets to the use of the word 'visibly' in cosmetics ads.This book will help people to quantify their instincts -- that a lot of the so-called 'science' which appears in the media and in advertising is just wrong or misleading. Satirical and amusing -- and unafraid to expose the ridiculous -- it provides the reader with the facts they need to differentiate the good from the bad. Full of spleen, this is a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the world of 'bad science'.

Ben Goldacre has a great column in the Guardian as well as the excellent http://www.badscience.net.

It has got loads of positive attention, is book of the year in many places & I think it deserves even more exposure.

I have 3 brand new copies that I will order from Amazon to be delivered to 3 forumites, when you have finished reading it please pass it onto the next person in line (I'm hoping more than 3 people are interested!) and so on..

So, who is interested? Let me know & I'll get it sorted.

NB
- If you get it then cannot find time to read please pass it on.
- Please treat it well, hopefully many more people will get the benfit of reading it!
- I'm not affiliated with anyone relating to this book in any way, it's all out of my own pocket.
- If you wish to know more visit Ben's site as well as places such as the fantastic Skeptics Guide to the Universe (who also have a podcast on iTunes) & the great Science Based Medicine

Enjoy!

Rob

[Domestic_Ginger]

Thanks for the tip I've placed a reservation for it from the library; its 25p for pickup from my local. there are plenty of copies in the Kent libraries.

This may be cheaper than forwarding a few copies and help support your local libraries. With funding cuts coming; I am really hoping libraries are not going to be cut.

[Stephen C]

Sounds like something I could get into, I'll do as Domestic Ginger though and grab one from the library.

[Jiff Lemon]

Put me down for one - Could do with a good read. Off to peruse his site now, as it's the sort of thing I like!

[Rob_B]

Put me down for one - Could do with a good read. Off to peruse his site now, as it's the sort of thing I like!

Drop me your address in a PM

[r_j_k_p]

Started reading this book about a month ago, after it was highly recommended by one of my university professors.
Got to the chapter of gillian mckeith...

Very interesting read, especially if you are science minded or just want to boil it down to the straight truth.

[Disturbedguy]

Sod it, I need something to read.

PM on way

[Rob_B]

Sod it, I need something to read.

PM on way

Ordered for you now

Delivery estimate: 17 Jun 2010 - 21 Jun 2010
Dispatch estimate for these items: 14 Jun 2010

Don't worry about postage or anything, pop a quid in a charity tin or something if you really want

[Splash]

I'll buy that for a dollar - sounds like a good read.

[Lucio]

If you like that one, also take a look at 13 Things That Don't Make SEnse by Michael Brooks (ISBN: 978-1861976475). Along similar lines as "Bad Science" but is written more like an educational paper, cross referenced, presenting the question and a couple of potential answers with their evidence.


Also, what's the chances of turning this into Hexus.Books? It'd be fun to have some kind of book club where people who sign up contribute a couple of books a month into the members list and see what comes back.

[Rob_B]

Put me down for one - Could do with a good read. Off to peruse his site now, as it's the sort of thing I like!

Ordered...
Delivery estimate: 17 Jun 2010 - 21 Jun 2010
Dispatch estimate for these items: 14 Jun 2010

Splash - Drop me a PM with your address

Well thats the first 3 gone, still add your names folks & I'll update a list in the OP

Lucio - Not heard of that, will have to look it up

[nvening]

Read this a while ago its a great read! Just finished 1984 so i might re read it actually - its an easy read and the chapter on statistics is really good (if your into that) haha.

After I re-read it ill probably be up for doing a swap with someone

[Rave]

Put me down provisionally, although I am a card carrying skeptic anyway, and I need an excuse to visit my local library again- I go about once a year, and always find some fascinating stuff. But if they ain't got any within a reasonable cycling distance, I'll join in with this. Either way, jolly good effort my friend, I greatly admire your dedication to the skeptic cause, thanks about to be added.

[tiggerai]

I'll have it after Jiff - was discussing it yesterday

[Rob_B]

Splash - Ordered
Delivery estimate: 17 Jun 2010 - 21 Jun 2010
Dispatch estimate for these items: 14 Jun 2010

Tigg - Popped you on the list for Jiff to send to you

[Splash]

Ordered...
Delivery estimate: 17 Jun 2010 - 21 Jun 2010
Dispatch estimate for these items: 14 Jun 2010

Splash - Drop me a PM with your address

Well thats the first 3 gone, still add your names folks & I'll update a list in the OP

Lucio - Not heard of that, will have to look it up

PM sent - cheers Rob. I'll probably get through it in a couple of days, so if you want to give me details of someone to send it on to I'll get it posted out as soon as I'm done.

Also, what's the chances of turning this into Hexus.Books? It'd be fun to have some kind of book club where people who sign up contribute a couple of books a month into the members list and see what comes back.

I'd certainly be up for something like. As I've said before I have a nasty tendency to buy loads of books, read them once and then (eventually when I run out of space) send them to the local charity shop.