to buy all of my female relatives copies of "Bad Science" for Christmas?

[AvrilH]

I am sick and tired of them wittering on about the importance of "superfood", omega 3, manuka honey, homeopathy and whatever nonsense is being spouted by charlatans like Gillian McKeith.

So I am pondering Ben Goldacre's book (which I have not read myself) as an antidote. And out of curiosity as to how they take it... From reading his column I am assuming that they might at least learn what evidence means. The worst that can happen is that it will be like when they buy me books by self-styled experts and it will be passed on unread to a charity shop.

AIBU?

[beaniesinthebucketagain]

hehe go for it, yanbu, but then i hate gillian mckeith

[weegiemum]

heheh

Ben Goldacre ROCKS!

[goingslowlyroundthebend]

That book is the best. Have re-read it so often. Feel bonkers for having believed the shite that I have been sold so often.
It really is a laugh out loud book, well written and lots of common sense!

[BitOfFun]

He is marvellous, and yy, you should get them the book for sure- it is superb!

You could also recommend How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered The World,

and the brilliant Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All, to to ram the point home

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Its £3.60 on Amazon so cheap enough as a present of this nature.

[AvrilH]

At £3.60, I'll even order a copy for myself!

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I am going to get this for my ME suffering sister in law, YANBU. A lot of the cultural references pass me by, we don't get c4 and I think that is where 'Dr' McKeith peddles her nonsense, but it is a very good book.

[Snorbs]

Everybody should read it. It's fab.

[diddl]

Perhaps a book on how to make uptheir own minds and not be drawn into every "fad" going?

[pooexplosions]

Dangerous at best re Vax? or voice of reason amongst the conspiracy theorists and amauteur armchair microbiologists...you decide....

[OrmIrian]

Never heard of it but it sounds good. Think it would suit my dad for christmas - he would chortle!

[UnquietDad]

Oh, yes, definitely. While you are at it, get one for all the woo-mongers on here too!

Is it mainly your female relatives who fall for it?

I've always wondered whether more women than men are susceptible to all this crystal healing shit. I'm prepared to concede that may be a little bit sexist of me, but it's just that I don't know many blokes who are into it. If, indeed, any.

[notevenamousie]

It's a well written book. Go for it!

[diddl]

I don´t know about this book, but is Ben Goldacre trying to push his opinions just as much as others?

[BitOfFun]

UQD, when I saw this thread, I thought of you!

[alwayslookingforanswers]

diddl - yes he's just as bonkers - just in the opposite direction.

[BitOfFun]

Diddl, there are opinions in it, yes. And, er, facts

[UnquietDad]

I know, he's so unreasonable - he will insist on finding evidence for things and disbelieving all the stuff which is patently made up and exists only in people's heads. Some men are like that. Best steer clear of them...

[moondog]

Ooh, I think approx. 90% of this country need to read it.
I had to have a long conversation with someone today who told me she was a reiki healer.
You can imagine how difficult it was for me to keep a straight face and supress urge to cackle hysterically and say 'Don't talk such complete shit you silly cow!'

[hulahoopyfingers]

TBH I would think you need a good science book if you think superfoods should be lumped in with homeopathy and crystal healing

[tummytickler]

Thanks - you have solved my 'what to buy mother for Christmas' problem - she believes any old nonsense she reads! maybe this will cure her!

[moondog]

V good UQD

[alwayslookingforanswers]

well I'm sure there are just as many people can prove his "facts" right as there that can prove them wrong.

What a simple life we'd lead if everything was so black and white with a "yes" or "no" answer.

[edam]

Ben Goldacre is doing a useful job educating the public about science reporting. But his take on MMR is profoundly sexist (it's all down to us 'Mums' being thick, apparently ) and he picks on such easy/obvious targets.

UQD, before you fall into the same trap re. sexism, perhaps you could consider that, in general, women take a bigger interest in health issues and have more contact with health professionals. Hence there are likely to be more women interested in complementary medicine.

Actually if you look at IQ charts, there are more thick men than thick women (although admittedly there are apparently more super-super intelligent men but clearly at that end of the scale it's a research artefact or summat ).

Kreecher, Gillian McKeith makes TV programmes sneering at poor people who don't get up at 5am to make fresh smoothies with out-of-season blueberries - yet she doesn't bother to cook for her own family. She has a chef deliver fresh food every night!