Bad Science

Doctor and Guardian columnist Ben Goldacre takes apart the misuse of evidence by journalists, marketers and some physicians, and often uses a case to illustrate a wider scientific principle. He tests an Aqua Detox footbath at home with a Barbie doll, examines the Brain Gym exercises once practised in hundreds of schools, and studies the molecular language of cosmetics advertising. His chapter on homeopathy becomes a lesson in the placebo effect, regression to the mean, randomised and blinded trials, meta-analysis and publication bias. The aim is to equip readers to judge scientific claims on their own. First published in 2008, it was shortlisted for the 2009 Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction.

Tim Ferriss pointed listeners to it on the subject of co-opted science and called it great, and Bryan Callen also praised it.