Bad Science By Dr. Ben Goldacre , Book Review – Chapter 1 Matter

In this eye-opening book Bad Science, Ben Goldacre takes on the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) hoax and misleading cosmetics ads, acupuncture and homeopathy, vitamins and mankind’s vexed relationship with all manner of ‘toxins’. Along the way, the self-confessed ‘Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General’ performs a successful detox on a Barbie doll, sees his dead cat become a certified nutritionist and probes the supposed medical qualifications of ‘Dr’ Gillian McKeith.Full spleen and satire, Ben Goldacre takes us on a hilarious, invigorating and ultimately alarming journey through the bad science we are fed daily by hacks and quacks.

In the upcoming series of articles, I will be providing a concise summary of each chapter from the book.

In Chapter 1, Goldacre sets the tone for the rest of Bad Science by showing how many popular health claims are not based on rigorous evidence but on spectacle, misunderstanding, and marketing. He uses examples around “detox” products and other alternative health fads to illustrate how they exploit basic ignorance about science, and how simple experiments can reveal their flaws. The goal is to help readers understand what good science looks like, so they can spot the bad.

1. Detoxification as an example of pseudoscience