Ben Goldacre
Ben Goldacre is a British physician, academic, and science writer. He is known for his work in promoting evidence-based medicine and for his books 'Bad Science' and 'Bad Pharma'.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Bad Science
Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks
This book exposes the ways in which the media and advertisers manipulate and misrepresent science, leading to public misconceptions and confusion. The author, a doctor and science journalist, provides a critical examination of the pseudoscience behind popular health fads, cosmetics, and alternative medicine, while also critiquing the misuse of statistics and flawed studies. The book serves as a guide to understanding the scientific method and how to discern good science from bad, aiming to promote scientific literacy among the general public.
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2. Bad Pharma
How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients
This book delves into the murky world of the pharmaceutical industry, revealing how systemic flaws and unethical practices compromise the integrity of medical research and patient care. It exposes how drug companies manipulate clinical trials, withhold negative results, and engage in aggressive marketing tactics to prioritize profit over patient well-being. The narrative is a call to action for greater transparency, accountability, and reform in the healthcare sector to ensure that medical treatments are based on sound evidence and genuinely serve the needs of patients.
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3. I Think You'll Find It's A Bit More Complicated Than That
Selected Journalism
An accessible, often wry collection of journalism and essays that dissects how data and evidence are distorted in medicine, the media, government, and everyday life. Through case studies on pharmaceuticals, nutrition fads, education policy, and quack cures, it explains common statistical pitfalls, exposes conflicts of interest, and champions transparent research practices. The result is a lively toolkit for critical thinking, urging readers to demand better evidence and clearer communication wherever claims are made.