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You do not need to have a scientific or mathematical background to appreciate this book by Ben Goldsmith, a doctor working in the NHS who is also the Guardian ’Bad Science‘ columnist. It helps to be curious about the incessant stream of articles or stories that seem to be compulsory nowadays in every edition of a newspaper, magazine or newscast confidently declaring  ’Miracle cure found’, ‘Salt will kill you’ (or, the following day, ‘Salt will not kill you’).

You might also like to know a little more about the basis (or lack of basis) to articles or advertisements on topics such as ’3-day instant detox wonder’ and complementary or alternative medicine.

Some of these articles and claims do have a tenuous link to real scientific evidence, of course, but Goldacre’s book might surprise you about just how tenuous many of these links are, and just how exaggerated and imprecise most of these stories really are. His chapters on ‘Brain Gym’ and ‘Pill solves complex social problem’ deserve to be in your neighbourhood school science curriculum.

Not that Goldacre minds if you still disagree with his views even after you have read his book: as he says in his introduction, ‘you’ll probably be wrong with a lot more panache and flair than you could possibly manage right now’. Read it and judge for yourself.

Goldacre’s book is published by Fourth Estate, London 2008.

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