Bad Science.

This is one of my favourite books of all time, I've been telling friends and family to read it for years but they all seem to be scared off by the fact that it has the word 'Science' in the title. They needn't be worried, Ben Goldacre takes the jargon and confusion out of science, and replaces it with good old fashioned common sense and a bit of logical thinking. I for one am sick of the mess of complicated pseudoscience we are presented with from all angles. Not only does this book blow all that out of the water and explain the real facts behind the headlines but by the end of it you will be able to spot 'bad science' a mile off, which I think is a very good thing.

p.s. I would particularly recommend the chapter on Dr Gillian McKeith if she has ever spoilt your T.V. dinner by poking around in someone's poo.

Here are some other people's thoughts on 'Bad Science':

"Unmissable... laying about himself in a froth of entirely justified indignation, Goldacre slams the mountebanks and bullshitters who misuse science. Few escape: drug companies, self-styled nutritionists, deluded researchers and journalists all get thoroughly duffed up" The Times, Books of the Year

"Hugely entertaining... an essential primer for anyone who has ever felt uneasy about news coverage of faddish scientific "breakthroughs", health scares and "studies have shown" stories - it should be on the national curriculum" Time out

Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks

 And check this out for bad science updates: http://www.badscience.net/