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9781770411906

Is That a Fact? Frauds, Quacks, and the Real Science of Everyday Life

by
  • ISBN13:

    9781770411906

  • ISBN10:

    1770411909

  • Format: Paperback
  • Copyright: 2014-05-13
  • Publisher: ECW Press
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Summary

The bestselling “quackbuster” and “tireless tub-thumper against pseudoscience” fishes for the facts in a flood of misinformation (Maclean’s)

“Written with a light touch and refreshing humor, this book provides a solid, authoritative starting point for anyone beginning to look at the world with a skeptical eye and a refresher for those further along that path.” — Library Journal

“The author’s entertaining writing style and clear, precise explanations make the book a joy to read.” — Booklist

Eat this and live to 100. Don’t, and die. Today, hyperboles dominate the media, which makes parsing science from fiction an arduous task when deciding what to eat, what chemicals to avoid, and what’s best for the environment. In Is That a Fact?, bestselling author Dr. Joe Schwarcz carefully navigates through the storm of misinformation to help us separate fact from folly and shrewdness from foolishness.

Are GMOs really harmful? Or could they help developing countries? Which “miracle weight-loss foods” gained popularity through exuberant data dredging? Is BPA dangerous or just a victim of unforgiving media hype? Is organic better? Schwarcz questions the reliability and motives of “experts” in this easy-to-understand yet critical look at what’s fact and what’s plain nonsense.

Author Biography

Dr. Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society and the author of 13 bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public. He is the host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, and has appeared hundreds of times on television. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Table of Contents

IN THE BEGINNING

Is That A Fact?
Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
The Chemistry Of Our World Is Too Complex To Be Simplified
Callers Have Questions…

WHITE

It’s In The Can!
A Natural Conundrum
Out Of The Mouths Of Babes
Cats, Calamities, and Static Cling
Chemistry In The Spotlight — for a Tragic Reason
Just Ironing Things Out…
Meat Production: A Smelly Business
Reflecting On The History Of Mirrors
Dry Ice — It’s Sublime!
The Cuddle Chemical Versus Personality
Lighter, Brighter, Safer!
Chemical Demonstrations Can Get Mighty Hot
The Many Faces of Neoprene
From Twitching Worms To Non-Browning Apples
A Squeeze on Orange Juice Production
Sleeping Gas — It’s a Dream!
The Electrifying Lectures Of Sir Humphry Davy
The Ups and Downs of Antibiotics
The Saga Of The Flaming Rocks
Popping Off About Gluten-Free Rice Crispies
Geyser Gets A Little Help From Chemistry
Possums And Kiwis
Beep… Beep… It’s Moscow Calling!
Be Glad They’re Asking About Liquids And Gels
Smashing Atoms to Smithereens
Doctors Who Kill
Justice Full of Beans
Of Mice And Men And Apples And Oranges
Imported Fruit May Harbor Terrorists
The Mesmerizing Power of Belief

GRAY

Fishy Claims For Fish Oil Supplements
Swallowing Blueberries, Apples, And Hype
An Antidote To The Poisonous Tomato Legend
Leeches Then And Now
Crying Wolf
What’s For Dinner?
Twinkies, M&Ms and Weight Loss
The Rise, Fall, and Possible Rise of Tropical Oils
Thinking About Coconut Oil
Free Radicals Bad, Antioxidants Good: Is That So?
A Health And Education Act? Really?
Apple Picking Of Data Leaves A Bad Taste
Deer Antlers Could Have Athletes Skating On Thin Ice
The Questionable Wizardry of Dr. Oz
Breatharians And Nutritarians
Pink Slime — Jamie Oliver Chooses The Wrong Bone To Pick
Quackery Can Tarnish Silver’s Medical Luster
Celebrities And Cerebral Claptrap
Rhinoceros Horn is Useful — For Its Original Owner
Salt Therapy
The Funny Business Of Selling Water
The Skinny On The HCG Weight Loss Scheme
Buckyballs Roll Into The Pit Of Folly
Scientists Smell A Rat In French GMO Rat Study


BLACK

Yikes! I’m Infested!
Full Of It
Poking Into The Puke Weed Doctor
Vinegar Claims Leave A Sweet And Sour Taste
Diagnosing Pathological Science
Mountebanks
Double Helix Water
Fakes, Phonies, and Imposters
The Trouble With Homeopathy
Seeing is Believing
A Look At Braco The Gazer


IN THE END

Our Posthumous Footprint

Supplemental Materials

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