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sirchutney's review against another edition
In fifteen chapters the author/narrator covers a wide variety of contemporary issues. These range from global pandemics to gender, addiction to euthanasia. He deconstructs the science in an attempt to make complex questions accessible. Covering the history of these subjects, how they have developed and where they are both now and are going in the future. But in some chapters he states opinions as fact. He presents no evidence or references to back them up or without expanding any further on the point he has made. All in all the book leaves reader entertained but not always better equipped to dispute fake news and unhelpful groupthink.
lou_o_donnell's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, and Suicide attempt
emily_odowd's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - Some chapters were brilliant, particularly those on the vaccine and funding of medications. However, it was a bit too positivist for me at times, with Professor O'Neill placing a lot of emphasis on RCTs and levels of evidence even when the topic in question is much more complex - not everything can be separated from politics and biases even if the scientists intend it. I think it was maybe trying to do too much, and cover too broad an area.
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