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Pandora’s Lab

Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong

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Pandora’s Lab

By: Paul A. Offit MD
Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
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About this listen

What happens when ideas presented as science lead us in the wrong direction? History is filled with brilliant ideas that gave rise to disaster, and this book explores the most fascinating - and significant - missteps.

Pandora's Lab takes us from opium's heyday as the pain reliever of choice to recognition of opioids as a major cause of death in the United States; from the rise of trans fats as the golden ingredient for tastier, cheaper food to the heart disease epidemic that followed; and from the cries to ban DDT for the sake of the environment to an epidemic-level rise in world malaria.

These are today's sins of science - as deplorable as mistaken ideas from the past such as advocating racial purity or using lobotomies as a cure for mental illness. These unwitting errors add up to seven lessons both cautionary and profound, explained by renowned author and speaker Paul A. Offit. Offit uses these lessons to investigate how we can separate good science from bad, using as case studies some of today's most controversial creations: e-cigarettes, GMOs, and drug treatments for ADHD.

For every "Aha!" moment that should have been an "Oh no", this book is an engrossing account of how science has been misused disastrously - and how we can learn to use its power for good.

©2017 Paul A. Offit (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Biological Sciences Environment History Medicine & Health Care Industry Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Mental Health
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You will fly through it. Excellent, real science.

Evidence based stories of our scientific mis-steps, and perfectly narrated. Kept my attention throughout, and fascinating topics combined with engaging writing make this one of the best science books I've read in ages.

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Interesting listen. Some concern.

Very interesting with more detail than usual supplied for the chosen stories within each chapter. The last few though felt like a personal crusade to convince us big data is always right. Yes compared to limited data from autocratic scientists but not necessarily so when research grants paid out by large corporations may well be clouding a scientist’s objectivity.

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Don’t listen at night to chapter 5

Great listen however it does get a bit dark so night time listening is not recommended

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Pandora’s Lab

Very well written and thought provoking. The author clearly and authoritatively outlines the history and consequences of these scientific ideas.
Well worth the listen

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Fantastic

I started listening for an engaging history lesson on the scientific failures of the past but was left with life lessons which I will hopefully take note from in my ensuing medical career.

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Excellent thought provoking

Great book , balanced and interesting , well narrated ,I hope there will be a sequel soon.

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Excellent, science based, rational. Really enjoyed this.

An excellent book. I was with it all the way. Challenged a few ideas I have accepted for years, but in a rational research and numbers based way.

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fantastic listen

thought provoking, shocking, engaging, insightful. A book worth your time and a second listen!

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informative, interesting and entertaining

I loved this book. When I finished it I just wanted some more of it. some facts I knew, some were completely new to me.

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Very enlightening

Very educational and interesting. I need to do some more research into some of the claims to check they’re legit and not conspiracy theory.

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