Reviews
An invaluable chronicle that relates some of the many ways in which the vulnerabilities of anxious parents have been exploited., "Important and timely . . . Offit writes in a lucid and flowing style, and grounds a wealth of information within forceful and vivid narratives. This makes his argument - that we should be guided by science - accessible to a wide audience." -- New Republic "Lively. . . . Informative and well-written, the book deserves a wide audience among the general public, scientists, and health care professionals." -- Science "Convincing." -- Forbes "This excellent, easy-to-read look at the alternative-medicine industry is highly recommended." -- Library Journal (starred review) "Do You Believe in Magic? is a briskly written, entertaining, and well-researched examination of those whom Offit considers 'unclothed emperors': purveyors of miracle cancer cures, fountains of youth, and the theory that vaccines cause autism." -- Boston Globe "Over the last decade [Offit] has become a leading debunker of mass misconceptions surrounding infections and vaccines, and now he is taking on the entire field of alternative medicine, from acupuncture to vitamins." -- New York Times "A fascinating history of hucksters, and a critical chronology of how supplements escaped regulation. . . . A bravely unsentimental and dutifully researched guide for consumers to distinguish between quacks and a cure." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A rousing good read, strong on human interest and filled with appalling and amazing data." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review), A fascinating history of hucksters, and a critical chronology of how supplements escaped regulation. . . . A bravely unsentimental and dutifully researched guide for consumers to distinguish between quacks and a cure., Do You Believe in Magic? is a briskly written, entertaining, and well-researched examination of those whom Offit considers 'unclothed emperors': purveyors of miracle cancer cures, fountains of youth, and the theory that vaccines cause autism., 'Few scientists are willing to touch this third rail of science publicity; Offit grabs it with two hands.' ( Newsweek , on Autism's False Prophets ), Important and timely . . . Offit writes in a lucid and flowing style, and grounds a wealth of information within forceful and vivid narratives. This makes his argument - that we should be guided by science - accessible to a wide audience., 'An invaluable chronicle that relates some of the many ways in which the vulnerabilities of anxious parents have been exploited.' ( Wall Street Journal , on Autism's False Prophets ), ' Do You Believe in Magic? is a briskly written, entertaining, and well-researched examination of those whom Offit considers ?unclothed emperors?: purveyors of miracle cancer cures, fountains of youth, and the theory that vaccines cause autism.' ( Boston Globe ), Lively. . . . Informative and well-written, the book deserves a wide audience among the general public, scientists, and health care professionals., Offit is a rare combination of scientist, doctor, communicator and advocate. . . . What is needed is more people like [him] willing to engage the skeptics in a debate that just will not go away., Over the last decade [Offit] has become a leading debunker of mass misconceptions surrounding infections and vaccines, and now he is taking on the entire field of alternative medicine, from acupuncture to vitamins., Offit is a wonderful storyteller who makes his message come alive. Each chapter is a story that grabs the reader's interest and holds it., 'A fascinating history of hucksters, and a critical chronology of how supplements escaped regulation. . . . A bravely unsentimental and dutifully researched guide for consumers to distinguish between quacks and a cure.' ( Publishers Weekly (starred review)), 'Lively. . . . Informative and well-written, the book deserves a wide audience among the general public, scientists, and health care professionals.' ( Science ), Few scientists are willing to touch this third rail of science publicity; Offit grabs it with two hands.
