Cheese puffs. Coffee. Sunscreen. Vapes. George Zaidan reveals what will kill you, what won't, and why-- explained with humor, hijinks, and other things that don't begin with the letter H.
... a highly entertaining and deceptively sophisticated book ... In a slyly brilliant bait and switch, what is framed as a book about what we should eat becomes a thriller about the scientific method itself ... The kicker to Mr. Zaidan’s witty and clever analysis is that, even if we assume that the nutritional studies are totally right, their worst-case scenarios are still not that bad.
... instead of offering up faddish nutritional spin, or dishing out sanctimonious vagaries like, 'Eat real food,' Zaidan does something different—and much more worthwhile. He guides you through how scientists assess the risks and safety of chemicals: how they establish the links between health effects and their causes, and how they sometimes get it wrong ... For a title that gleefully veers into the technical aspects of statistics and organic chemistry, it’s a breezy read. Zaidan has a gift for punching up hard science with goofball details without sacrificing substance. Does the jocularity sometimes feel a little excessive? Sure...But it’s a rare book that can compare achieving statistical significance in an experiment to reaching orgasm and still leave you feeling like you’ve learned something useful.
A skilled science communicator, Zaidan presents his findings with humor and accessible language ... Zaidan’s work will be illuminating for those who warily approach ever-changing health declarations that claim to provide the elixir to achieving a long life ... While Zaidan doesn’t provide definitive answers as to how much coffee to drink or what type (if any) sunscreen to use, he does suggest not worrying so much about having all the answers ... An entertaining romp through the world of scientific studies focusing on topics that will concern most readers. Recommended for all curious about the everyday products they consume or use.
