Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them Hardcover – January 12, 2021

Informative, eye opening, educational

This is a very interesting read; I think something like this should be required reading for people who play doctor online, because it is evidence that even a doctor (qualified professional) who sets out to investigate medical claims can't necessarily do it to a high degree of satisfaction (ie "we have to look into this a lot more" is the conclusion of many chapters). I found the organization weird...it's a seemingly random collection of topics, some of which I have never heard of or cared about (ie should you eat your baby's placenta? how long can you eat leftovers? it depends--duh). As others have pointed out, the author needs to cite some sources if she's really going to be in the business of debunking myths; there are plenty of things doctors don't agree on (I've had them put me, variously, on vegan diets, high protein diets, no sugar diets, anti-inflammatory...so real sugar when using sweeteners...diets, etc. to help with my autoimmune dysfunction), so I'm not inclined to just take her (or any doctor's) word for it. I'd like to see some evidence, and I'd like to see it about some more common, popular myths that people still believe, like that going outside with wet hair causes colds, rather than whether or not your cat's poop can make you more successful.It's an interesting read, and it's definitely easy for the average lay-person to understand, but I'd like to see more common myths with more actual evidence to support their debunking.

This book is actually written by a real medical doctor who is also a professor at Stanford University. It covers provocative and controversial medical myths which I have heard through the media and other sources. Topics like should you eat your baby's placenta or is MSG addictive if something many people wonder about. I like it how it's written in a manner that's not based on opinion but it's based on scientific evidence when they are some available. Not all of the myths are completely wrong. Some are true and some don't have enough evidence to say either way. This is not a book about trivia but instead is trying to bring some clarity to these topics in a easy to understand manner. I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommended to other people.

Seema Yasmin, MD has written an insightful, accessible book with practical advice that's an important addition to our understanding of medical myths - and how to debunk them. I particularly like that Dr. Yasmin shares her own personal stories of growing up surrounded by medical myths accepted as fact. With her unique blend of expertise - physician, disease detective, journalist, professor, and poet - Dr. Yasmin shares with readers her multi-dimensional assessments and advice. I was struck by the strong theme in her book of the need for empathy in responding to (and "pre-bunking" when possible) misinformation. It's not easy being empathetic in the face of insistence that COVID-19 isn't that serious or climate change is a hoax. But I believe empathy is a much-needed tool in combatting such lies and deceptions and was glad to see Dr. Yasmin emphasizing the power of empathy.

In today’s world where 75% of “facts” are at least questionable, a book which claims to be telling the truth must have enough documentation so that the suspicious reader can check original sources for themselves. Not present here.For example, my colleague Daniel Benyshek’s work is referenced, without using his name or giving any kind of a reference to it other than UNLV. There should be a 30 page list of references. A decent read, but really....

This book is a compendium of material that floats around the internet, much of which is total nonsense. It provides the story of how the myths got started and it explains why they are myths and the truth behind the false sories.Not all of the "myths" are myths and have a true basis. When that happens, such as with the use of statin drugs, she discusses the situation and then tells you the ultimate decision is up to you and your doctor to decide.Overall, a quick and interesting read that has the potential for saving people from the garbage they read on the internet.

This was an overall fun little read. It has some interesting information on placenta, vaccinations, GMO food, and even info on common diseases, STD's, and things of that nature. It has a few random things it touches on such as statistics about visiting hospitals in summer, or statistics on teeth and heart health, as well as other common things shared on posters, in offices, and by word of mouth.Some of the segments don't actually answer things as if they were a truth or myth though. They spout out stories and data without landing on a definite answer to the question at hand. Other segments give data and stories without giving a name of an author or title of a publication, or where the publications come from.It's a little bit bouncy with the information, but it does come from Johns Hopkins press so I do hold it in a little higher esteem than anything that might have been self publishes. The writer is a health reporter, doctor, epidemiologist, and has an MD. They tend to just state facts and data and statistical numbers, though, rather than actually flat out call something fact or fiction in the book. Even so with all of that, it was a fun read to cozy into. The price is a little high at $25 for the number of pages and the simple content, but it's well written and fun to go along with. It might not be for those who are anti-GMO or anti-vaccine, but it uses science, data, and empirical data to make its' points.

I enjoyed this book. Dr. Seema Yasmin is a good story-teller and her writing is compelling. At times, her sense of humor shows through. The book consists of short chapters on various medical topics and I fell into the trap of, “I’ll just read one more” where one more became two more, etc. This book is well worth the read.Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance reader copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.