It is difficult to explain just how engaging and entertaining this book is. Much of the content is aimed at doctors and people who want to defend good science, but I would go as far as to say this is essential reading for anyone who has ever read a scare story in the tabloids, picked up a book by Gillian McKeith or bought a homeopathic remedy.

Ben Goldacre starts with ear candles, detox patches and the Brain Gym, which is 'riddled with transparent, shameful and embarrassing nonsense'. (p. 13)

Cosmetics are up next, and ingredients like Regenium XY Technology, Nutrileum Complex and Covabeads are all tools of an 'utterly defensible pseudoscience'. (p. 21)

Homeopathy is given a lot of attention, because it 'has an elaborate and sciencey-sounding framework for how it works, without scientific evidence to demonstrate its veracity'. (pp. 28-29)

As any reader of his column in The Guardian might expect, an entire chapter is devoted to the life and work of Dr Gillian McKeith PhD. Fascinating, shocking and written fairly, this is my favourite bit.

We hear numerous reports about magic pills that can cure behavioural problems, or even improve intelligence in children. Goldacre refers to this as 'medicalization' and, in some depth, discusses its problems. From pills to pharmaceuticals, where companies crunch numbers to make their products look good.

Despite all the pitfalls of some of the research he cites, we still read incorrect interpretations in the papers. Why? 'My basic hypothesis is this: the people who run the media are humanities graduates with little understanding of science, who wear their ignorance as a badge of honour ... in their choice of stories, and the way they cover them, the media create a parody of science.' (pp. 207-208)

Statistics, he says, are often misreported, or interpreted in an irresponsible way. And then there's the health scares, like the 'MRSA hoax' and the 'MMR hoax', which dominated the headlines for a decade.

This book is intelligent, well-researched and funny. Goldacre has a talent for explaining complex ideas without being patronizing, so, in my opinion, Bad Science will be a great read for anyone. He has a tendency to slip off into a rant occasionally, but he pulls himself back to the point. (To be honest, I agreed with almost every word, so even the long tangents were appreciated.)