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Title: The Fly in the Ointment
Subtitle: 70 Fascinating Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Life
Author: Dr. Joe Schwarcz
Narrator: Walter Dixon
Format: Unabridged
Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Language: English
Release date: 01-25-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes
Genres: History, World
Publisher's Summary:
This entertaining examination of everyday science from the fanciful to the factual covers topics ranging from pesticides and environmental estrogens to lipsticks and garlic. Readers are alerted to the shenanigans of quacks and are offered glimpses into the fascinating history of science. The science of aphrodisiacs, DDT, bottled waters, vitamins, barbiturates, plastic wraps, and smoked meat is investigated. Worries about acrylamide, preservatives, and waxed fruits are put into perspective, and the mysteries of bulletproof vests, weight-loss diets, green-haired Swedes, laughing gas, and "mad honey" are unraveled. Even those with very little knowledge of science will come away informed and delighted at those humorous and accessible explanations.
Members Reviews:
The Fly Flies Again
This one was a require text for one of my college courses. We were only required to read some of it. However, I thought it was interesting and read some of the rest of the book. Schwarcz gives interesting commentaries on many different scientific subjects, such as the mercury content in fish, teflon pans, 'mad' honey, and much more. At times, his tone gets pretty sarcastic and even a bit offensive, but manages to remain humorous. All in all, it was an okay read.
Science Thriller
Could not put it down! Fascinating! Should be mandatory in schools and colleges.
This was very informative and very easy to read
This was very informative and very easy to read. It addressed and debunked several false claims that I'd heard, and several I hadn't. And it did so while providing interesting chemistry lessons.
I listened to the audiobook from Audible.
Fascinating and a Bit Irritating
This is much more than just a standard book of a scientist's essays intended to correct the flood of science misinformation to which we are relentlessly exposed. The essays are quite timely, mostly accurate in my view, and written with flair. If you liked the book "Innumeracy", or enjoy Bill Bryson, you will certainly enjoy this book, and will likely find it to be usefully educational.
An annoying typesetting feature in this book caught my eye, and may irritate you as well. The publisher (or author) seem unable to state the abbreviation "US" (for United States) in genuine capital letters, and the two letters repeatedly appear in a small font. No other country name or abbreviation is printed in this odd manner. The effect is strange, especially when it appears in a name such as "us Pharmacopeia." This is either a Canadian typesetting convention (to which I have not before been exposed), or a not-so-subliminal expression of mild contempt for the neighbor to the south.
I mention this because it did distract from my enjoyment of the book (which I had to put down several times while shaking my head in disbelief at the oddity of this typesetting approach), and forewarned, maybe you'll be able to enjoy the book a bit more.
Overall, this is well worth reading, and I intend to read the author's previous books. I'm sure the science will be very interesting (and who knows what typesetting surprises await).
I loved this book!
A great book that gives a reliable, skeptical, and logical look at many different ideas, partially or completely incorrect, that people have developed on scientific topics.
