Customer Comments:
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 Never shower in a Thunderstorm; June 26, 2008
Lots and lots of good tips. It was so interesting that I read the whole thing in one sitting then passed it along to my kids.
 Pretty poor book February 21, 2008
8 out of 8 found this comment useful.
I bought this book to entertain me for a trans-pacific flight, and boy was I disappointed. Most of the questions are answered along the lines of: "Maybe, but it can't hurt to [blah]..."
Nothing is really backed up, and you're just supposed to trust the author. At some point in the book, it was talking about hair loss caused by tight hair styles. And it made the statement of Andre Agassi wearing hats all the time and then suddenly he was bald. So the hats must have caused him to lose his hair. Uh, maybe he wore hats because he had thinning hair?
I was not happy with this purchase at all.
 Lacks Sources August 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this comment useful.
About: Facts and myths about health explained. Includes such topics as "Is too much sleep bad for you?" (yes) and "Can you swim right after eating?" (also, yes)
Pros: Quick read, interesting.
Cons: Sources are not cited, a large downside when debunking myths or providing facts.
Grade: B
Fun stuff you can share with friends and family July 17, 2007
3 out of 5 found this comment useful.
"Wait half and hour after eating before swimming."
"Cover your head in the winter so you don't catch a cold."
"Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis."
We've all heard the old wives tales, but which ones are really true? Based on his New York Times column, "Really?," Anahad O'Connor sets out to tell us just that.
In an easy-to-read question and answer format, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm analyzes dozens of commonly held beliefs about health. Some are verified and some are debunked, though which is which may really surprise you. Fully supported by current research and interviews with field experts, O'Connor takes a neutral middle ground, being neither too liberal and "new age-y" nor conservative and cynical in his assessments. His conversational writing style is clever and engaging, as if talking with a witty friend over a coffee or beer. References to current pop culture keep the tone light and entertaining. Several of his answers actually caused me to laugh out loud and read sections to friends.
My only wish would be to have included a bibliography or footnotes for those interested a bit more in the science behind the answers. So many of the research articles O'Connor refers to sounded interesting enough to have warranted reading them firsthand.
Overall, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for all folks, not just those with a scientific bent.
Armchair Interviews says: True or false? This book will tell you.
Great Fun and Most Informative June 4, 2007
18 out of 19 found this comment useful.
This book was great fun to read. Many myths, legends, sayings, old wives' tales, etc., all related in some way to health and life, are either debunked or confirmed - and rationales are provided. The author appears to have researched each topic quite exhaustively - not only through reviewing published papers in the scientific and medical literature but also through interviewing acknowledged experts in each field. The book's writing style is friendly, authoritative and very engaging. But what stands out the most is the author's clever wit and humor; on several occasions I found myself laughing out loud. This is a wonderful book that could be enjoyed by anyone, especially those who have ever pondered the veracity of what may or may not be a bit of misinformation.
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