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David Bradley
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Deceived Wisdom: Why What You Thought Was Right Is Wrong Hardcover – 8 Nov. 2012

by David Bradley (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars 155 ratings
Did your mother remind you to take off your coat when inside or you won't 'feel the benefit' when you leave? Have you ever been informed that what you need to cool down is a nice cup of tea? And are you bored of being told that you have to let that red wine breathe first to improve its taste? If so then 'Deceived Wisdom' is the book for you. Organised into easy-to-read standalone sections, it looks at the facts we all think we know and examines why we don't know them at all. David Bradley's clear and witty writing examines the science behind the statements to reveal the truth behind many popular myths. Entries include: Why urinating on a jellyfish sting does not help (in fact it can make things worse and is at best rather embarrassing for the stingee); Why recycling aluminium cans is not a waste of time; Why drinking diet cola will not make you blind; Why cats are not smarter than dogs; Why the 10,000 hour practice rule is not what it seems; Why your mobile phone won't give you cancer
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Elliott & Thompson Limited
  4. Publication date
    8 Nov. 2012
  5. Dimensions
    12.7 x 2.03 x 20.32 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    9781908739346
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1908739346
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Product description

Review

'At last, a book that blows away many of the urban myths that we've come to accept without questioning. Well written and engrossing' -- Dr John Emsley, author of Nature's Building Blocks and other popular science books

'Let it be announced from the rooftops that David Bradley has compiled this charming book, Deceived Wisdom, showing that some of the popular Old Wives Tales and things you could have sworn were true because you heard them down the pub are, with the appliance of science, just another charabanc of retired shoe manufacturers ... Good things come in small packages, and I read it in a single session. It's a book you can dip into, one of those things that no well-stocked shelf in the Smallest Room should be without ... if you want a stocking-filler for the geek in your life, especially if they are teenagers and might not have come across these before, then this has to be it.' -- Henry Gee, Occam's Typewriter

'I can't recommend this book highly enough. Not only is it entertaining, but it is also extremely informative, smart, and thorough. While Bradley discusses some complex topics, his clear writing makes reading about these brainteasers a breeze.' --Kim Lacey, Guru Magazine

'This is a brilliant book, which presents some really pertinent information in a fun and enjoyable manner ... Bradley reinforces what science is really all about: questioning what you know and never accepting something just because somebody else tells you it's true.' --Paul Blakely, Unpopularscience.co.uk

About the Author

David Bradley has worked in science communication for almost 25 years. He has written for New Scientist, The Telegraph, The Guardian and many other publications, as well as contributing to and editing books including The Bedside Book of Chemistry. He has won awards for his writing and blogging, including Daily Telegraph Young Science Writer of the Year. He blogs at www.sciencebase.com and tweets as @sciencebase to more than 20,000 followers. He lives in Cambridge, England, with his wife.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1908739347
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elliott & Thompson Limited; First Edition (8 Nov. 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781908739346
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1908739346
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.03 x 20.32 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 155 ratings

About the author

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David Bradley

David Bradley

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David Bradley has worked in science communication for more than 30 years. He has written for a wide range of publications including New Scientist, Science, Popular Science, American Scientist, Nature, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and many other publications, as well as writing, contributing, and editing books including 'Deceived Wisdom', 'The Bedside Book of Chemistry', and 'A Brief History of Science'. His Elemental Discoveries website was perhaps the first popular science news webzine. He has won awards for his writing and blogging, including 'Daily Telegraph' Young Science Writer of the Year. He blogs at www.sciencebase.com and tweets as @sciencebase to more than 50,000 followers. He is also a keen amateur photographer and a singer-songwriter performing live with a choir called bigMouth and a rock and pop band known as C5. He lives in Cambridge, England.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
155 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-presented and easy to read in small sections. They find it informative and amusing, dispelling common myths with science. However, opinions differ on the readable style - some find it clear and easy to understand, while others find it self-consciously populist and irritating.

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27 customers mention ‘Readability’27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and enjoyable. They describe it as a well-presented coffee table book that keeps them engaged. The premise is good, but the execution could be improved.

"I do like to read about science and this book is quite nice for those who like to contradict those silly "popular wisdom" notions...." Read more

"This was a very enjoyable, fun read which dispelled a lot of myths I have always accepted without question, almost like an inherrent belief system...." Read more

"Book has a great premise but is seriously let down by its execution...." Read more

"Nice little bits to dip in and out, or read in a couple of sittings as I did...." Read more

19 customers mention ‘Information quality’16 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the way it dispels common myths with science, challenging some of their beliefs. The book provides accessible science facts and links to support its claims.

"A good selection of common myths are dispelled in a clear and readable way, but I felt a few of the items were treated a little simplistically...." Read more

"This was a very enjoyable, fun read which dispelled a lot of myths I have always accepted without question, almost like an inherrent belief system...." Read more

"I did. Until I read this. I love the way David exposes urban myths with science, particularly that aspartame won't kill you, eating crusts isn't..." Read more

"...believed are covered in this book with facts and links to back up statements of fact or fiction." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Dip in and out’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read in short sections. They appreciate the interesting facts and how it can be a quick read over a couple of sittings.

"Nice little bits to dip in and out, or read in a couple of sittings as I did...." Read more

"This makes a good 'coffee table book' i.e. it is a book you can dip in and out off as the sections are small enough to read in small chunks...." Read more

"The sort of book you can dip in and out off ,full of interesting facts. The writer has gone to some effort in the construction of the book...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Humor’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it amusing and informative.

"Haven't yet finished it, but am finding it amusing and informative, and full of reminders of my mother's sayings." Read more

"...Well written, researched and entertaining." Read more

"Interesting, and funny...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Readable style’8 positive4 negative

Customers have differing views on the book's readable style. Some find it clear and enjoyable, with good explanations and logical application. Others feel the writing style is self-consciously populist and irritating.

"A good selection of common myths are dispelled in a clear and readable way, but I felt a few of the items were treated a little simplistically...." Read more

"...Add to this the verbiage and wandering prose style and I'd recommend not wasting your time and money on this book." Read more

"...Very entertaining, very clearly and cleverly laid out and a cracking read. Highly recommended." Read more

"...The information is interesting, informative but not too technical. A ggod book overall" Read more

3 customers mention ‘Length’0 positive3 negative

Customers dislike the book's length. They say it's very short and written in a self-consciously populist way.

"I enjoyed this book, but it's not very long! Easy to read though, and I would recommend it to put to rest some popular legends!" Read more

"...It's also very short and written in a self-consciously populist `nudge-nudge, wink-wink' style that grates by the end of the first page...." Read more

"...The shorter the section the more entertaining." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • David
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read, but simplistic in parts.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A good selection of common myths are dispelled in a clear and readable way, but I felt a few of the items were treated a little simplistically. For example it is correctly stated that you can't catch a cold by being cold, only by being exposed to the cold virus. No consideration was made of the possibility that we are in contact with the cold virus constantly, and that being cold reduces the body's ability to resist it. It might not be true, but if it is then not going out with wet hair might still be good advice.

    Another example is dispelling the idea that the team that scores first will generally win the match. To do this scientists used a hypothetical footballs match to show the chances of scoring do not change. No consideration seems to have been made of the morale boost gained from getting the first goal, likely to make a significant difference to real footballers and none at all to hypothetical footballers. I'm no statistician but I would have thought checking results of real games to see what proportion of games were won by the tea, that scored first would have been a better test for this idea

    Most of the items are fascinating, however, many of them new to me. Overall I enjoyed them all, apart from the one about a pot belly
    One person found this helpful
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  • Eleanor
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but I would have liked to read more about the issues
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2013
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    I do like to read about science and this book is quite nice for those who like to contradict those silly "popular wisdom" notions. However, I am not giving it more than 3 stars because I think the author could have written a bit more on each subject, instead of just pointing the reader to a web link. I would have also liked to see more links...
    All in all, if you'd like to know more about why you won't catch a cold if you leave the house with damp hair (and other misconceptions) read this. David Bradley explains.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Heather S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loaded with new facts
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very enjoyable, fun read which dispelled a lot of myths I have always accepted without question, almost like an inherrent belief system. You truly don't realise how many you have until you read this book. Very entertaining, very clearly and cleverly laid out and a cracking read. Highly recommended.
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  • Random techie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and educational at the same time!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    While I’m not (“I declare that I am not now nor have ever been…”) a proper scientist, I like to think I have at least an inclination in that direction. (I have read “A Brief History Of Time.” I have read “Chaos.” Can’t necessarily claim I understood everything I read, but there y’go.) I’m even an ex-resident of Cambridge.

    It was enjoyable enough that I was disappointed when I got to the end. “Too short, too short!” went my irrepressible internal narrative. Leave ‘em wanting more? Hoping there's a sequel planned, anyway.

    Did it teach me anything? Well, some of the deceived wisdom presented therein I was able to be smug about. Yes, I knew that, but aren’t some people /silly?/ But yes, it does appear that I’m just as inclined to accept some deceived wisdom as the next guy, sadly. (I’ve “known” why you go pink and wrinkly in the bath for about 45 years, for instance. And the “tea cools you down” thing didn't quie fit with my worldview. Not a bad thing, of course -- and if this helps people challenge some of the things they unthinkingly take for granted, that's probably all to the good!!

    I've dropped a star because there's a point where a discussion of the physical ensues from a question about the perceptual (sorry, I'm deliberately trying not to write spoilers!) that I'm not at all sure is justified. Doesn't devalue the science, I guess...
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Matt B.
    2.0 out of 5 stars Book has a great premise but is seriously let down by its execution
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Book has a great premise but is seriously let down by its execution.

    The elements of "deceived wisdom" - which are essentially commonly held fallacies/misconceptions - break down into two main groups:
    1. Semi-interesting ones (of which there are painfully few)
    2. "misconceptions" which aren't actually misconceived by anybody with half a brain ("Recycling is a waste of time and energy" / "the 5-second rule" / "eating sardines can increase your fertility")

    I'd even read it on the basis of the few semi-interesting ones if it weren't for the fact that the author presents either no meaningful evidence at all for his conclusions or the flimsiest of evidence only, so that you are left with what is touted as "deceived wisdom" on one hand and the author's say-so on the other.
    For instance, in the one about NASA faking the moon landing, his "proof" was that Armstrong's iconic quote wasn't delivered as smoothly as it might have been and so we therefore know the moon landing to be real. How on Earth is that going to convince any non-believers out there? Even though I believe we did land on the moon, if you only read this book you'd be none the wiser. This is certainly what lets the book down the most - it basically says "believe me not everything else you've heard or read your whole life" but the author has not the authority or a good enough command of the facts to carry the reader with him.

    Add to this the verbiage and wandering prose style and I'd recommend not wasting your time and money on this book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • JCGolding
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good and straightforward debunking of myths
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2013
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    I enjoyed this book, but it's not very long!
    Easy to read though, and I would recommend it to put to rest some popular legends!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Happy Choral Singer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Do you always let your red wine breathe?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I did. Until I read this. I love the way David exposes urban myths with science, particularly that aspartame won't kill you, eating crusts isn't responsible for my curly hair and using a mobile phone on a garage forecourt won't cause spontaneous combustion.Short snippets of science accessible even if you didn't pay attention in chemistry at school. I've bought 2 hardback copies and a download.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • N. McGuire
    4.0 out of 5 stars Things you thought you knew
    Reviewed in the United States on 21 November 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book is best enjoyed a little bit at a time, like a chocolate sampler. David Bradley provides clear, basic explanations of what's really going on with all those old wives' tales, "common sense" explanations that don't fit the facts, and other bits of common knowledge that aren't quite true.
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  • Iain
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on 1 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Entertaining, funny & interesting. David combines well informed science writing with wit, reality and a good dose of skepticism.

    Well worth the read
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  • brian
    2.0 out of 5 stars Research...?
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I wish I knew the author would have used something other than snopes.com or Wikipedia as his main source of information. For a book with such a topic, I was expecting an interesting read rather than a book based on popular advice. Too bad, because the topics he chose were enticing enough to purchase the book.
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