2018 School Spending Survey Report
Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex: Science and Pseudoscience in Everyday Life
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Chemist and prolific science writer Schwarcz (McGill Univ.; Quack Quack: The Threat of Pseudoscience), known globally for his lectures on hot-button science topics, once again targets general readers with this collection of bite-size essays addressing questions about the science of everyday life. The 75 concise, energetic chapters reveal Schwarcz’s love of science and his uncanny ability to simplify complex scientific phenomena. He explains why the term “superfood” is merely a marketing gimmick; why plastic wrap is sometimes the better environmental choice; how inflammation-reducing supplements actually target one’s bank balance; and why duct tape can’t repair air ducts. Readers will also learn the 1950s origin of spandex and the pseudoscience behind using silkworm feces as medicine.
VERDICT This highly informative, authoritative title makes solid science accessible and entertaining, and it keeps alive the author’s tradition of clearly differentiating pseudoscience and quackery from empirical science. Schwarcz’s fans will love this latest book, and he’ll likely gain a new following as well. Nicely supplements The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan and Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer.
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