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Pandora’s Lab
- Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
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Pandora’s Lab
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Publisher's Summary
What happens when ideas presented as science lead us in the wrong direction? History is filled with brilliant ideas that gave rise to disaster, and this book explores the most fascinating - and significant - missteps.
Pandora's Lab takes us from opium's heyday as the pain reliever of choice to recognition of opioids as a major cause of death in the United States; from the rise of trans fats as the golden ingredient for tastier, cheaper food to the heart disease epidemic that followed; and from the cries to ban DDT for the sake of the environment to an epidemic-level rise in world malaria.
These are today's sins of science - as deplorable as mistaken ideas from the past such as advocating racial purity or using lobotomies as a cure for mental illness. These unwitting errors add up to seven lessons both cautionary and profound, explained by renowned author and speaker Paul A. Offit. Offit uses these lessons to investigate how we can separate good science from bad, using as case studies some of today's most controversial creations: e-cigarettes, GMOs, and drug treatments for ADHD.
For every "Aha!" moment that should have been an "Oh no", this book is an engrossing account of how science has been misused disastrously - and how we can learn to use its power for good.
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What listeners say about Pandora’s Lab
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stacey
- 2022-03-22
Many lessons to be learned
Great story, great narration. Eye opening to the perils of not applying science properly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Susan Jordan
- 2023-03-31
Fascinating!
I really enjoyed this book. I have heard about some of these topics before and other I'm new to. I found the subject matter truly eye-opening and have already recommended it to others.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ewinspur
- 2023-12-27
very interesting
well written and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the topics fascinating and very informative, not the same old stuff.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Elle Penny
- 2021-11-02
Fascinating
I am always amazed at how ignorant and cruel Humanity can be but like Pandora's box, I have hope.
Well written. Eye opening. I would absolutely recommend this book!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Christine Gillard
- 2022-03-06
Eye opening
Great story telling of the science that has led us astray. Definitely recommend this for any science nerd.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- CKH Vancouver
- 2022-09-03
Cherry Picked Stories - starts strong.
A bit of a mixed bag. I have heard better podcasts for example on margarine and WWI chemical warfare (although to be honest, those two were my favourite sections of the book)
A pity as I was looking forward to reading this.
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