Well presented, interesting, balanced & impartial. This book gets it right!
A very informative and fascinating read. It spreads itself well, bouncing between historys, explanations, general information, and editorial comment, without losing pace, interest, and without causing confusion. A very good, and useful read, regardless of what you beleive.
This book is a really balanced and informative look at alternative health practises and theories. Rather then trying to fight on behalf of one camp or the other, the authors simply ask "what is REAL?"
They then seek answers, explaining as they go, how the readers can be able to assess the quality of the information they receive.
They explain the history and workings of medical science, and how this helps to make balanced unbiased decisions about a therapy benifits and risks.
They then examine the evidence, and the quality of the evidence for many popular alternative therapys. They examine the ideas behind them, their benifits, their risks, and draw sober conclusions.
However rather simply badgering the reader into agreeing with the authors, the reader is encouraged to think, and is provided with further reading lists if interested (and you will be). The reader is also encouraged to continue to rationally assess new information that they may come across, and given tools with which to do so.
Also, the authors are careful not to present their opinions as fact, and will state the they are speaking for themselves when they give opinions. This care not to skew debate is rare in such a hotly debated topic.