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Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure Hardcover – Illustrated, September 18, 2008
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Children with autism have been placed on stringent diets, subjected to high-temperature saunas, bathed in magnetic clay, asked to swallow digestive enzymes and activated charcoal, and injected with various combinations of vitamins, minerals, and acids. Instead of helping, these therapies can hurt those who are most vulnerable, and particularly in the case of autism, they undermine childhood vaccination programs that have saved millions of lives. An overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly shows that childhood vaccines are safe and does not cause autism. Yet widespread fear of vaccines on the part of parents persists.
In this book, Paul A. Offit, a national expert on vaccines, challenges the modern-day false prophets who have so egregiously misled the public and exposes the opportunism of the lawyers, journalists, celebrities, and politicians who support them. Offit recounts the history of autism research and the exploitation of this tragic condition by advocates and zealots. He considers the manipulation of science in the popular media and the courtroom, and he explores why society is susceptible to the bad science and risky therapies put forward by many antivaccination activists.
- Print length328 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherColumbia University Press
- Publication dateSeptember 18, 2008
- Dimensions6.1 x 1.1 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100231146361
- ISBN-13978-0231146364
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
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Autism's False Prophets is a compelling story of heartbroken parents, understandably desperate for an explanation of autism, being taken in by false hopes unsupported by genuine science. This book goes to the heart of a question that affects every aspect of American culture and political life. Are public policies to be determined by evidence and reason or by emotions that, however intense they may be, have nothing to do with reality? -- Susan Jacoby, author of The Age of American Unreason
A definitive analysis of a dangerous and unnecessary controversy that has put the lives of children at risk. Paul A. Offit shows how bad science can take hold of the public consciousness and lead to personal decisions that endanger the health of small children. Every parent who has doubts about the wisdom of vaccinating their kids should read this book. -- Peter C. Doherty, Ph.D., St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Nobel Laureate in Medicine for fundamental contributions in Immunology
In his latest book Paul A. Offit unfolds the story of autism, infectious diseases, and immunization that has captivated our attention for the last decade. His lively account explores the intersection of science, special interests, and personal courage. It is provocative reading for anyone whose life has been touched by the challenge of autism spectrum disorders. -- Susan K. Klein, MD, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve Hospital, and Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Medical Center
[A] thoughtful and readable study. ― Library Journal (starred review)
Enlightening, highly readable and... timely. -- Rahul K. Parikh, M.D. ― Salon.com
Arguably the most courageous and most knowledgeable scientist about vaccines in the United States. -- Robert Goldberg ― New York Post
[Dr. Offit] has done a huge public service by exposing the tragic and dangerous place the anti-vaccine hysteria has taken us. -- Huntly Collins ― Philadelphia Inquirer
An invaluable chronicle that relates some of the many ways in which the vulnerabilities of anxious parents have been exploited. -- Linda Seebach ― Wall Street Journal
A good read and an important piece of work. -- Lisa Jo Rudy ― About.com
More than a book about a disease, it is an ode to uncorrupted science and a cautionary tale that data alone is never enough. ― SEED magazine
[Offit] provides important insight into the fatal flaws of the key arguments of vaccine alarmists. ― Buffalo News
A very good read. -- Dom Giordano ― The Bulletin
A sobering indictment. -- Isabelle Rapin, M.D. ― Neurology Today
Highly recommended. ― Choice
A fascinating read... Eloquently and clearly written. -- Stan L. Block, MD ― Infectious Diseases in Children
A very helpful book for both medical personnel and parents. ― The New England Journal of Medicine
The book is a fantastic read. I recommend it to all physicians and their patients and families. -- Brian Alverson, MD ― Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
This is a powerful book which should be read by all professionals working in the area ofmedicine. -- Michael Fitzgerald ― Social History of Medicine
Paul A. Offit is one of the most respected scientists and clinicians in a field of vital importance to public health. -- Patricia M. Rodier ― BioScience
[This] book doesn't just show that the anti-vaccine activists are wrong; it attempts to explain why, in our culture, they tend to win. -- Jason Fagone ― Philadelphia Magazine
Detailed but easily readable... should be required reading for any parents who are considering denying vaccination to their children. ― Communication: The Magazine of the National Autistic Society
Arguably the most detailed and thorough history available of the current anti-vaccine movement. -- Roy Richard Grinker ― Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
[A] must-read... it will keep pediatricians and pediatric neurologists awake over the nightmarish possibilities of pseudoscience in the 21st century. -- Roger A. Brumback, M.D. ― Journal of Child Neurology
The vast range of professionals who may be enriched, professionally, by the book's contents extends to: psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, neuroscientists, speech pathologists, pediatricians, primary care physicians, geneticists, virologists, immunologists, vaccine experts, nurses, infectious disease experts, internists, gastroenterologists, epidemiologists, public health professionals, special education teachers, bioethicists, biochemists, biologists, biostatisticians, endocrinologists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical industry professionals, health policy makers, journalists, politicians, and trial lawyers. -- Leo Uzych ― Metapsychology
Seeking to help readers realize the truth about Autism, Autism's False Prophets is a much need read, not to be missed. ― Midwest Book Review
For a detailed review of diseases, vaccines, and the objections the vaccine lobbyists have brought to the table, books by the prolific Paul Offit are a good place to start. -- Abigail Zuger ― The New York Times
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Product details
- Publisher : Columbia University Press; Illustrated edition (September 18, 2008)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 328 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0231146361
- ISBN-13 : 978-0231146364
- Item Weight : 1.29 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.1 x 1.1 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,360 in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- #1,480 in History of Medicine (Books)
- #1,611 in Health Care Delivery (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Paul A. Offit MD, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, has written 13 books about science and medicine. His subjects range from the history of the anti-vaccine movement, to the science behind vitamin supplements, to the over-use of medical treatments and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. He has a passion for distilling the complexities of science and medicine into interesting narratives and clear prose. Dr. Offit has served on both the CDC and FDA Vaccine Advisory Committees. He is a co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine, licensed in 2006, that is estimated to save hundreds of lives every year.
Dr. Offit relaxes and recharges by reading fiction, binge-watching great television series, following Philadelphia sports teams, watching movies, listening to podcasts, and walking. He follows politics all too closely and does not consider that relaxing.
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If I have one criticism, it's that he could have spent a little more time explaining epidemiological studies -- what they are, how they work, and when they're more appropriate than biological models. He refers to them a lot, even chastises another scientist for not explaining them to his audience, and then he falls into the same trap. An understanding of them is so essential to appreciating his argument, I'd hate to see it lost on lay readers who are unfamiliar with them.
If you have any questions about the safety of vaccinations, this is your one-stop book for debunking the claims that have run wild as of late. The book is up to date right up until shortly before its publication. It does mention one incredibly important court case where the verdict was still TBA. Since the book's publication, the court found in favor of the side that Offit is trumpeting.
The book also includes some excellent information on the history of other failings in the relatively short history of treating autism sans institutionalization, including a short, but well-written, section on Facilitated Communication.
Top reviews from other countries
Wirklich sehr gutes Buch und angenehm zu lesen :)
5*
There is so much genuine understanding of human motivation here - good and bad. The parents desperate for any explanation why their child appears different from most others; the self-delusional medical fraudsters; the money-making lawyers who always come out smiling; the scientists baffled and threatened when all they are trying to do is find out the truth; the media managers desperate for a "controversy" to drive up audience figures and keep their advertisers happy. It is an intensely human story, because if all the characters behaved logically, the absurd and catastrophic loss of faith in vaccines would never have taken place.
Calmly and carefully, Paul strips away the various layers of misunderstanding, poor communication, political opportunism and deliberate lies to reveal: first - that there is not a shred of evidence that any child has ever developed autism as a result of thimerosal in vaccines or the MMR triple vaccine; second, that wherever parents are desperate enough to seek a "cure" for autism, there will be no shortage of hucksters ready to sell hope for a thick wad of cash (oh and by the way parents, if you don't get the result you hoped for - it's your fault); third, just because something is demonstrably false, some people will still choose to believe it.
Ultimately any child with autism is still a child with a future and with potential. All children develop in unexpected ways and this is true of autistic children as well. All chidren benefit from love and support, not from being labelled "hopeless" "soulless" "empty" or "damaged beyond repair". The world is full of autistic people and always will be.
As others have said, if you are the parent of an autistic child, read this book.
2008 was a good year for books empowering patients, teaching them to tell woo from right (Suckers by Rose Sharpiro, Trick or Treatment by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst, Bad Science by Ben Goldacre all fall into the category of the "Woo Enlightenment", each in their own style). Autism's False Prophets has its place in this list - get it for Christmas, or give one away.
I strongly recommend this great read.
We are bombarded with theories and interventions from naturalists and nutritionist making bold claims with no evidence. It says a lot when someone shows you something backed by evidence instead of telling you something which isn't.









