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E. Ernst

A Scientist in Wonderland: A Memoir of Searching for Truth and Finding Trouble Paperback – January 12, 2015

by Edzard Ernst (Author)

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This is the story of my life as a doctor and a scientist. Despite a youthful ambition to become a jazz musician, I eventually studied medicine and became a medical research scientist, taking up appointments in Germany, Austria and finally in England. My reverence for the pursuit of truth through the application of scientific methods, coupled with a growing interest in the history of medicine during the Nazi era, did not always endear me to my professional colleagues. At the time I was appointed to the world's first chair in alternative medicine, this was an area of health care that had never been studied systematically, and was almost entirely dominated by outspokenly evangelic promoters and enthusiasts ― among them, famously, HRH Prince Charles ― many of whom exhibited an overtly hostile, anti-scientific attitude towards the objective study of their favoured therapies. Clashes were inevitable, but the sheer ferocity with which advocates of alternative medicine would go in order to protect their field from scrutiny came as a profound surprise. This memoir provides a unique insight into the cutthroat politics of academic life and offers a sobering reflection on the damage already done by pseudoscience in the field of medicine.

Print length

200 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Imprint Academic
Publication date

January 12, 2015
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.55 x 8.27 inches
ISBN-10

1845407776
ISBN-13

978-1845407773
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[T]his ferociously frank autobiography... [is] a clarion call for medical ethics."

-- Barbara Kiser ― Nature

"A Scientist in Wonderland is a rather droll, quick read… [and] it's an effective antidote to New Age nonsense, pseudo-science and old-fashioned quackery."

-- Robbie Millen ― The Times

"This is no dry autobiography, but a compelling account of a seeker after truth dicing with the dark forces of un-reason and self-interest… Ernst's book is a testament to determination and integrity… This slim volume deserves a place on the bookshelf of every scientist and politician with an interest in healthcare, every medical practitioner and every camist with a conscience."

-- Richard Rawlins ― The Skeptical Intelligencer

'Ernst's A Scientist in Wonderland is entertainingly written and, like his professional life, challenging. Some of it is unashamed diatribe. Many will find the attitudes expressed by the author to be offensive. Others will regard Ernst as a hero and a martyr for evidence-based medicine based upon scientific rigour… A Scientist in Wonderland is an absorbing and personal account of the life of an influential figure in the passionate and divisive contemporary conflict between conventional and alternative medicine… It is well worth reading.'

-- Ian Freckelton QC ― Journal of Law and Medicine

About the Author

Professor Ernst qualified as a physician in Germany where he also completed his MD and PhD theses. He was Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at Hannover Medical School (Germany) and Head of the PMR Department at the University of Vienna (Austria). He came to the University of Exeter in 1993 to establish the first Chair in Complementary Medicine. Since 2012, he is Emeritus Professor.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Imprint Academic; 1st edition (January 12, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1845407776
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1845407773
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.55 x 8.27 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,761,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #984 in Psychologist Biographies
- #4,619 in Scientist Biographies
- #49,015 in Alternative Medicine (Books)

Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

95 global ratings

5 star		69%
4 star		23%
3 star		3%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Levinia Souza

If you are in academia, open your eyes

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

It is an eye opener about research and where resources go.

Helpful

Daniel

Good personal account

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

It would be a poor favor writing "must read" or "hate it" respect to this book (or any other book). One comes watching reviews looking for more than simplistic characterizations. This is a book written like a biography, but slightly different. In the first part of the book (about half of it), the author talks about his life and how he came to be a physician in post war Germany. In the second and more substantiate part, we know how he entered in the field of investigating "alternative medicine" and which battles had to fight.
So, it is not a strict biography, but it is written as one. It is more a kind of testimony of one of the early debunkers -throught scientific method which is not so easy to say - of bogus medicine. There are a lot of really good books of that kind (Sagan, Asimov, Jay Gould, Dawkins, etcétera), but in this you can know that fight from the front line, so to speak. That itself would be enough to be recommended.
The writing style is fluid and you can read it in a weekend, it is not filled with academic references or credentials, nor rare words or the like. It is a book to be used as a reference for those interested in the field. If you'd like to really know his scientific work, go to pubmed or any other journals where you can find it.
Personally I would have liked to be more lengthy in his final review on the more popular "alternative" remedies, but all in all, is a rapid overview of his knowledge on the field and it's enlightening.
So, if you like to know what i've been said go for it. If you're looking for pure facts or more recent investigations, this is not your book. If you want to know a mix of biography and the science battles, this is it.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

demystifies the ALT MED mythology... HYPE. ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 12, 2016

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demystifies the ALT MED mythology...HYPE...bringing into context and reigning in the potential and misrepresentation of alleged successes of treatment found (and unfounded) in ALT MED.... otherwise referred to as HOLISTIC or COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE.....A very sobering read from someone involved in the industry for 30 yrs

Helpful

Alfred the Dutchman

The struggle of science vs. quacks, we know ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

The struggle of science vs. quacks, we know who is right. But who is the winner?
The most disconcerting part is how someone in a place of power is able to promote quackery abusing their position of authority.

Helpful

darwinslapdog

and I'm happy he shared his story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 9, 2015

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An important story, but not as well told as I'd hoped. Many details were lacking although the pertinent facts are clearly set out. Perhaps Ernst is just modest, and I'm happy he shared his story; it just lacked intimacy in my view.

4 people found this helpful

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BBares

Interesting life story of great man

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 3, 2015

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The Dr. first entertains with the interesting story of his life then enrages by exposing the evil of so called "alternative medicine". A true scientist in a world of magical thinking, he has to confront charlatans, cowardly administrators, snake oil salesman and even Prince Charles.

A good read but take your blood pressure meds before reading the second half.

One person found this helpful

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Leland Shapiro

Good description of challenges associated with alternatives to medicine regarding ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

Good description of challenges associated with alternatives to medicine regarding science and politics. Written by a leading authority in this area. A little heavy on the autobiographical material, however.

One person found this helpful

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Daniel Olsson

A must read for anyone interested in medicine and "complementary medicine"!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 19, 2015

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A memoir that is a well written passionate defense of science, patient safety and integrity from the man who was the first professor at a university department devoted to "complementary medicine" and how he ran into trouble with industry interests and the house of Hanover while evaluating the methods used in "complementary medicine".

4 people found this helpful

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Xavier Kreiss

What follows is even better: a fascinating account of Dr Ernst's crusade against ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 15, 2016

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The first part of the book is a sort of autobiography or memoir. This I found a little odd since it didn't really "fit" with the rest - but I believe that first part was added on as a kind of afterthought.
The memoir is interesting. What follows is even better: a fascinating account of Dr Ernst's crusade against pseudoscience and snake oil "treatments", mostly homeopathy. It shows, among other things, how even in a free society the voice of common sense often needs to struggle to be heard, how pressures (some subtle, some not) can weigh on and influence certain decisions that should be governed but purely scientific considerations.
The book, in other words, is not only an account of Dr Ernst's crusade, but also a warning.
I recommend this book, for all of us who want to stay sane.

3 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Doing Science Under Fire

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 12, 2017

Verified Purchase

A very interesting autobiography of a man of integrity trying to do rigorous science despite strong opposition from vested interests. A man of high ethical and scientific standards and also great tenacity!

One person found this helpful

Dr Philip Creed

Good bargain

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 8, 2019

Verified Purchase

In very good condition so a good bargain

Barbskev

A Scientist we should praise.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

Well I may come back to redo this, hope that is permissible. This book was delivered on 6 Feb. It is not a long book but it is a delicious read and I did spin it out over a few weeks. I was sorry to finish it because I felt I was listening to Edzard talking to me. He is a very lovely and genuine man and this certainly comes over in the book. I heard him speak at a Humanist meeting in Liverpool where his humanity, humility and moral rightness were obvious.
This man is so deficient in arrogance that you have to identify with him, well I did, and warm to him. I asked him, after his talk, how he'd reconciled his own practice in homeopathy with his current views. Now I am thinking back to my own past. Sure I stood outside Boots for the 10:23 campaign against homeopathy, on my own because I could not have the time to get to an organised demonstration, but I also went for acupuncture to stop smoking. If I cast my mind back I was very uncritical in my thinking, I even taught in Sunday School! Edzard did not try to wriggle out from my question. He just admitted that he had accepted the homeopathy as the status quo back then.

His book is like this. Frank and honest to a degree rarely seen in public figures. Such a mild mannered, self-effacing man he is, but he had the guts to stand up to authority when it was right. He dared to challenge Prince Charles for his nutty, outspoken views. Hurray!
This is an excellent book. Would recommend to any open minded or rational thinker.

16 people found this helpful

J A Bridge

Read this is you've used or considered using alternative treatments

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

If you have ever used "alternative" medical treatments or considered it - then this is the book for you. A friend of mine was about to spend a lot of money on a course of osteopathy. He said she had a good reputation and was highly recommended. I was able to show him the chapter where Edzard Ernst explains why alternatives often have a high satisfaction rate amongst those who are personally and financially invested in the outcome.

It's also a very interesting book - in the first half I learnt about Edzard's early life in Germany including working in a homeopathic hospital. In the second half I learnt about his how politics got in the way of good research.

11 people found this helpful

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