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Rose Shapiro
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Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All Paperback – February 7, 2008

by Rose Shapiro (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
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Alternative medicine is an increasingly mainstream industry with a predicted worth of five trillion dollars by the year 2050. Its treatments range from reputable methods like homeopathy and acupuncture to such bizarre therapies as nutraceuticals, ear candling, and ergogenics. Alternative approaches are endorsed by celebrities, embraced by the middle class, and have become a lifestyle choice for many based on their spurious claims of rediscovery of ancient wisdom and the supposedly benign quality of nature. As this hard-hitting survey reveals, despite their growing popularity and expanding market share, there is no hard evidence that any of these so-called natural treatments actually work. It reveals how alternative medicine jeopardizes the health of those it claims to treat, leaches resources from treatments of proven efficacy, and is largely unaccountable and unregulated. Bracing and funny, this is a calling to account of a social and intellectual fraud that has produced a global delusion.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Random House UK
  4. Publication date
    February 7, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.87 x 8.44 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781846550287
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1846550287
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rose Shapiro has contributed to Good Housekeeping, the Independent, the Observer, and Time Out.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1846550289
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House UK (February 7, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781846550287
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1846550287
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.87 x 8.44 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

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Rose Shapiro

Rose Shapiro

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4.6 out of 5 stars
43 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Ascanio Bencosme
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buena compra
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Excelente fuente de información sobre el tema
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dr. C. Becker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant and revealing book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2008
    Suckers is an easy read and very well researched. I must admit that I rarely read "popular science" books, since I find them brushing over details and ultimately getting facts wrong. This book however, has the facts and backgrounds of a whole host of "alternative" "treatments" down to a T, teaches you how to recognise a quack by the language they use and will ultimately save you money, because you will not fall for their promises. I finished the book on Monday and have already recommended it to two colleagues.

    Did you know that "Traditional Chinese Medicine" is barely over 50 years old?

    Did you know the origins of chiropractise and osteopathy?

    This book is an essential read for the parent who constantly needs to defend their decision not to use a naturopath and for the health professional who has preserved their ethics and is not offering unproven treatments to satisfy the modern trend for supposedly ancient healing methods.
    72 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Carl Bartecchi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Suckers-the whole truth about alternative medicine
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2009
    Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine
    Suckers is an excellent book that critically reviews the many problems with all forms of alternative medicine. Any person using or considering the use of any form of alternative medicine (CAM,integrative, complementary, etc.)should read this well researched book. It covers a broad range of ineffective practices, nicely exposing the weaknesses of those practices, many of which could be dangerous and contribute to the delay of the application of an appropriate therapy. Unlike other excellent books exposing the problems of alternative medicines (SNAKE OIL SCIENCE, TRICK OR TREATMENT)this book covers the increasing use of alternative medicine practices in infants and children, practices which I believe should be considered malpractice or even criminal. I am not aware of any alternative medicine practice that could be justified for infants or children.
    Carl Bartecchi, M.D.
    38 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • G. Smith
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, Well Researched
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book. Lot's of historical background to explain how some of the wackier alternative medicines originated (homeopathy, chiropractic, TCM, etc.) and some good explanations as to why they are still around. While there is some "preaching to the choir" to be had in this one, the historical context is more than worth the effort.
    26 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Sun Lover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Steve Jobs was brainwashed into believing that natural medicine would ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2014
    Steve Jobs was brainwashed into believing that natural medicine would cure his extremely serious health problems. Look where he is now. Many experts agree that if he would have had the surgery that conventional medicine doctors told him he needed he would still be alive today. How many people have been cured of cancer and other serious diseases with conventional medicine? Millions. How many have been cured of cancer with natural medicine? NOT ONE!
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • JJM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for laymen
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2009
    I became interested in quackery more than 30 years ago, when I was a pharmaceutical scientist (not a pharmacist). Ms. Shapiro's book may be the best written for the layman (I have read the others; I used to think Kurt Butler's "Consumer's Guide" was the best- it remains useful despite its age). Shapiro excels at comprehending quackery, and writing in terms that non-technical people can understand.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Hank Rango
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not for gullible zealots
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Rose Shapiro has applied a magnifying glass and blowtorch to the cult of "alternative therapies", in both an intelligent and interesting way. There isn't much new here for anyone who rejects the notions of fairies-in-the-garden healing, maaan, but there is some fascinating historical info. Let's face it, though, Dr Shapiro is pretty well preaching to the choir. Your average "alternative therapies" proponent will have neither the nouse nor discipline to comprehend the science and facts Shapiro presents. And her call for the voodoo industry to be regulated will have its zombie fanatics hitting the (snake-oil) bottle like there's no tomorrow.
    34 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kate
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on April 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A great read. Very honest and very readable too
    Report
  • Benoit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Complementary Medicine is a money making scam
    Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book should be read by all.
    We're all victims of the greatest scam of all time.
    Sad that it is supported by so many respectable members of society.
    Report
  • Peter Piper
    5.0 out of 5 stars A moneysaving guide to healthcare
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Having experienced Complimentary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) myself in the form of osteopathy, I was interested to read about it and the other CAM treatments in this book. Shapiro shines a bright light on the twightlight world of alternative medicine and therapies.
    What is most compelling is the lack of evidence that the treatments applied are of any benefit whatsoever. In fact there's good evidence to show Chiropractors are very dangerous!
    All the CAM methodologies investigated appear to have some originating dogma, akin to the origin of a cult or religion. Lots of baseless claims an lots of wide-eyed enthusiasts preaching the benefits.
    I went to an osteopath and had the party-trick of him clicking my neck. My back did improve, but I was also doing regular stretching exercises in accordance with a properly qualified physiotherapist, so who's to say what fixed my back. What IS in line with the book was the ostepath's zeal to get my wife and son to also visit (£35 a visit). This desire to sign up the whole family is documented in Suckers and also highlights the religious parallels.
    Ultimately CAM is CAM because it makes claims it can't prove. Otherwise it would be conventional medicine. Most telling, there are no CAM treatments for conditions that can be clearly measured. Where's the CAM contraceptive, for example?
    A great book! :)
    Report
  • Karl Hillyard
    5.0 out of 5 stars AN Eye Opener
    Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    We can all be attracted to a good story. This is a vaccine against being sucked into something that might ultimately be harmful.
    Report
  • Dr. C. Becker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant and revealing book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Suckers is an easy read and very well researched. I must admit that I rarely read "popular science" books, since I find them brushing over details and ultimately getting facts wrong. This book however, has the facts and backgrounds of a whole host of "alternative" "treatments" down to a T, teaches you how to recognise a quack by the language they use and will ultimately save you money, because you will not fall for their promises. I just got a copy for my mum.

    Did you know that "Traditional Chinese Medicine" is barely over 50 years old?

    Did you know the origins of chiropractise and osteopathy?

    This book is an essential read for the parent who constantly needs to defend their decision not to use a naturopath and for the health professional who has preserved their ethics and is not offering unproven treatments to satisfy the modern trend for supposedly ancient healing methods.
    Report