The Skeptic’s Guide to Health, Medicine, and the Media

By: Roy Benaroch, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Roy Benaroch

As consumers of medical news, how can we know whether the article we just read is based on solid science or is just an ill-informed attempt to grab readers? Professor Roy Benaroch of Emory University School of Medicine provides just the direction we need in The Skeptic’s Guide to Health, Medicine, and the Media. In 24 fascinating lectures that address the most important health issues of our day - heart health, obesity, longevity, the opioid crisis, the stigma of mental illness, alternative medicine approaches, toxins in the environment, and more - Dr. Benaroch tells us how to recognize the good reporting and the bad.

With his guidance, you’ll create a “Skeptic’s Toolkit”, asking the questions that take you past the headlines and beyond the way health news is typically reported. You’ll learn six specific questions to always keep in mind as you read any article in print or online: What’s the source of the article? Is the evidence presented strong enough to be valuable? Is someone trying to sell me something? Is this study about people like me, and are the factors they’re measuring in the study important to me? Does the report present a viewpoint from scientists not directly involved in the study? And is the story itself sensible, fitting in with what we already know? Armed with these questions, you’ll be able to find valuable information to help inform your own health care decisions, without falling prey to snappy-sounding articles that have no basis in solid science.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 The Great Courses (P)2019 The Teaching Company, LLC

loved it

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Dr Benaroch's books! This one was very educational and properly utilized the information in this book will make you much wiser to the things you hear in the media! not just regarding medicine but everything that the media tells us!

Excellent information to help people critically assess medical stories

Dr. Benaroch provides laymen with tools to assess stories about various health issues in the news and on social media sites. He takes each medical issue and specifically analyzes information relating to that issue from a number of news stories. For instance, he discusses how many details were taken from an original research paper and whether those details were accurately reported. Dr. Benaroch also analyzes the research papers themselves to determine how well the study was done. Finally, he helps people to see through deceptive stories from companies who basically want to sell a medical product or medicine. I would love to listen to this program again, and I will definitely listen to or read other publications by Dr. Benaroch!

Another great series by Dr Benaroch

I’m a huge fan of Dr Benaroch’s Grand Rounds courses and was giddy when I saw he had another set out, especially on taking a rational view of medicine in the media. Like the other titles it is a very approachable and informational series of lectures using real works examples and current trends. Very valuable and with Dr Benaroch’s excellent presentation is highly recommended. .

Educational and Enjoyable

Listened to all of Dr Benaroch's audio courses and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Learned quite a bit. Definitely worthwhile.

Review of Health topics

An evidence based look at health claims often seen in the media. This course offers an excellent review of science and the scientific method when looking at media and medical reports.