Responsible reading (ie fact checking) in action

Today being Sunday after the semester finally ended, I took it upon myself to have a long hot bath and read a good book (at the same time, of course, for maximum enjoyment). The book I picked was one I'd been given as a gift, which looked promising and exactly up my alley: Big brain : the future of human intelligence by Gary Lynch and Richard Granger (both Neuroscientists), which, according to the jacket, is a book about the evolution of human intelligence. Sounded like a fun read.

So, I'm in my nice hot bubble bath, reading my nice new sciencey book, of which the introduction was very promising. I get about five pages into chapter 1 before I'm flinging the book to the side and scrambling to get dry and dressed and to my computer.

( Here is why )

Let this be a lesson to us all. Just because someone has credentials doesn't mean their theory/research/medical treatment is sound. In particular, if they claim the "Scientific Establishment" (or worse, "Science" Itself) is covering up or ignoring their groundbreaking research, your own bullshit meter should start tingling. Do some research. Look at more than one source for corroboration.

This has been a public service announcement brought to you by Jessie's righteous indignation and moral outrage.