Panic virus: sbp and others come in

[basilosaurus]

OK, I know sbp has read it. Anyone else? I picked it up from the library today, and my body decided not to sleep, so I'm halfway through.

Anyway, sbp, a couple questions for you. I know you're more well versed on medicine and science than the average population due to your med law experience and your husband. However,from the perspective of a highly educated layperson, is this an understandable argument? It seems really easy to follow for me, but I just read a passage about PCR, and I've done PCR (and RT-PCR) so while I think it's readable for the general public, I wanted confirmation before recommending it to non-science people. For those without sbp's background, was it understandable?

Secondly, once again, I fucking hate Andrew Wakefield. I heard him speak a couple years ago to a bunch of anti-science fucking Boulderites who fucking Godwinned the lecture ("keeping unvaccinated kids at home is like Hitler making Jews wear a yellow star". I shit you not). I will admit he was a really compelling and charming asshole. Damn British accents and calm demeanor. So, did you get any knowledge to hate him anew? I did, and I didn't think that was possible! (btw, excuse my language. This guy brings out the worst in me)

Were there any revelations that we can use? Or was it just confirmation of all the stuff we've been saying on our bump tirades?

[y4m]

I don't have a strong science background (though of course I do speak statistics pretty fluently). I followed the argument easily, but I don't think I really learned much I hadn't already heard around here.

[caden]

I haven't read it, but I think it would be a good one for a CEP book club. If there is something too complicated for laypersons to understand this is a good forum to get an explanation.

[pixy0stix]

I was also going to suggest it for bookclub. It's on my list to read.

[OscarQ]

I suck at science and I'm not a lawyer. I'm also 1/3 of the way through the book and so far, no issues. Annoyance and anger at the false hysteria, yes. And not too much that I didn't know before. Some of the background on how vaccines came to have preservatives is interesting. And Andrew Wakefield should be sued by the families he's put through the wringer with his made up theory.