Not all pleasure reading is fun - though that doesn't mean it isn't a good and worthwhile read! Such is the case with "Science for Sale" by David L. Lewis, PhD. This non-fiction work details his exposure of the corruption of science within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He blew the whistle on the use of biosolids as fertilizer and the stinky "science" done to justify its use. As you read what biosolids are composed of you realize there should have been no need for any science, just the use of common sense to recognize this should never be used in any application other than as fuel - the author suggests burning this scat as the best solution, and why he suggests this is quite apparent!
Dr. Lewis also reviews his exposure of unsanitary cleaning practices related to dental and endoscopic instruments (here he had greater success in effecting changes for greater patient safety).
Another portion of the book discusses his analysis of the controversy surrounding Dr. Andrew Wakefield and the MMR vaccine. His conclusion is favorable toward Dr. Wakefield who has been hounded since publishing his findings related to MMR vaccine and enterocoloitis (said findings have since been replicated independently by other researchers validating Dr. Wakefield's initial findings). Excoriation is quick and usually public, while exoneration is painfully slow and often private.
Dr. Lewis draws important parallels between the current state of affairs and the Nuremburg Code, and observations by presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. I suspect that what he has exposed is not isolated to the EPA but is also a problem in many other areas in which the government is involved in scientific research (ie: medicine, among others). There is little doubt in my mind that what he has revealed is the tip of the iceberg.
The primary problem with the book is a lack of clarity - it may have been helpful to have an index at the start or conclusion of each chapter detailing the people involved and their role and relationship to the author. At times it was confusing in trying to keep track of who did what, when and where. The book is referenced and personally, I think footnotes at the bottom of a page are better as then the reader does not have to continually flip back and forth between the page they are reading and the back of the book to access the footnotes. Formatting matters.
Dr. Lewis is now on the board of The National Whistleblowers Center. His book is available in my Amazon store (direct link in first paragraph of this post).
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