Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
This is a difficult book to review because the author spent many years reporting on Andrew Wakefield, and the number of hours he must have spent reading papers from the scientific literature and conducting interviews and other research for this book is mind boggling. The majority of the book does an excellent job dissecting the problems with Wakefield's "research", and making the case that his subject is a narcissist willing to inflict harm on others for fame and financial gain. The descriptions of children being restrained while subjected to painful and unneccessary procedures were particularly hard to read, especially in light of the fact that the paper that was written about these patients was later disavowed by The Lancet and led to Wakefield being stripped of his medical license.
Unfortunately the last part of the book was less about Wakefield and more about the harrassment that the author endured by Wakefield and his followers. It is unfair that he was sued repeatedly and that he received threats because of his reporting, but I didn't pick up this book to read about the author. Although his feelings are valid and understandable, a few of the later chapters in the "Avenged" section read as the section's title would imply, though it wasn't necessary because after 300+ pages it was already clear that Wakefield is an awful person.
Unfortunately the last part of the book was less about Wakefield and more about the harrassment that the author endured by Wakefield and his followers. It is unfair that he was sued repeatedly and that he received threats because of his reporting, but I didn't pick up this book to read about the author. Although his feelings are valid and understandable, a few of the later chapters in the "Avenged" section read as the section's title would imply, though it wasn't necessary because after 300+ pages it was already clear that Wakefield is an awful person.
