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Wrong: Why Experts (Scientists, Finance Wizards, Doctors, Relationship Gurus, Celebrity CEOs, High-Powered Consultants, Health Officials and More) Keep Failing Us---and How to Know When Not to Trust Them Audiobook
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(3.10) - 152 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Our investmeents are devastated, obesity is epidemic, blue-chip companies circle the drain, and popular medications turn out to be ineffective and even dangerous. What happened? Didn't we listen to the scientists, economists, and other experts who promised us that if we followed their advice all would be well? Actually, those experts are a big reason we're in this mess. Their expert counsel usually turns out to be wrong—often wildly so. Wrong reveals the dangerously distorted ways experts come up with their advice and why the most heavily flawed conclusions end up getting the most attention—all the more so in the online era. But there's hope: Wrong spells out the means by which every individual and organization can do a better job of unearthing the crucial bits of right within a vast avalanche of misleading pronouncements.
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"I was a little concerned about a book that questions the usefulness of experts, especially given that emotion tends to hijack most of our conversations these days. However, it turns out that was an appropriate amount of skepticism. The author wants us to question the results of experts, particularly scientists, when a number of factors are involved (e.g., filtered through mass media, study author has something to gain from results, etc.)."
— Craig (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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It's a chunk of spicy populist outrage, and it can be a hoot to watch Mr. Freedman's reading glasses steam up as he, like Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, sniffs mendacity around the plantation.
— The New York Times
Wrong Listener Reviews
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" Freedman tries to make the point that many of the "expert" studies which we read about end up being badly flawed. Of course, that raises the question that, if Freedman is an expert on studies such as these, is he necessarily wrong as well? The best lesson to be learned is the importance of critical thinking, and to be careful about jumping to conclusions based on just release headline news about new studies. "
— Ray, 1/18/2014 -
" A must read that puts our obsession w/ punditry in sharp perspective. "
— Maureen, 1/8/2014 -
" Makes me wonder if all research is eventually meaningless. "
— Susan, 1/4/2014 -
" Game changing. "
— Visible, 11/15/2013 -
" Perhaps this was a poor choice for me - I'm already inherently skeptical of the claims of experts. The author did reinforce my beliefs, but it didn't really sustain my interest over an entire book. "
— Jessica, 11/7/2013 -
" A fun and intellectually honest examination of why our experts are so often wrong. "
— Joe, 8/30/2013 -
" After reading this book, I'm now questioning every piece of so-called "expert advice" that I've ever heard, especially regarding double-blind clinical trials. It was eye-opening in a really disturbing way. "
— Sheri, 8/11/2013 -
" I think I would enjoy this book...but I can tell already it would be much easier to read if it were by a Gladwell/Levitt & Dubner style writer. As is, it's extremely dry. Interesting, but dull. "
— Lee, 6/28/2012 -
" He even takes on "10,000 hours"! "
— Vallin, 5/19/2012 -
" Interesting read on why we should look at ALL experts with a bit of a skeptical eye. Goes into the various ways possible biases, errors, and problems can lead to misleading results. Not technical and a worthwhile book overall. "
— Hillery, 4/2/2012 -
" Not very good. Rambling, and the section on the Internet already feels out of date. "
— May, 8/11/2011 -
" Intersting, but a somewhat circular argument. You cannot trust experts becasue they are usually wrong, therefore you have to analyse what they have to say, and work out which experts to believe by the collective wisdom of other experts. "
— Morag, 6/18/2011 -
" This is not a review (yet). I mainly wanted to check the option of posting to a blog. I do intend to write a review on this book later. "
— Esther, 6/15/2011 -
" Makes me wonder if all research is eventually meaningless. "
— Susan, 5/26/2011 -
" Not very good. Rambling, and the section on the Internet already feels out of date. "
— May, 5/19/2011 -
" Perhaps this was a poor choice for me - I'm already inherently skeptical of the claims of experts. The author did reinforce my beliefs, but it didn't really sustain my interest over an entire book. "
— Jessica, 3/17/2011 -
" Interesting read on why we should look at ALL experts with a bit of a skeptical eye. Goes into the various ways possible biases, errors, and problems can lead to misleading results. Not technical and a worthwhile book overall. "
— Hillery, 10/6/2010 -
" A must read that puts our obsession w/ punditry in sharp perspective. "
— Maureen, 9/8/2010 -
" He even takes on "10,000 hours"! "
— Vallin, 7/19/2010 -
" I think I would enjoy this book...but I can tell already it would be much easier to read if it were by a Gladwell/Levitt & Dubner style writer. As is, it's extremely dry. Interesting, but dull. "
— Lee, 7/2/2010
About David H. Freedman
David H. Freedman is a business and science journalist who has written for the Atlantic, the New York Times, Newsweek, and Wired, among other publications. He is the author of Brainmakers, Corps Business, and At Large, among others.
About George K. Wilson
George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.