£39.99
Believe It or Not
The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices
Introduction
This book examines the history, culture, and science behind health myths. The word myth can have two quite different meanings: (1) a shared tradition or story and (2) a belief that can be falsified. Most previous books have focused on busting the second type of myth – explaining why the myth is false. In contrast, Believe It or Not: The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices explores the cultural and religious origins of each belief or practice and how it varies among countries and, within countries, according to age, education, ethnicity, and urban vs rural location.
Approach and Content
Most importantly, the book relies on systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the extent to which the health beliefs and practices are true and influence health status. Previous myth-busting books have not attempted rigorous, systematic evaluations of the scientific evidence for and against the beliefs and practices they discuss. This book includes a range of chapters dedicated to infection, skin and eye conditions, diet and food, and pregnancy and childbirth.
Relevance and Audience
In an era when social media, fake news, and contradictory opinions are a mere click away, people deserve to understand the science underlying common health beliefs. Believe It or Not: The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices is a valuable read for the general public, curious about health and science but without technical, scientific, or medical training.
