The Big Lie: How One Doctor’s Medical Fraud Launched Today’s Deadly Anti-Vax Movement

Written by Kurt Eichenwald

Narrated by Simon Vance

Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic and growing conspiracies aimed at so-called fake news and false science, The Big Lie takes an unsparing, inside look at the fraudulent doctor whose lies gave birth to the dangerous—and escalating—war on vaccines. A timely, cautionary tale of how deceit and misinformation can lead to distrust, public panic, and even death.

“It’s abundantly clear why [Kurt Eichenwald] is considered one of the best investigative reporters in the business.” –BusinessWeek

As the world anxiously tracks the rollout of the COVID vaccine, a large and influential group of nay-sayers continues its mission to cast doubt and stir fear. These are the anti-vaxxers, those who believe that vaccines are not only ineffective but dangerous. Distrust of vaccines is as old as vaccination itself, but in recent years, it has become an alarming trend that has affected public health. Measles and whooping cough infections have skyrocketed across the globe, endangering children and those at high risk. Refusal of a COVID vaccine only raises the stakes.

Much of today’s anti-vax fervor can be directly traced to one person: Andrew Wakefield, an English gastroenterologist who, in the 1990s, made the false assertion that vaccines cause autism. With nothing but his own scant and highly flawed research as proof, he launched a public campaign against the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, claiming that it caused intestinal inflammation that in turn caused autism. He created false hope in desperate parents, who agreed to submit their children to his invasive, painful, and unethical medical tests. He misled and outright lied to colleagues and employers, who thought they had no reason to distrust one of their own. In the end, he set off a panic that spread from England to the United States and fueled anti-vaccine conspiracy theories that have only grown in the new era of science denial and right-wing outrage.

In The Big Lie investigative journalist Kurt Eichenwald, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of the explosive New York Times bestsellers The Informant and Conspiracy of Fools, tells the little-known story of Wakefield’s years-long deception and the devastating public-health consequences that resulted. More importantly, Eichenwald reveals that Wakefield continues to do damage. Though stripped of his medical license in England, he has found success and notoriety in the United States. Now living in Florida with his supermodel girlfriend, Elle Macpherson, he has seized on COVID-19 to advance his false claims. Enabled by a community that chooses to believe unfounded theories over hard science, Wakefield has become something of a medical Donald Trump. The effect his lies might have on international efforts to vaccinate against a disease that has killed 2.5 million and counting is, chillingly, still unknown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Originals
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094412832

Kurt Eichenwald

Kurt Eichenwald is a New York Times bestselling author of five nonfiction books, including Conspiracy of Fools—about the Enron scandal—and The Informant, which broke the story about price fixing at Archer Daniels Midland. In addition to his work as senior writer at Newsweek and contributing editor at Vanity Fair, Eichenwald spent two decades as a senior writer at The New York Times, where he was a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is a two-time winner of the George Polk Award, as well as a winner of the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism. He was also a producer of the feature film adaptation of The Informant, starring Matt Damon and directed by Steven Soderbergh. His most recent book, A Mind Unraveled, tells the story of his ongoing struggle with epilepsy.

Reviews for The Big Lie

[Dana Bare · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book is a big lie.....just a base level of research discredits almost everything written.

Why is this on scribd?

[msa83 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well researched and informative from a trusted source. Need more items like this.

[firemiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Must-read. Great writing too. As a mother who delayed vaccination because of that controversy, I could only wish this book had been published earlier.

[brent smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Holy Shit! Looks like the knuckle draggers have come out in full force to defend their anti-vax views....given the vast majority of them are PHD’s in google Search. I’m wondering how may were anti-vax when the polio vaccine came out?

[Gritwald · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

What a load of pro vaccine propaganda. I will not get the vaccine because of stuff like this.

[Trinette Fleur Hunter · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Written by a sellout Illuminati pos. Not a doctor just part of the failing narrative of lies that have been fed to the world’s people and parasites like this are all going to be discovered for what they are and have done.

I wouldn’t waste my time with this shite. You’d be better off reading the opinions of actual doctors. Try Dr Fauci book written by Dr Robert Kennedy if you want to read the real truth about vaccines.

[Knox Brown · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Author is doing what he is accusing others of doing !

[Nicholas Arend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well Scribd really struck a nerve with this one. Don't listen to the Plandemic junkies down (and up) the list who obviously didn't read it. It is a very good survey of the frankly dangerous trend of misinformation that has taken over in society regarding vaccines and modern medicine in general. The saddest part is - as for example, the case of one "reviewer" wagering on future court cases regarding the COVID-19 vaccines - people who spout this nonsense can do it so easily because they never have to answer for their prior predictions turning out to be completely fruitless. If somebody asks them in five years what happened to the court cases they were harping on about today, they don't have to answer to it. They'll be on to the next set of insane conspiracy theories.

[Anthony · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic read very informative. A con man responsible for lots of lives going completely unpunished. Instead rewarded and helped by the Republican Party. Never knew that history went back so far. Thought the antivax alliance with republicans started with trump.

[Gilda Galiano-Vinocur · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everyone should read this book please.
I am not for or anti vaccines but this book really opens up to the importance of looking at science and facts over “empty statements”

[Dax · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Big difference between vaccine tested over years, and tampering with your own genetic code with technology shown to be killing by the thousands. And that's just the ones the cdc admits have died! How stupid do people have to be to subject their children to this idiocy?

[Bill Brandine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolute morons on here who are frightened of vaccines, as well as their shadows. The "science" they refer to is the usual internet misinformation. and fake "doctors" looking to bilk people out of money, similar to what FOX media does with news. Play to the ignorant. This publication is very good and informative. There is not one legitimate NY Times reader here amongst all the negative stupidity. Can you say BOT TROLLS? Give this a listen. It's worth your time.

[da · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to relentless journalism from the intercept, and contrary to Fauci's congressional testimony, we learned that Fauci's agency did indeed fund gain of function research in Wuhan, so that covid 19 could infect humans. Another conspiracy theory becomes conspiracy fact

[Josh Bennett · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

People are slowly waking up ,so what do they do get people to produce garbage like this!

[Stephanie Lopez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In these times where lies can be spread so easily, material with a foundational truth are so necessary to set the record straight are vitally important . To me this book is refreshing and an appropriate and necessary answer to the vacuum of information for people that like to think and not be guided by the sound bite.
Excellent narration clear and understandable.

[michaelwaynehunt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A clear and precise unraveling of vaccine mythologies! “Doctor” Wakefield is exposed as the dangerous mythologist he is. From MMR TO COVID vaccines, Wakefield has endangered millions for his own financial benefit. Please read with an open mind and decide for yourself!

[Diego Alaniz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a kid I always wondered what made people tick, especially the ant-vaxcers. This book helped me a learn a lot about the mmr vaccine’s story. I was hoping to get more information on the COVID - 19 anti vax movement, but I wasn’t left disappointed. Great listen, highly recommend

[Peter · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Loads of prejudiced writing. Story based on fantasy not facts. Rubbish. Common sense would tell you the doctor has more to lose than gain for his conviction. Anti Vax movement didn't began with Wakefield you moron lol.

[Hannah Frye · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Let's talk about the "deceit" of one doctor's study two decades ago that gets misrepresented by every media outlet... but let's ignore the deceit by pharmaceutical companies who have no liability for people who are injured or killed by their vaccine. Let's talk about these crazy conspiracy theorists, but ignore bereaved mothers that trusted the science and lost a child. A conversation about vaccination is long overdue. Slamming anti-vaxxers is not the way about it and will be counter-productive.

[jls68_450028353 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Just about everything in this book has been proven wrong.

[Jan Fontecchio Perley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A Left-leaning rant against anyone unsure about the MMR vaccine's possible consequences. Short on compelling scientific fact and long on veiled insults to those who may not completely side with the author's opinions.

[Clare Prowse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eichenwald comprehensively breaks down the lies and deceit of Andrew Wakefield, laying bare for anyone who take the time to read or listen that Wakefield is a charlatan and a dangerous fraud. It’s infuriating that one man’s desire for wealth and renown is now fueling public health crises across the globe.

[Shaddix Fam · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Disgusting waste of time. We should always have a choice to make an informed decision for ourselves and our own families.

[D J · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Complete baloney. Do some real fact checking before writing such a nonsense fiction based on idiotic assumptions and prejudices.

[Joshua Burnett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Any parent of Autism should give this a listen, the anti vaccine history relies in greed and ego.

[Robyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating and well researched summary of the fraud and lies behind the modern antivax movement

[Michael Perez · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Confession through projection. Is this book the big lie? At the very least, the new vaccines have years before we know their safety and effectiveness. RNA vaccines only target the spike protein and not the whole virus. Your body’s immune system is your best most powerful defense to viruses that are not very deadly.

[Glen Holcomb · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

When the vaccine insert that comes in the box with the vaccine specifically states that it can cause autism... Sorry, but Eichanwald doesn't know the science. This piece is dangerously full of lies based on either ignorance, or he's a paid lackey for the industry. This feels like the propaganda found in Germany in 1936.

[L Wheeler · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Science is about questioning and testing. This moron just buys into whatever he is told without bothering to check both sides of the story. If you like propaganda paid for by Johnson and Johnson, you will love this. If you have a brain, it will hurt to read this nonsense.

[Rob Ng · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Fake News. Hoax super spreader. Experimental Vaccine should not be mandatory.