Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science

By Michael Brooks

Scientists have colluded in the most successful cover-up of modern times. They present themselves as cool, logical, and levelheaded, relying exclusively on facts and passionless interpretations of painstakingly researched results. But the truth is scientists will do anything--take drugs, follow mystical visions, lie, and even cheat--to make a discovery. In Free Radicals, physicist and journalist Michael Brooks seamlessly weaves together true stories of the "mad, bad and dangerous" (The Times) men and women who have revolutionized the scientific world into a fast-paced and thrilling exploration of the real process behind discovery. Brooks also traces the cover-up back to its source: the scientific establishment's reaction to the public fear of science after World War II. He argues that it its high time for science to come clean about just how bold and daring scientists really are.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Apr 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468301717

Michael Brooks

Michael Brooks is the author of the bestselling non-fiction title 13 Things That Don't Make Sense [9781861976475]. He holds a PhD in quantum physics, is a consultant at New Scientist and writes a weekly column for the New Statesman.

Reviews for Free Radicals

[pdcread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting book about the maverick scientist, but jumps about a bit too much for my liking