Piling on to the overall commentary already provided: I didn't learn anything I didn't already know. (Confirmation bias anyone?)

If it weren't for the readability of the work, I would rate this book rather poorly. As it is, the text is entertaining, and - having read vulgarization pieces that apparently didn't give a hoot about them - the references section is pleasing.

Hated this book. I thought it was going to be an informative read, separating wheat from chaff about the crazy theories that are out there. Telling us what's real and what's not.

Instead, it turned out to be an analysis of celebrity culture and why we buy into crazy theories.

Well-written, often humorous, but since I'm already a skeptic and disbelieve most of what 'celebrities' stand for or tell us, I wasn't enlightened in any particular way. It's a great title, though!

Yes, yes she is.Not that I am surprised. (To get the full spectrum of horror, I suppose I should be following her on Twitter, but I'd rather be poisoned.) Caulfield does his usual job of debunking the pseudoscientific claptrap that is pedalled in the entertainment industry; he writes clearly and with some humour about the theories proposed by celebrities and their "medical advisors." I found the book maundered on a bit long; it got rather repetitive for me. Give it a go.

The title is a bit misleading, only a 1/4 of the book is dedicated to that topic, then he deals with whether celebrity is attainable or desirable. Still a great read with some Canadian content.

This is a fascinating look at the vagaries of celebrity life, along with a fantastic debunking of the 'health claims' made by various celebrities (from snail facials to juice cleanses). Caulfield uses himself as a guinea pig for much of this, and reports back on the results and the science. From trying out for American Idol, to facials, to Gwyneth Paltrow's 21 day cleanse diet.

Caulfield is a great writer - funny and wry, and easily able to describe the science and the studies behind what he is talking about.

The first part of the book was probably the best (The Illusion of Celebrity Authority), and by part three the book did drag a bit, but not enough to make it enjoy it any less. The topics get a bit more serious the further into the book you go, but still remain relevant and funny.

Caulfield mentions, in passing, Jenny McCarthy and the anti-vaccine movement, but doesn't really go into it at all, which, considering recent events is a bit of a bummer. I would have loved to read his takedown of McCarthy.

Overall, a very funny book, on a fascinating topic.