Paul M Freelend

An excellent antidote for today's alt-med hype

Revisado: 08-26-17

This is a recommended listen for anyone who has found some fad diet or supposed medical "miracle" and wondered, "does that actually work?". In his usual engaging and informative style, Dr. Novella digs into a broad array of medical claims ranging from the plausible to the ridiculous and gets to the science (or lack thereof) at their core. Fair warning: this series is dense with information, so it's best to listen in small chunks. It's well worth your time to listen, though, as odds are it will touch on most of the weird, pseudo-medical claims you've heard at some point in your life.

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James Burke would (probably) be proud

Revisado: 05-11-17

Prof. Liulevicius avoids many of the pitfalls that often plague similar series. This lecture series goes beyond a dry recitation of names and dates, making sure not only to connect each turning point to a broader cultural context but also establish connections between turning points. Frequent callbacks to previous turning points help the listener construct a timeline and see the evolution of ideas and technology. In addition, Liulevicius strikes a decent balance between obvious inclusions in such a series (the development of atomic weapons, the rise of social media, etc.) and some that are more off the beaten path (the Treaty of Westphalia, the invention of motion pictures, etc.). He also presents the material in a manner that is engaging without being over the top.

The one major shortcoming of the series is its heavy focus on the West and the Western experience. Africa and South America barely receive passing mention, while Oceania only makes an appearance when New Zealand breaks new ground in women's suffrage (a lecture that quickly shifts to the experiences of British and American women). Asia receives more attention -- five lectures out of 24 -- but it is more often than not regarding its interactions with the West. Lectures on the Opium Wars, the Russo-Japanese War, Nixon going to China, and the revolutions of 1989 are equally as (if not mostly) focused on the Western experience as that of the Asian perspective. Only the lecture on the voyages of Zheng He avoids this, and even then a decent chunk of that lecture is devoted to laying the conceptual groundwork for the series. Granted, European history is Liulevicius's specialty, but with so much of world history taking place outside of Europe and the United States, a broader scope would help make a lecture series that is already good even richer and more compelling.

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A rollicking review of humanity's hang-ups

Revisado: 01-01-17

Where does Sacred Cows rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Sacred Cows is among the more enjoyable listens I've had on Audible -- light and fun while still remaining substantive and thought-provoking. It's a brisk five hours and I finished it in one day.

What other book might you compare Sacred Cows to and why?

Finding a good comparison is difficult as Sacred Cows is a blend of comedy, anthropology, religion, and strange thinking. Think of it as taking a view of humanity and our more bizarre behavior through the lens of an alien's telescope, all the while asking "And this ritual does what exactly?" It never turns mean-spirited, though; it's more akin to nudging the person next to you in the ribs and chuckling, "Can you believe we get up to this?"

Which character – as performed by Seth Andrews – was your favorite?

There are no characters. It's just Seth Andrews, doing what he does best -- spinning tales and leading the listener through descriptions of our sometimes hilarious, sometimes hugely frustrating behavior.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Just when you thought you were the pinnacle of evolution"

Any additional comments?

Sacred Cows is highly recommended for people who enjoy having a good laugh while feeling bewildered, or for those who can laugh at themselves and don't take humanity too seriously. If you're the kind of person who laughs at other people's sacred cows but gasps in horror when the same is done to yours, give this a listen anyway -- it might be just the thing you need to loosen up a bit.

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