Blind Spots

When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health

By: Marty Makary MD

Narrated by: Marty Makary MD

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Bloomsbury presents Blind Spots written and read by Dr Marty Makary

From Johns Hopkins medical expert Dr. Marty Makary, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Price We Pay—an eye-opening look at the medical groupthink that has led to public harm, and what you need to know about your health.

More Americans have peanut allergies today than at any point in history. Why? In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a strict recommendation that parents avoid giving their children peanut products until they’re three years old. Getting the science perfectly backward, triggering intolerance with lack of early exposure, the US now leads the world in peanut allergies—and this misinformation is still rearing its head today.

How could the experts have gotten it so wrong? Dr. Marty Makary asks, Could it be that many modern-day health crises have been caused by the hubris of the medical establishment? Experts said for decades that opioids were not addictive, igniting the opioid crisis. They refused menopausal women hormone replacement therapy, causing unnecessary suffering. They demonized natural fat in foods, driving Americans to processed carbohydrates as obesity rates soared. They told citizens that there are no downsides to antibiotics and prescribed them liberally, causing a drug-resistant bacteria crisis.

When modern medicine issues recommendations based on good scientific studies, it shines. Conversely, when modern medicine is interpreted through the harsh lens of opinion and edict, it can mold beliefs that harm patients and stunt research for decades. In Blind Spots, Dr. Makary explores the latest research on critical topics ranging from the microbiome to childbirth to nutrition and longevity and more, revealing the biggest blind spots of modern medicine and tackling the most urgent yet unsung issues in our $4.5 trillion health care ecosystem. The path to medical mishaps can be absurd, entertaining, and jaw-dropping—but the truth is essential to our health.

©2024 Marty Makary, MD (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Wow

GREAT BOOK! Everyone should read this book. I am surprised by what I learned. It also confirmed a lot of things.

Eye opening

The hidden truths many of us didn't know about are shocking. This book goes in depth into these issues. anyone that is health conscious needs to read this book. Do research, be informed and get advised consent.

Compelling and important read!

I loved this! I’m a doctoral level healthcare provider, and SO much of this rang true. This is such an important book because Dr M is so senior he’s in a position to call out blind adherence to dogma and cronyism (and name names!) This book has some upsetting chapters, esp if you’ve had a traumatic birth experience, but other times it is laugh out loud funny. I really liked that Dr M read it himself too!

Hindsight is 20/20

I found most of this book super interesting and informative. I always wondered what the deal with the sudden peanut allergies were. I wonder about hormone replacement therapy. Towards the end, the author talked about MRNA vaccines and he is clearly pro. I wonder what he will think 10 years from now on that. Some of his biases show through

True honesty

I loved the simple facts given with now bias. Full of lots of useful information

A refreshingly, transparent and honest look at modern medicine and current problems with evidence based science and dogma.

Would love to have a deeper dive into possible strategies eliminating scientific monopoly and prevention of group thinking.

Humility

This book is the most balanced work I have read that effectively describes the serious need for increased humility in science and medicine, and a more skeptical eye from consumers.

An entertaining yet informative listen.

I liked the author's balanced approach, even as he challenged a few of my beliefs. You should think about taking the time to hear this. May all of your decisions be informed ones!

Everyone should read this book.

Excellent information is provided in this book to better understand the historical and current health care practices. There are differences between research and opinion, but both can equally drive the direction of care. Many common health care practices are not founded on good research, or in some cases, any research, to the serious detriment of patients for decades. This thought provoking book strives to empower patients to be informed and very involved when working with their health care professionals.

Unapproved medical practices

This book was well written where it doesn't confuse a layman. There are no unexplained technical terms.