Rigor Mortis

How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions

By: Richard Harris

Narrated by: Joe Delafield

Named by Amazon as one of the Best Nonfiction Books of the Month.

American taxpayers spend $30 billion annually funding biomedical research, but over half of these studies can't be replicated due to poor experimental design, improper methods, and sloppy statistics. Bad science doesn't just hold back medical progress, it can sign the equivalent of a death sentence for terminal patients. In Rigor Mortis, Richard Harris explores these urgent issues with vivid anecdotes, personal stories, and interviews with the top biomedical researchers. We need to fix our dysfunctional biomedical system - before it's too late.

©2017 Richard F. Harris (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

" Rigor Mortis effectively illustrates what can happen when a convergence of social, cultural, and scientific forces...conspires to create a real crisis of confidence in the research process."( Science)

"Harris makes a strong case that the biomedical research culture is seriously in need of repair." ( Nature)

"A rewarding read for anyone who wants to know the unvarnished truth about how science really gets done." ( Financial Times)

Eye opening introduction to biomedical R&D

I'm a software engineer entering the world of biomarkers and biotechnology. I found this book disturbing, honest and enlightening. I highly recommend it.

Great and unsettling

Sad but true. Wonderful insight to the inner workings of scientific research today. Great read for those in or around research.

Fascinating

As a researcher working on my second thesis, this book is a real eye-opener, fascinating and a little intimidating, giving a glimpse into the world of scientific literature and research. It gave me a somewhat humbling experience that intensifies or even reignites at some points the passion for seeking the truth.

I’ve Never Been so Enthralled by a Research Methods book

If you do medical research or are in any way interested in the topic this book is absolutely mind blowing! Especially the first couple of chapters. It is definitely a bit biased towards industry, a field that does no heavy lifting on novelty, but makes some great points. I listened in one road trip.

Very interesting.

I have MS and even though a lot of this is about cancer research, this is the reason I don't use meds to "control" it.

Important and Well-Written Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The book discusses the systemic problem of irreproducibility in biomedical research and how it can mislead laymen, journalists, and scientists alike. Although the causes are multifaceted (e.g. publish or perish, etc.), the author offers some sound suggestions on how to correct the problem. For someone getting their PhD in the biomedical field, I found the book excellent so much so that I plan to suggest to our Dean that it should be required reading.

What other book might you compare Rigor Mortis to and why?

“Pandora's Lab” by Paul Offit. Dr. Offit discusses how hope combined with shallow research can take society in deadly directions.

Have you listened to any of Joe Delafield’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but we was easy to listen to.

Eye opening to the world of research

which would otherwise remain elusive to the general public. Hope to see a follow up publication.

i love books that give you an insiders understanding of things

most medical research is bs. the studies are poor and often wrong. the dishonest is so pervasive it is mind boggling. this is not just limited to research, but pervades medicine in general. as an outsider it is possible to see that problems exist, but not the true nature or extent of the problem. this book gives the reader an understanding of the dimension of the problem and it’s cause. a really great book.