Hacker News Reader

Comment by tptacek | Hacker News Reader

Worth mentioning, maybe, because I was surprised by this factoid when I learned it: Gary Taubes is not one of the 10,487 "nutrition experts" hawking diet books; his best-known book, _Good Calories, Bad Calories_, is a serious pop-sci look at the scientific controversies behind nutrition; prior to writing it, Taubes was already a science writer of no small repute.

Interesting to see him take the "laws of thermodynamics" meme head on.

View on HN

This article is my introduction to this author. After reading it, and being incensed at how thoroughly bad it was, I researched the author's previous work, his background, and the list of accolades he has received. It's distressing to see someone who clearly doesn't know what he's talking about being rewarded as a serious expert. The things he says are either false or nonsensical. He generates controversy. He knows how to sell books. That's about it. Whatever scientific reputation he has is based on tricking people who don't know how to dissect an argument.

Was it hard writing this comment while waving your arms so wildly about?

How about some of your own facts/links/corrections showing where he "clearly doesn't know what he's talking about".

I have read several of Gary Taubes books, including Good Calories, Bad Calories that he mentioned and his earlier book (massive tome, might be better) Bad Science on the cold fusion debacle. He might tend to get a little carried away with enthusiasm for his subject at times, but they have all been both fascinating reading and well documented.

Well, it's good to see that Taubes also gets people just makin' up this sort of stuff about him, even though his credentials aren't in doubt; and that it's not just me.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com