Never Shower in a Thunderstorm: Surprising Facts and Misleading Myths about Our Health and the World We Live in

Lots and lots of good tips. It was so interesting that I read the whole thing in one sitting then passed it along to my kids.

"Wait half and hour after eating before swimming." "Cover your head in the winter so you don't catch a cold." "Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis." We've all heard the old wives tales, but which ones are really true? Based on his New York Times column, "Really?," Anahad O'Connor sets out to tell us just that. In an easy-to-read question and answer format, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm analyzes dozens of commonly held beliefs about health. Some are verified and some are debunked, though which is which may really surprise you. Fully supported by current research and interviews with field experts, O'Connor takes a neutral middle ground, being neither too liberal and "new age-y" nor conservative and cynical in his assessments. His conversational writing style is clever and engaging, as if talking with a witty friend over a coffee or beer. References to current pop culture keep the tone light and entertaining. Several of his answers actually caused me to laugh out loud and read sections to friends. My only wish would be to have included a bibliography or footnotes for those interested a bit more in the science behind the answers. So many of the research articles O'Connor refers to sounded interesting enough to have warranted reading them firsthand. Overall, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for all folks, not just those with a scientific bent. Armchair Interviews says: True or false? This book will tell you.

This book was great fun to read. Many myths, legends, sayings, old wives' tales, etc., all related in some way to health and life, are either debunked or confirmed - and rationales are provided. The author appears to have researched each topic quite exhaustively - not only through reviewing published papers in the scientific and medical literature but also through interviewing acknowledged experts in each field. The book's writing style is friendly, authoritative and very engaging. But what stands out the most is the author's clever wit and humor; on several occasions I found myself laughing out loud. This is a wonderful book that could be enjoyed by anyone, especially those who have ever pondered the veracity of what may or may not be a bit of misinformation.

This book by New York Times columnist Anahad O'Connor made me think of two things that were twin fantasies for a long time. First is the old Hercules cartoon from my youth (think 1970's). Remember when Herc would be attacked by some huge monster and it would be smacking him and his little micro-mini toga all over Olympia? Of course it would throw him into the same rock wall as every other episode and Herc would suddenly remember that he had a ring in his belt that makes him invincible, right? (side note: why did he ever take the ring off?) So the monster charges Herc, screaming its horrible hiss, and Herc seems to pause time while he puts on the jewelery - lightening flashing and crashing - then it's game on, mofo, and Herc kicks the creature a new scream-hole. It's the time-pausing aspect I'm interested in here. Imagine pausing time in a conversation. Couple that with the newish TV commercial for the cellular phone company that has the subscriber constantly surrounded by his or her "network". Hundreds of people who follow you around at all times; imagine that concept only with hundreds of experts in various fields of science, literature and culture at your beck and call to check your facts and offer up opinions that are based on more than what the weirdos at the bait shop think. That's what O'Connor's book is. It's like getting up in the morning and all through the day you get asked about urban legends and old wives' tales and silly pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo. You though, today, have the ability to Herc-pause time so you can check with your network of experts. You can check your references, cite your sources, and generally have the "smugness of certainty" (as far as science can be certain). It's like Mythbusters, only without the explosions, beret, or unruly moustache. O'Connor has compiled 221 pages of his NYT Really? column and come up with a nice little book in the same vein as Robert Wolke's What Einstein Told His Barber and Jay Ingram's The Velocity of Honey. It has an easy conversational style that makes you feel like you're having a few beers with David Suzuki or some other notable know-it-all. There are many studies cited and although there are no notes or references, you could certainly check for yourself if the need arose. Do yourself a favor and pick up Never Shower in a Thunderstorm. It'll make you less likely to get a girlfriend, what with you spitting out random facts like some Tourette's Savant, but you'll know to buy a manual toothbrush with a clear head. And isn't that better in the long run? ...Don't answer that.

I've actually known Anahad personally since he was 16 and a student in my American Lit class, and I can tell you this: (1) I just got my copy and the book is great fun; (2) you can trust the book to be 100% accurate; (3) Anahad's a great guy. Yeah, a bibliography would be nice, but I'll tell you, this is a writer you can actually trust. Fun, interesting, and accurate--what more do you want?