BAD ADVICE: Or Why Celebrities, Politicians, and Activists Aren’t Your Best Source of Health Information. Paul A. Offit, MD. Noted physician and vaccinations expert Paul Offit (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) is on a tear. He’s already written worthy books on vaccines, antibiotics, alternative medicine, dietary supplements, megavitamins, faith healing, and scientific discoveries gone awry. Here he looks at how popular culture affects our choices and decisions about health care, not always for the better. Since it’s difficult for most people to sort out good studies from bad, they make decisions based on the believability of whoever is doing the talking. Charisma, appearance, and personalities win out over fact and logic. He also hopes people might learn from his journey through the obstacle course that he had to fight, including hostile activists and personal injury lawyers, threats, and lawsuits. Columbia University Press, 2018, 238 pp., $24.95.