(arc provided by netgalley!)

I would definitely recommend this book, especially as one to include in an overall collection of books about vaccine skepticism (read: don't just read this book! Read lots of them!). My preferred books about anti-vaxxers is critical yet compassionate, flexible in approach and yet steadfast in perspective. This isn't the book to hand over to the anti-vaxxer or medicine skeptic in your family, but it will help inform your perspective on how to approach them.

I think this book is really enlightening. We are pro-vaccination and have many friends who are vehemently anti-vaccination. My goal in reading this is personal enlightenment and to understand their stance and be able to talk without frustration of not understanding their stance. I found it to be very helpful and the history on vaccines was really interesting.

I couldn't open the file on my e-reader or computer so no reading for this one, sadly. I'd love to have the Netgalley app available in France!

This was an interesting read, one I looked forward to sinking my teeth into. It gave some history of the movement and obviously many of the reasons as to why those who chose not to avail of vaccinations make that decision. It did I feel, give strong background explaining the movement but it would not at all I feel convince somebody, who believe in the importance and necessity of vaccinations, to change their outlook. I do feel the arguments in the book would be compelling enough to do that. But it did give good insight into why someone might choose that path.

A great and informative book that helped me to better understand the anti-vaxxers and what's behind their choices.
It's well written and well researched, full of information and I loved how it is organised.
It is a very interesting read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

First, please let me make clear that I am very pro-vaccination. But, I have friends who have adopted this ideology, and I want to try to understand them instead of dismissing them as kooks and idiots.

The first few chapters talk about anti vaccine movements throughout history. The one common thread is that people allow superstition and fear to override evidence. And when forced to vaccinate, there is violence. I am sympathetic to the feelings of people wanting body autonomy. But, I also believe that people’s fears shouldn’t endanger public health. Another common thread is that anti vaxxers often falsely claim that unspeakable atrocities are being performed in the service of vaccination, like having vaccines tested on orphans.

The next section goes over some of the more prominent scandals surrounding anti-vaxxers. These are the stories that a lot of anti-vaxxers cling to like a branch as they're falling off a cliff. There's no convincing your anti-vaxxer friends or family about these incidents being false.

The book then transitions to an analysis of why anti-vaxxers believe what they do. This is where the book starts to shine. Berman's conclusions are cogent. He then synthesizes all of his findings into a case study and shows us how we can maybe, just maybe, convince the anti-vaxxers in our families and friend groups to examine reliable information. I won't go into specifics, because it's important for people to read this section of the book.

I strongly recommend this book. It's one of the first books I've read that combines an analysis of media theory, behavioral science, and morality to explain why people believe in disproven ideas about vaccines.

In this well written book by Jonathan Berman the reader is given a useful guide to understanding the history and an understanding of the anti-vax movement. The books greatest strength is its ability to lay out a coherent understanding of individuals who are anti-vaxxers. The end result was that I gained an understanding rather than a way to challenge a misinformed movement, but understanding a movement is a start to change. The one criticism I do have of the book is its title. The book really doesn't provide a way to "Challenge a Misinformed Movement", but that being said the book is well worth reading. Thank You NetGalley for allowing me to read this important book, particularly in this time of debate on the Covid-19 vaccine.

This is an excellent, brief overview of the history of vaccines and the anti-vaccine movement. It covers different groups' objections to vaccines, and gives sources with good scientific information. What it did not do as effectively was give strategies for countering anti-vaccine beliefs, despite the subheading on the cover that said it would do just that. I was hoping for more concrete suggestions and sources to help a concerned family member or friend of an anti-vaxxer.