Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex: Science and Pseudoscience in Everyday Life

by Joe Schwarcz

In this new collection of bite-size pop science essays, bestselling author, chemistry professor, and radio broadcaster Dr. Joe Schwarcz shows that you can find science virtually anywhere you look. And the closer you look, the more fascinating it becomes. In this volume, we look through our magnifying glass at maraschino cherries, frizzy hair, duct tape, pickle juice, yellow school buses, aphrodisiacs, dental implants, and bull testes. If those don’t tickle your fancy, how about aconite murders, shot towers, book smells, Swarovski crystals, French wines, bees, or head transplants? You can also learn about the scientific escapades of James Bond, California’s confusing Proposition 65, the problems with oxygen on Mars, Valentine’s Meat Juice, the benefits of pasteurization, the pros and cons of red light therapy, the controversy swirling around perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), why English cucumbers are wrapped in plastic, and how probiotics may have seeded Hitler’s downfall. Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex answers all your burning questions about the science of everyday life,

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Dr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.

Reviews

[Mary | maryreadstoomuch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of essays would really benefit from some sort of sectioning into narratives to tie topics together. It was hard to get into a book with tons of 2-3 page essays that were not connected by the author. As a fellow scientist, I also did not care for the the amount of absolute/definitive language used in the summaries of various sections.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this book while doing chores made the time go by faster. One new thing that I learned was that you can buy candles that smell like books. Perfect for those who read e-books and miss that scent!

[Joshua Prouty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book about various science topics from the invention of nylon to antibiotic resistance. All of it is put in layman's terms for the most part and are relatively short chapters. The only thing is there really are not chapters the book reads like one long stream of consciousness going from one topic to the next. It's not necessarily a bad thing but it may not be for everyone who is used to a book having an overarching theme or flow. A few of the sections even have this aspect of getting sidetracked like in the nylon chapter it goes from talking about the creation of nylon to the nitrous oxide byproduct being environmentally problematic to synthetic biology being a potential solution back to nylon being a wonder chemical and widely adopted worldwide. Overall still a good book but could use some more polishing from an editor to help with flow. Thanks to netgalley.com for the eARC to review this.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex, Dr. Joe Schwarcz provides short blurbs about everyday science stuff that are easy to digest and focus more on the story of the science rather jumping straight into the hard concepts. Dr. Schwarcz’s writing is very approachable and each segment is short enough to read in just a few minutes and feel satisfied about learning something. This was the first time I had read any of Dr. Schwarcz’s work; when I saw the title on NetGalley “Science and Pseudoscience in Everyday Life” I had to check it out to see if there is anything that can possibly be worked into any of the “science of everyday life” courses I teach. I think that the simple explanations of techniques and concepts in layman terms is great for any non-scientist to jump into.

This book is designed to make the reader think critically about buzzwords and the science in the news – like “superfoods” and “biobased”. These words make things sound positive and beneficial to health and the environment – but a lot of it is just good marketing. Even as a scientist, I found myself starting to think more skeptically about headlines popping up!

The nature of the book is such that there is no cohesive plot line or large organization. This makes it easy to jump in anywhere and to share select stories to supplement some general learning in a classroom setting. I do think that I personally would have enjoyed it a bit more if it was organized by timeline or by larger topic. As an educator, I wish that the table of contents had a bit more descriptions of each segment or an index at the end so they are easier to reference. I also had a want for references and recommended further readings on the topics; especially for a book that was pushing some healthy skepticism, not citing the sources had me raise an eyebrow. I am not sure if Dr. Schwarcz’s works usually include an index or references in the final version.

All in all I think that this work does show that there is “science, science everywhere” and that “we all practice science on a daily basis” in our critical thinking and reasoning with the world around us.

[Hasta Fu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Superfoods, Silkworms, and Spandex: Science and Pseudoscience in Everyday Life" by Dr. Joe Schwarcz is a fascinating collection of bite-sized essays that delve into the world of science and pseudoscience. I listened to the audiobook from Libby, borrowed from Singapore NLB, for several days during my commute. I had no problem reminding where I was because of the short stories.

The book is a good-read for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of science and its applications in everyday life. Dr. Schwarcz's writing style is engaging, witty, and accessible, making the book an enjoyable read even for those who are new to the subject. He uses relatable examples and anecdotes to explain complex scientific concepts, making the book easy to follow and understand.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from the science behind superfoods and their health benefits to the history and production of spandex. Dr. Schwarcz also explores the world of pseudoscience, examining the claims made by various products and practices that are often marketed as having scientific backing but lack credible evidence. One is about lead poisoning in ships, some people even used the term "the leaded one" which means a stronger version of something.

One of the book's strongest aspects is its critical analysis of pseudoscience. Dr. Schwarcz does an excellent job of debunking common myths and misconceptions, providing readers with a clear understanding of what constitutes science and what does not. Perhaps he is the predecessor of "Mythbusters". His approach is both informative and entertaining, making the book a valuable resource for anyone looking to separate fact from fiction.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As with his previous books, the snippets are well written and in a conversational tone, with Dr. Schwarcz showing a good sense of humor. The topics are fascinating and I found that there was a lot of great information that, to me, falls into the area of the history of science, which I love. Dr. Schwarcz also did a great job of not only discussing some scientists' accomplishments, but also calling them out for bad behaviour. I love the snippet format, that makes the book easy to pick up and read whenever some time pops up, although quite frankly I loved the book so much I just read it straight through. Although very sciency, Schwarcz explains everything very clearly and does not use jargon. Overall, this book is well worth reading and provides captivating accounts of science, for people familiar or not with science. Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for the advance reader copy.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superfoods silkworm and Spandex is a collection of articles by Jow Schwarcz covering an array of topics ranging from why cucumbers are covered in plastic to how fiberglass was invented.
Dr. Schwartz was trained in chemistry and it shows as he weaves chemistry through the various topics he presents. I also appreciate the contempt for quacks, pseudoscience, and science deniers he shows throughout.
Al that being said, this is not a book to necessarily sit down and devour all at once. It was originally written as a series of articles, and it still would work great as a book whose short articles you might use to kill a few minutes here or there. Another use might be using a relevant article as an introductory reading for a chapter in chemistry and other science courses.
Overall, well done and a nice read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by Dr. Joe and I loved it! The short chapters of fascinating subjects are perfect for times when you only have a few minutes to read. I always seem to have multiple books in play: car book, porch book, bedside book, etc. This one makes a perfect car book. You can read a chapter in a few minutes while you are waiting for an appointment. Would be the perfect book for a Ride Share driver!!! Full disclosure, I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of this book to preview. But, the opinion is all mine.

[Cheryl]

Carefully skimmed; cannot rate. I, personally, was not impressed - but then I read a lot of full-length treatments of science issues. This is the kind of book that will hopefully reach the less scientifically literate. And Dr. Joe has published a bunch of similar titles, so I do recommend you go see what your library has and read the snippets that interest you. This one is a fairly new title so it includes reminders that vaccines are good and that 'natural' and 'chemical-free' are BS marketing terms.

March 2025

[Mike A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the type of book that is easy to dip in and out of, as it’s a compilation of individual popular-science columns. The prose is (caution: lived-experience stereotypes ahead) a little weird and a little stilted, owing to the Canadian-ness and scientist-ness of the author) but the nuggets contained therein are still undoubtedly interesting and enlightening. Worth a read, if only to have a book with SPANDEX emblazoned on the cover.

[L Bianco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to be read in snippets, each essay is short, and they always seem to lead to wanting to know more about something else along the way. Some are more interesting than others, but there is something for everybody in the book. Well written and easy to read, but not talking down to the reader. My only minor complaint is there are too many unnecessary exclamation marks.

[Randal White · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of little science stories. Rather reminded me of a more serious take on "Uncle John's Bathroom Readers". You can read the book from cover to cover, or just pick out the stories that interest you. Not a hard read. Could have used a good proofreader.

[Jim B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not actually a cohesive book, but rather a bunch of essays, most of which relate to chemistry and some of which call out pseudoscience. Many were interesting, but the attempts at humor fell flat, and the complete lack of references was a little galling.

[Keith Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Superfoods…” is a fun collection of essays unafraid to delve into the weirder side of science. Each topic is briefly covered, so those seeking deep dives should look elsewhere. It’s best read in nibbles; I imagine it being the perfect bathroom book for the days that one’s phone is on 1%.

[Tory]

DNF during the intro chapter. It's not the book. It's me (not being into the book).

[Annie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reader on the inventions and scientific discoveries that shape the world around us.

[Rayfes Mondal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of essays with scientific history and debunking various topics with some humor thrown in. I feel the author's pain and annoyance with what some charlatans say

[Halifax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. Great narration by Rich Miller. Now I know why my mom (born 1924] washed, opened both ends and smashed tin cans!

[An · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone else mentioned, this book could have benefited from categorical sectioning. It's a super easy light read but it doesn't delve much into the pseudoscience. I’d rate it 3.25/5

[Ashley Hoover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I didn't always understand the chemistry but I still learned a lot. Little chapters that are both a history and science lesson.

[Samantha Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disjointed and poorly put together. The lack of proper references should be embarrassing for the author. Not worth the paper it's printed on.