Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Do You Believe in Magic? summary
Vitamins, Supplements, and All Things Natural: A Look Behind the Curtain
10 mins
Brief summary
'Do You Believe in Magic?' is a book by Paul A. Offit that provides a critical look at the world of alternative medicine, including its claims, safety, and effectiveness. It argues for the importance of science-based medicine.
Topics
Table of Contents
Do You Believe in Magic?
Summary of 4 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 4
Dietary supplements and natural remedies are not as healthy as you think.
Do you feel extremely tired sometimes? Don’t look as youthful as you did ten years ago? Then you’re definitely lacking vitamins! But here’s the good news: You just need to pop some pills and everything will be OK. Right?
If only it were that simple. The reality is that vitamin supplements and their alleged health benefits are vastly overrated. If we listen to the claims of supplement providers and get sucked in by those promising words in their campaigns – natural, bio, organic – then we’re easily convinced that vitamins are a modern miracle.
Even exceptional chemist and two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling claimed that a daily dosage of 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C could cure not only a common cold, but also cancer. Unfortunately, this just isn’t the case. Studies have shown that vitamin pills don’t improve our health. In fact, they can do just the opposite.
In 2004, researchers from the University of Copenhagen reviewed several studies of a total of 170,000 people to determine whether taking vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene prevented intestinal cancer. The results were surprising, and disturbing: death rates are six percent higher in people taking vitamins.
Want to see all full key ideas from Do You Believe in Magic??
Key ideas in Do You Believe in Magic?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Do You Believe in Magic? about?
Do You Believe in Magic? (2013) uncovers the hidden truth behind the alternative medicine. With insightful research findings and revealing case studies, these blinks will make us rethink our beliefs about supposedly all-natural treatments, and their less than healing side effects.
Do You Believe in Magic? Review
Do You Believe in Magic? (2013) explores the world of alternative medicine and the dangers of relying on unproven remedies. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It presents compelling cases and evidence against alternative medicine, encouraging critical thinking and informed decision-making.
- Using scientific research and personal anecdotes, it sheds light on the potential risks and consequences of trusting in unproven treatments.
- The book's engaging narrative and thought-provoking arguments make it an eye-opening exploration that keeps readers engaged and offers new perspectives.
Best quote from Do You Believe in Magic?
We hate Big Pharma...We leap into the arms of Big Placebo. - Michael Specter
—Paul A. Offit
Who should read Do You Believe in Magic??
- People who take vitamins and supplements daily
- Patients who are discontented with conventional medicine and are considering alternatives
- Fans wondering about the latest miraculous remedy recommended by their favorite movie star
Categories with Do You Believe in Magic?
Book summaries like Do You Believe in Magic?
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Do You Believe in Magic? FAQs
What is the main message of Do You Believe in Magic??
The main message of Do You Believe in Magic? is to critically evaluate the use of alternative medicine and be cautious of false claims.
How long does it take to read Do You Believe in Magic??
The reading time for Do You Believe in Magic? varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Do You Believe in Magic? a good book? Is it worth reading?
Do You Believe in Magic? is worth reading for its eye-opening insights into alternative medicine, shedding light on the potential risks and dangers involved.
Who is the author of Do You Believe in Magic??
The author of Do You Believe in Magic? is Paul A. Offit.
What to read after Do You Believe in Magic??
If you're wondering what to read next after Do You Believe in Magic?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Do No Harm by Henry Marsh
- Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes
- The Vitamin Solution by Romy Block and Arielle Levitan
- Get to the Point! by Joel Schwartzberg
- Moon by Ben Moore
- Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
- The Self Delusion by Gregory Berns
- The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom
- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
- How to Speed Read People by Patrick King