"Nattrass (economics, Univ. of Cape Town) here exposes the antiscience
consequences of AIDS denialism and AIDS conspiracy theories. By claiming
that HIV doesn't cause AIDS, denialists undermine HIV prevention work
and cause more infections among adherents by influencing them not to
take precautions against HIV. Thousands died in South Africa when
President Thabo Mbeki advised citizens not to take antiretroviral drugs.
Nattrass describes the strong social components of AIDS denialism,
which typically centers on four players: the hero scientist (e.g.,
denialist Peter Duesberg), the "cultropreneur" (e.g., those who exploit
HIV patients by condemning antiretroviral medicine and selling herbal
remedies instead), the living icon (HIV-positive people who offer
themselves as proof that HIV doesn't cause AIDS), and the praise singer,
such as those who produce films praising the denialism. VERDICT
Focusing mostly on the United States and South Africa, this book is
readable and compelling though written in a scholarly style. A
remarkably well-argued case against unscientific approaches to AIDS and a
brilliant defense of evidence-based medicine. A must-read for all who
study AIDS history.-" (Library Journal)
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