What do you think?
Rate this book
Unreported Truths about COVID-19 and Lockdowns: Part 1: Introduction and Death Counts and Estimates
Former New York Times reporter and prominent lockdown critic Alex Berenson provides a counterweight to media hysteria about coronavirus in this series of short booklets answering crucial questions about COVID. Drawing on primary sources from all over the world - including state and national-level government data, Centers for Disease Control reports, and papers in prominent scientific journals - Unreported Truths about COVID-19 and Lockdowns offers clear, concise, and measured answers to some of the most important questions around the How are COVID deaths counted? How many Americans are likely to die in a worst-case scenario? What is the evidence that lockdowns do or do not help reduce the spread of the illness? Are masks an effective way to reduce the spread? Why did the forecasts for coronavirus hospitalizations prove so wrong? Are children at serious risk from coronavirus? What has the mental health impact of lockdowns been?Whether you have been skeptical of the media's panicked reporting all along or are just starting to wonder why the predictions of doom from March and April have not come to pass, this guide will provide you with the factual, accurate, and impeccably sourced information you need. Please Unreported Truths will be published in multiple sections. Part 1 includes an introduction, an examination of the way COVID deaths are counted, and a forecast for a potential worst-case scenario of coronavirus deaths in the United States.
41 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2020
1783 people are currently reading
1312 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
June 5, 2020
Finally some real facts and data instead of hype and fear mongering!
I think this author did a fantastic job presenting real data (with citations to primary sources) in a logical and rational way. Thank you! Thank you for having the courage to speak the truth. There has been so much misinformation and fear mongering from governments and the [entire] media related to this virus. It’s ridiculous and disappointing and the “shut down” of our communities is absolutely wrong, so painfully and obviously wrong. What a serious, disastrous mistake. To those in the media reading this review who are contributing to the hype and fear mongering: I hope you feel embarrassed because you should. You’ve failed at doing your job. You’re trampling on the legacy of all the real journalists who’ve gone before you- those who actually reported what happened vs. incessantly pushing their own political agenda. Virtually everyone I speak to-liberal and conservative-knows your biased, so obviously biased. Even Amazon/Jeff Bezos (also of course the owner of a major media outlet- go figure) tried to suppress this book and not allow it to be published. Thank you Elon Musk for your retweeting-you’re The Greatest! Amazon’s “excuse” to the author is LAME! Shame on you Amazon!
I think this author did a fantastic job presenting real data (with citations to primary sources) in a logical and rational way. Thank you! Thank you for having the courage to speak the truth. There has been so much misinformation and fear mongering from governments and the [entire] media related to this virus. It’s ridiculous and disappointing and the “shut down” of our communities is absolutely wrong, so painfully and obviously wrong. What a serious, disastrous mistake. To those in the media reading this review who are contributing to the hype and fear mongering: I hope you feel embarrassed because you should. You’ve failed at doing your job. You’re trampling on the legacy of all the real journalists who’ve gone before you- those who actually reported what happened vs. incessantly pushing their own political agenda. Virtually everyone I speak to-liberal and conservative-knows your biased, so obviously biased. Even Amazon/Jeff Bezos (also of course the owner of a major media outlet- go figure) tried to suppress this book and not allow it to be published. Thank you Elon Musk for your retweeting-you’re The Greatest! Amazon’s “excuse” to the author is LAME! Shame on you Amazon!
June 6, 2020
Media Shocker: Journalist Reveals Facts: "Well, it had to happen sooner or later that someone would challenge the dominant narrative."
Berenson has done a brilliant job of collating government data on COVID-19 deaths and illustrated that they don't actually match up with the apocalyptic narrative broadcast by the established media over the first half of 2020.
Will it turn out that our modern civilization panicked out of all proportion to the actual threat. That remains to be seen.
At the start of this year, I was thinking we were looking at a Spanish Flu redux event with 50 to 80 million dying world wide over a 12 to 18 month period. My view has steadily changed over time as the Infection Fatality Ratio continued to drop, and the impact on younger population cohorts didn't eventuate.
I look forward to the next installment.
I'm marking this as essential reading for any thinking adult. 5 'Actual Investigative Journalism,' stars.
Berenson has done a brilliant job of collating government data on COVID-19 deaths and illustrated that they don't actually match up with the apocalyptic narrative broadcast by the established media over the first half of 2020.
Will it turn out that our modern civilization panicked out of all proportion to the actual threat. That remains to be seen.
At the start of this year, I was thinking we were looking at a Spanish Flu redux event with 50 to 80 million dying world wide over a 12 to 18 month period. My view has steadily changed over time as the Infection Fatality Ratio continued to drop, and the impact on younger population cohorts didn't eventuate.
I look forward to the next installment.
I'm marking this as essential reading for any thinking adult. 5 'Actual Investigative Journalism,' stars.
June 25, 2020
Everyone should read this, it’s really eye-opening. It's sad that there aren't more independent journalists like this, who are interested in investigating important stories, asking questions when something doesn’t makes sense, and trying to get to the truth, rather than just parroting whatever talking points are approved by their employer.
With this pandemic there has been so much conflicting information, it is insane to believe that you can't question statements made by any particular source. You may disagree with Berensons arguments and conclusions, but what is truly frightening to me is the extent to which he has been subjected to abuse and censure for asking the questions.
With this pandemic there has been so much conflicting information, it is insane to believe that you can't question statements made by any particular source. You may disagree with Berensons arguments and conclusions, but what is truly frightening to me is the extent to which he has been subjected to abuse and censure for asking the questions.
July 16, 2020
Read references beginning to end
Lies, damn lies and statistics. Then there's statistics in the hands of media ... Both sides of the media. Agree there is media hysteria, but we need a balanced view.
Author has a biased view despite what he says. There is very good evidence covid cases are being counted correctly (close enough anyway) and you can figure that out from the references he provides.
Author also points out that average age of death is 81 years old and those who died were going to die soon anyway (I guess thinking average age of death is around that age). First, tell that to an 81 year old and second if you reach 81 years old you are likely to live 5 to 11 years longer. Remember average age of death counts people who died at young ages. Once you get to 81, you didn't die young and those statistics are behind you. In fact it is reported that the average years of life lost for someone who does from covid is 11 years. That sounds right to me based on average age of death from covid and remaining years of life at that age.
I was really looking for a balanced view and didn't get it. Covid is killing folks, young and old. It's not likely as bad as some media wants you to believe, but it's bad, worse than the flu for very many classes of people. Better for others. I'm taking precautions and being courteous to others by wearing a mask and keeping my distance. Seems like an easy way to save lives.
Lies, damn lies and statistics. Then there's statistics in the hands of media ... Both sides of the media. Agree there is media hysteria, but we need a balanced view.
Author has a biased view despite what he says. There is very good evidence covid cases are being counted correctly (close enough anyway) and you can figure that out from the references he provides.
Author also points out that average age of death is 81 years old and those who died were going to die soon anyway (I guess thinking average age of death is around that age). First, tell that to an 81 year old and second if you reach 81 years old you are likely to live 5 to 11 years longer. Remember average age of death counts people who died at young ages. Once you get to 81, you didn't die young and those statistics are behind you. In fact it is reported that the average years of life lost for someone who does from covid is 11 years. That sounds right to me based on average age of death from covid and remaining years of life at that age.
I was really looking for a balanced view and didn't get it. Covid is killing folks, young and old. It's not likely as bad as some media wants you to believe, but it's bad, worse than the flu for very many classes of people. Better for others. I'm taking precautions and being courteous to others by wearing a mask and keeping my distance. Seems like an easy way to save lives.
June 9, 2020
I think Unreported Truths is a MUST READ given all that has been going on with the COVID-19 crisis.
"Investigative journalists have an old saw: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. In other words, question everything."
Alex Berenson is an investigative reporter who has worked for NYT in the past. I came upon this book by pure chance. Since I'm an avid follower of Elon Musk on Twitter, I was not surprised to find out Musk escalating his rivalry with Bezos after Amazon tried to censor this book. When I saw this, I immediately knew I had to read this one.
In my opinion, people who have been regularly following the pandemic should not miss Unreported Truths. Even scientific journals and academic institutions have got it wrong regarding COVID-19. Berenson, validates his claims by providing links to sources.
The media portrayal of the virus and the claims made by many politicians should be taken with a grain of salt. He talks in detail about US media outlets' refusal to showcase many reports that come as a challenge to the mainstream narrative.
This opened my eyes to how cases are counted and what constitutes as a death - a COVID-19 death is counted in two ways, a person with symptoms who died and a person who definitely died from COVID.
The fact that this short read got censored and the author and his family got death threats, speaks volumes about a culture that values mainstream opinions rather than solid facts.
I admire the author's courage to question the status quo and I'm looking forward to part II.
"Investigative journalists have an old saw: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. In other words, question everything."
Alex Berenson is an investigative reporter who has worked for NYT in the past. I came upon this book by pure chance. Since I'm an avid follower of Elon Musk on Twitter, I was not surprised to find out Musk escalating his rivalry with Bezos after Amazon tried to censor this book. When I saw this, I immediately knew I had to read this one.
In my opinion, people who have been regularly following the pandemic should not miss Unreported Truths. Even scientific journals and academic institutions have got it wrong regarding COVID-19. Berenson, validates his claims by providing links to sources.
The media portrayal of the virus and the claims made by many politicians should be taken with a grain of salt. He talks in detail about US media outlets' refusal to showcase many reports that come as a challenge to the mainstream narrative.
This opened my eyes to how cases are counted and what constitutes as a death - a COVID-19 death is counted in two ways, a person with symptoms who died and a person who definitely died from COVID.
The fact that this short read got censored and the author and his family got death threats, speaks volumes about a culture that values mainstream opinions rather than solid facts.
I admire the author's courage to question the status quo and I'm looking forward to part II.
June 7, 2020
I highly recommend this booklet to any adult who is concerned about the mortality rate of the COVID-19 virus. As a physician and former clinical professor I am deeply concerned about the politicization of medicine by the FDA, CDC and other federal departments. Rejection of the hydroxy Clora Quinn combination of drugs for the treatment of early COVID-19 patients has led to the unnecessary suffering and deaths of tens of thousands of patients. When did medicine start looking to the media and politicians for guidance on how to treat patients. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this pamphlet,to understand how the estimates could have been so tragically wrong.
I highly recommend this booklet to any adult who is concerned about the wildly incorrect estimates we were given in January and February. I am a physician and former clinical professor, and deeply concerned about the politicalization of medicine by the main stream media and politicians. Rejection of the hydroxy Clora Quinn combination of drugs for the treatment of early COVID-19 has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. I am looking forward to reading the final chapters of this book.
I highly recommend this booklet to any adult who is concerned about the wildly incorrect estimates we were given in January and February. I am a physician and former clinical professor, and deeply concerned about the politicalization of medicine by the main stream media and politicians. Rejection of the hydroxy Clora Quinn combination of drugs for the treatment of early COVID-19 has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. I am looking forward to reading the final chapters of this book.
June 6, 2020
Should be required reading
Most of us who do due diligence and actually look at other news sources beside msm are generally speaking,already aware of the basic truths the author points out.For example,due to the handling of the racial protests,the authorities did not truly beleive the story they were promoting to us about the necessity of the lockdowns,and in about two weeks,when there is no massive uptick ininfections,(and more importantly,hospitalization s)even the dumbest among us are going to realise we have been had by those on the left,in order to further their political agenda.Unfortunatly,the propaganda they are promoting about 'systematic racism' is very effective,and not enough people who know the truth,(which can be proven through statistics),are willing to stand up against this absurd lie,designed to divide us,and give power to those who wish to control us.
And unfortunately,to few realize where the path the left is trying to lead us down,leads to-it's a bad place,a very bad place,one with ovens,and 're education' camps at the end of that road.Be afraid,be very afraid
Most of us who do due diligence and actually look at other news sources beside msm are generally speaking,already aware of the basic truths the author points out.For example,due to the handling of the racial protests,the authorities did not truly beleive the story they were promoting to us about the necessity of the lockdowns,and in about two weeks,when there is no massive uptick ininfections,(and more importantly,hospitalization s)even the dumbest among us are going to realise we have been had by those on the left,in order to further their political agenda.Unfortunatly,the propaganda they are promoting about 'systematic racism' is very effective,and not enough people who know the truth,(which can be proven through statistics),are willing to stand up against this absurd lie,designed to divide us,and give power to those who wish to control us.
And unfortunately,to few realize where the path the left is trying to lead us down,leads to-it's a bad place,a very bad place,one with ovens,and 're education' camps at the end of that road.Be afraid,be very afraid
June 6, 2020
It has been extremely difficult to decipher all the numbers, data and storylines related to Covid-19 because they vary so widely and are rarely easy to compare. There was little in this book I didn’t already suspect based on reading between the lines of what the media and government officials report. But it was a relief to have my common sense suspicions confirmed by a straightforward, data-driven assessment of what the actual risks are. The author’s conclusions are based on a solid data from numerous, reputable sources.
June 5, 2020
Current Data which Reveals Age Related Factors
I read this E book in about 20 minutes and now have the facts about the overstatement of potential deaths from Covid-19. I will be buying future installments as the author is releasing as he finishes the chapters. This is the first installment and tops the best seller list.
I read this E book in about 20 minutes and now have the facts about the overstatement of potential deaths from Covid-19. I will be buying future installments as the author is releasing as he finishes the chapters. This is the first installment and tops the best seller list.
June 6, 2020
Since the day COVID19 cases sparked in my country, there arose few controversies too. I can see two types of people: 1) Calls COVID19 a Hoax. 2) Believe in COVID19 and all the numbers that the media provides.
I am obviously inclined towards the second type as COVID is real, very real.
Coming to the booklet, it's a very small but extremely to the point read - which I liked the most. Alex has come up with references and he didn't cook the numbers himself. He quoted the prestigious organizations in the booklet.
The statistical data would definitely give you a reason to look at the hype media has created. It is true that people are dying and Alex didn't deny it. But the way deads are tagged as COVID patients is worrisome.
Waiting for the next chapter. I hope Alex had completed the book at once.
I am obviously inclined towards the second type as COVID is real, very real.
Coming to the booklet, it's a very small but extremely to the point read - which I liked the most. Alex has come up with references and he didn't cook the numbers himself. He quoted the prestigious organizations in the booklet.
The statistical data would definitely give you a reason to look at the hype media has created. It is true that people are dying and Alex didn't deny it. But the way deads are tagged as COVID patients is worrisome.
Waiting for the next chapter. I hope Alex had completed the book at once.
June 5, 2020
A voice of reason, an antidote for fear
The author does not shy away from worst case sceanarios, discussing them frankly. He then shows, with links on nearly every page, exactly why the worst cases will not happen, and why the excessively drawn-out lockdowns have not and will not help.
We were supposed to flatten the curve, but it has been flat. Millions of $$$ of tent hospitals have been dismantled after never seeing a patient. It’s time to end the fear.
The author does not shy away from worst case sceanarios, discussing them frankly. He then shows, with links on nearly every page, exactly why the worst cases will not happen, and why the excessively drawn-out lockdowns have not and will not help.
We were supposed to flatten the curve, but it has been flat. Millions of $$$ of tent hospitals have been dismantled after never seeing a patient. It’s time to end the fear.
June 9, 2020
Berenson has done an excellent job of writing an accurate assessment of the Covid-19 lockdown; far better than what we are getting from the mainstream media.
Neil Ferguson’s Imperial College of London’s paper predicted that the coronavirus might kill a half-million Britons and two million Americans if the governments did not act immediately to close schools and businesses, i.e., a total economic shutdown. This prediction was based upon Ferguson’s algorithms. As a former pharmaceutical industry scientist who has been burned more than once by lofty predictions based upon algorithms, I was skeptical from the beginning.
The original rationale for the hard lock down was NOT to reduce infections or deaths to zero; that would be an impossible objective. The reason was to “flatten the curve”, which meant to prevent the Covid-19 patients from collapsing our health-care system. But, the system was never in danger of collapsing.
It appears that our political leaders, in most Western countries, were driven into a panic by weak science and a strong non-objective media.
It also appears that many municipal/state agencies are over-reporting Covid-19 deaths. Washington state reported on May 21 it had included five people who had died of gunshots in its total of approximately 1000 Covid-19 deaths. We seem to have failed to make the distinction between “dying with Covid-19 as opposed to FROM Covid-19”.
Berenson has done an excellent job. This is what real reporting used to look like. It’s been a long time since I have seen it. I look forward to the continuation of this series. Every thinking person should read it!
Neil Ferguson’s Imperial College of London’s paper predicted that the coronavirus might kill a half-million Britons and two million Americans if the governments did not act immediately to close schools and businesses, i.e., a total economic shutdown. This prediction was based upon Ferguson’s algorithms. As a former pharmaceutical industry scientist who has been burned more than once by lofty predictions based upon algorithms, I was skeptical from the beginning.
The original rationale for the hard lock down was NOT to reduce infections or deaths to zero; that would be an impossible objective. The reason was to “flatten the curve”, which meant to prevent the Covid-19 patients from collapsing our health-care system. But, the system was never in danger of collapsing.
It appears that our political leaders, in most Western countries, were driven into a panic by weak science and a strong non-objective media.
It also appears that many municipal/state agencies are over-reporting Covid-19 deaths. Washington state reported on May 21 it had included five people who had died of gunshots in its total of approximately 1000 Covid-19 deaths. We seem to have failed to make the distinction between “dying with Covid-19 as opposed to FROM Covid-19”.
Berenson has done an excellent job. This is what real reporting used to look like. It’s been a long time since I have seen it. I look forward to the continuation of this series. Every thinking person should read it!
June 5, 2020
Thank you Mr. Berendon. "The truth shall set us free" !!!
I think this is a truthful and very helpful explanation of who is at risk.. I am a 74 year old man. I have NO heart or lung diseases. I DO have diabetes, which is controlled by diet and exercise and medication.
Because of the information in this book. I no longer feel so afraid of dying from this covid virus. I thank Mr. Berenson for that.
Sir, you have done America (and the world) a great service. Truth frees people from fear and panic. I've become more and more sceptical (indeed, most recently even cynical) of the response of.media and their chosen "experts" as well as some political personalities' responses to this "crisis". This booklet, filled to the brim with accurate and thoughtful information has proved my scepticism (and perhaps my growing cynicism) right and reasonable.
I eagerly look forward to the rest of his reporting. I hope it is published before the opening of the nation's schools.
Again, thank you Mr. Berenson.
I think this is a truthful and very helpful explanation of who is at risk.. I am a 74 year old man. I have NO heart or lung diseases. I DO have diabetes, which is controlled by diet and exercise and medication.
Because of the information in this book. I no longer feel so afraid of dying from this covid virus. I thank Mr. Berenson for that.
Sir, you have done America (and the world) a great service. Truth frees people from fear and panic. I've become more and more sceptical (indeed, most recently even cynical) of the response of.media and their chosen "experts" as well as some political personalities' responses to this "crisis". This booklet, filled to the brim with accurate and thoughtful information has proved my scepticism (and perhaps my growing cynicism) right and reasonable.
I eagerly look forward to the rest of his reporting. I hope it is published before the opening of the nation's schools.
Again, thank you Mr. Berenson.
June 5, 2020
A must read for influencers and those who follow them
As a father of 4, I dug deep and deligently into what kind of threat we faced with COVID going into March. I gathered that the threat was not as bad as it could have been. Then my concerns immediately shifted to all the fallout that countless lives would face from lockdown decisions. So appreciative for how Alex has been a voice of reason, when reason no longer seems to matter. Found this very well written, a must read. Alex, thank you. We will be passing it on, and look forward to future sections.
As a father of 4, I dug deep and deligently into what kind of threat we faced with COVID going into March. I gathered that the threat was not as bad as it could have been. Then my concerns immediately shifted to all the fallout that countless lives would face from lockdown decisions. So appreciative for how Alex has been a voice of reason, when reason no longer seems to matter. Found this very well written, a must read. Alex, thank you. We will be passing it on, and look forward to future sections.
June 5, 2020
Finally, an analytical report on Coronavirus
I have suspected that this has been a media-driven pandemic. With the author being a former journalist for the NY Times, I was initially skeptical of the reporting, but Mr. Berenson's analysis has been well researched and presented clearly and convincingly. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I have suspected that this has been a media-driven pandemic. With the author being a former journalist for the NY Times, I was initially skeptical of the reporting, but Mr. Berenson's analysis has been well researched and presented clearly and convincingly. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 25, 2020
Just the facts.
June 6, 2020
It's about time.
It's about time someone had the guts to rationally examine the numbers and other important statistics and say what this little book is saying. Even with a background in journalism, the author presents his evidence without mudslinging or proselytizing (and yes, I am making a statement). And it's not as if he is recommending anyone dive naked into a pool of COVID-19 soup. Actually, the news of the numbers is out there - it's just not out there through the Main Stream Media.
Has anyone seen a news report on a letter to President Trump very recently? The letter was written by Dr. Simone Gold, an emergency medicine specialist in Los Angeles, and signed by over 500 physicians expressing concern and frustration over the "thousands and thousands of stories of patient harm...." resulting from the lockdown.
In my opinion, this is turning into more than a lockdown on people's lives; it is evolving into a lockdown on the truth - and that must be as vigorously resisted as infection with COVID-19. This little book is a beginning.
It's about time someone had the guts to rationally examine the numbers and other important statistics and say what this little book is saying. Even with a background in journalism, the author presents his evidence without mudslinging or proselytizing (and yes, I am making a statement). And it's not as if he is recommending anyone dive naked into a pool of COVID-19 soup. Actually, the news of the numbers is out there - it's just not out there through the Main Stream Media.
Has anyone seen a news report on a letter to President Trump very recently? The letter was written by Dr. Simone Gold, an emergency medicine specialist in Los Angeles, and signed by over 500 physicians expressing concern and frustration over the "thousands and thousands of stories of patient harm...." resulting from the lockdown.
In my opinion, this is turning into more than a lockdown on people's lives; it is evolving into a lockdown on the truth - and that must be as vigorously resisted as infection with COVID-19. This little book is a beginning.
July 13, 2020
Very interesting and unbiased statistics regarding COVID-19 by Mr. Berenson. He supports these statements/statistics with various articles (websites listed) e.g. Seattle, WA, the UK, Syracuse, NY, Forbes, NavalNews, CEBM, CDC.
“I am committed to following the truth and offering the most honest answers, whatever they may be. I will not sugarcoat information, whether it is positive or negative.”
Highly recommend.
“I am committed to following the truth and offering the most honest answers, whatever they may be. I will not sugarcoat information, whether it is positive or negative.”
Highly recommend.
October 18, 2020
This "book" is not worth 10 cents. It is just a collection of irrelevant statements and hyperlinks. It does not supply any tangible argument, only some vague statements and wrong conclusion that Covid-19 is a trivial disease in young people, and that lockdowns do not help and only hurt. Those who like this book, praise it for bringing "facts" to the discussion, but they forget one thing: They had been already firmly opinionated and adhering to the Covid-19 denial, before they read this book. This text is so weak and vague that it cannot inform anyone about anything or convince anyone about something! These readers just simply liked that the "book" is conveying their wrong and confused opinions about the current pandemic. I am appalled by physicians, who mislead the public by supporting this garbage, and who give their support credibility by mentioning their MD degree. Shame on you guys! You are still playing with ignorance of the public who believes that docs do generally have great education and they all must be smart. You still like playing role of tribal shamans fooling the laypersons! Why you don't tell the truth that you don't know anything about epidemiology? I am asking you as a public health scientist and epidemiologist! I am not playing smart when you perform surgeries on hemorrhoids, diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, or perform epidural anesthesia, so what makes you think that you can interfere with my field and play smart about assessing and forecasting epidemics and public health measures to mitigate or suppress them? When you guys go about getting your divorces, you seek family lawyers and not a patent attorneys or entertainment lawyers, so why do you feel urge to pretend that you are competent in the field, in which you have no training what so ever, if we do not count some ridiculous and superficial mixed courses in medical schools? I am not that arrogant to go forward and offer you help with your autistic children or your menorrhagia, and neither I am offering you to extract your third molars, and I would expect you to do the same, when it comes to the evaluation of epidemics, their risk assessment, modeling their dynamics, and designing public health measures. Seriously, this is not something that everyone can do, and not every physician is trained and/or experienced to do it. Of course, the same applies to other laypersons, including the auhor of this text. He does not know what kind of insight is needed to understand these issues, and this ignorance makes him bold enough to present this garbage. Is Musk, who allegedly helped publishing this "book" smart enough to identify sound texts about epidemics? For many of you guys certainly yes, because you guys grew up being told that those who have money must be smart (and those, who are poor must be either lazy or stupid, or both). Let me tell you that this is not true and that no money on Earth can make Musk competent in the field of epidemiology. He would have to go back to shool for many years, and then he would be just in the beginning and far from a position to make authoritative statements in my field. In conclusion, this book is a garbage for reasons that must be obvious.
June 13, 2020
When the mainstream media proves themselves wrong time and time again (think Kim Jong Un's death, Russia collusion hoax, Steele dossier, etc.), and are so obviously biased (peaceful protests for opening the economy is selfish behavior that spreads coronavirus, while riots are just citizens peacefully exercising their freedom of speech and definitely NOT a way to spread coronavirus), then why should we believe anything that comes out of their mouths? Like magicians using slight of hand, they seek to direct our attention away from the big picture, which is often banal and easily explainable, and onto a specific, insignificant thing they think will fire up our adrenals. Thus, we get articles and tweets about the rising number of children contracting COVID-19, how cats and dogs can get it, terrifying animations of how fast and far viral particles travel in a supermarket. None of it is useful information, just attention-grabbers they use to pull our eyes toward an advertisement.
Which is why Berenson's booklet is so needed right now. Instead of sensationalizing, he lays out the facts neatly and logically, allowing us, the reader, to decide how scared we should or should not be. Spoiler alert: unless you're over eighty or have an underlying health condition, you should keep calm and carry on.
One final note. The fact that Amazon initially pulled this ebook from their site underscores how feckless they are to dissenting opinions. The whole "The CDC is God; anything that contradicts what they say must be removed and condemned" narrative that Big Tech swallows hook, line, and sinker is just cowardice masked as social responsibility. Do us all a favor and cut that out, okay?
Which is why Berenson's booklet is so needed right now. Instead of sensationalizing, he lays out the facts neatly and logically, allowing us, the reader, to decide how scared we should or should not be. Spoiler alert: unless you're over eighty or have an underlying health condition, you should keep calm and carry on.
One final note. The fact that Amazon initially pulled this ebook from their site underscores how feckless they are to dissenting opinions. The whole "The CDC is God; anything that contradicts what they say must be removed and condemned" narrative that Big Tech swallows hook, line, and sinker is just cowardice masked as social responsibility. Do us all a favor and cut that out, okay?
June 5, 2020
Highly Biased and Low Quality
This book is highly biased. Not to question the intent of the writer which seems to convey that corona virus is highly over exaggerated. It seems author is delibretely trying to put acrosa the point that the pandemic is not as dangerous as it has been potrayed. The argument that elders are far more prone to the virus is not logically backed. In the beginning author tries to convey that media has over estimated everything but later he has used media to usebthe statistics of death count. The question is not what has happened but the question is why it was so gravely mismanaged at a global level. Once more oandemic has exposed how divided the world is when it comes to key issues. This was an opportunity for the world leaders to come together and take global measures but again all countries have worked in silos and created a mess. It is bigger failure than Paris Climate Deal.
This book is highly biased. Not to question the intent of the writer which seems to convey that corona virus is highly over exaggerated. It seems author is delibretely trying to put acrosa the point that the pandemic is not as dangerous as it has been potrayed. The argument that elders are far more prone to the virus is not logically backed. In the beginning author tries to convey that media has over estimated everything but later he has used media to usebthe statistics of death count. The question is not what has happened but the question is why it was so gravely mismanaged at a global level. Once more oandemic has exposed how divided the world is when it comes to key issues. This was an opportunity for the world leaders to come together and take global measures but again all countries have worked in silos and created a mess. It is bigger failure than Paris Climate Deal.
June 7, 2020
A Recent Non-Hysterical Look at Most Recent Numbers
Thank you Alex Berenson! I checked many of the sources in this pamphlet, and found nothing to seriously argue with. As time goes by, it becomes much clearer that the continue-the-lockdown crowd actually has an ulterior motive, which is now being somewhat exposed by their reluctance to criticize the recent mass police protests. Our media is totally complicit, and the lack of a "Fourth Estate" with honesty and integrity is extremely damaging to our Republic. With this pamphlet the author is helping to expose that complicity. The fact that Amazon originally tried to suppress this tells you all you need to know.
Thank you Alex Berenson! I checked many of the sources in this pamphlet, and found nothing to seriously argue with. As time goes by, it becomes much clearer that the continue-the-lockdown crowd actually has an ulterior motive, which is now being somewhat exposed by their reluctance to criticize the recent mass police protests. Our media is totally complicit, and the lack of a "Fourth Estate" with honesty and integrity is extremely damaging to our Republic. With this pamphlet the author is helping to expose that complicity. The fact that Amazon originally tried to suppress this tells you all you need to know.
December 28, 2020
Biased and “tribal”. Attempts to back the opinions of those who already expound the same school of thoughts as this author. As a healthcare worker in a nursing home environment it is shameful to represent the elderly as a dispensable population as this author does incessantly. The backing of medical doctors as “experts” to further the author’s opinions is fraught with insincerity as they are not epidemiologists. Finally, I worry how little middle ground we can find as our leaders and sources of information are so laden with “tribal” biases.
November 4, 2020
This book gets off to a good start with a technical look at COVID-19 followed by an in depth look at the conspiracy theories surrounding this global pandemic.
I found the first two chapters good but then from Chapter 3 which was 40% into this book, all it talked about was the future after COVID-19. So for the last 60% of Unreported Truths, Alex waffled on at great length about remote working and how education may change after COVID-19. I was not interested in his speculation of what may happen after this pandemic. Alex is a journalist and judging by the title of his book, I assumed he would investigate the problems around lockdowns. However, there was absolutely no analysis of lockdowns which makes the reader feel short-changed. Thankfully this short book is a freebie at the moment on the Amazon Kindle.
Overall I found Unreported Truths to be a disappointing POOR 2 star read. Shame really because if Chapter 3 onwards was actually about lockdowns and written in the same quality and style of the first two chapters plus dropped the boring chapters on remote learning and education, then Unreported Truth would have made a good read.
I found the first two chapters good but then from Chapter 3 which was 40% into this book, all it talked about was the future after COVID-19. So for the last 60% of Unreported Truths, Alex waffled on at great length about remote working and how education may change after COVID-19. I was not interested in his speculation of what may happen after this pandemic. Alex is a journalist and judging by the title of his book, I assumed he would investigate the problems around lockdowns. However, there was absolutely no analysis of lockdowns which makes the reader feel short-changed. Thankfully this short book is a freebie at the moment on the Amazon Kindle.
Overall I found Unreported Truths to be a disappointing POOR 2 star read. Shame really because if Chapter 3 onwards was actually about lockdowns and written in the same quality and style of the first two chapters plus dropped the boring chapters on remote learning and education, then Unreported Truth would have made a good read.
June 6, 2020
Essential reading for anyone who wants to cut through media spin and try to actually find out what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic. This first installment of Berenson's project looks at how the various statistics are counted. Every claim or statement is backed up by links/quotes from publicly available sources so that the reader can follow up to find more information.
BTW, someone at Amazon initially attempted to censor this book by not allowing its publication through Amazon, claiming that it violated some unpublished "standards". Only the intervention of some well-known personalities, including Elon Musk, caused this decision to be reversed. Shame on Amazon for doing this. While it does go against the prevailing narrative, it is not some wild-eyed political screed, but an attempt to organize publicly available information in a coherent way.
BTW, someone at Amazon initially attempted to censor this book by not allowing its publication through Amazon, claiming that it violated some unpublished "standards". Only the intervention of some well-known personalities, including Elon Musk, caused this decision to be reversed. Shame on Amazon for doing this. While it does go against the prevailing narrative, it is not some wild-eyed political screed, but an attempt to organize publicly available information in a coherent way.
September 30, 2020
If ever there was a book that people needed to read, it's this one.
When it comes to COVID, the news media and politicians say, "follow the science," and then proceed to ignore/omit the science and fan the flames of hysteria. Unreported Truths DOES follow the science and presents the data about COVID in a way that cuts through the hysteria and partisanship to reveal the truth about the pandemic.
Written by a former NYT reporter Alex Berenson, Unreported Truths is easy to read and understand. The "book" is being released as a series of booklets, each one dealing with a different aspect of the pandemic.
Part one deals with how COVID cases/deaths are counted, the likelihood of someone contracting COVID, and the odds of dying from the disease.
If you want objective, fact-based, easy-to-understand information about the virus, read this book.
When it comes to COVID, the news media and politicians say, "follow the science," and then proceed to ignore/omit the science and fan the flames of hysteria. Unreported Truths DOES follow the science and presents the data about COVID in a way that cuts through the hysteria and partisanship to reveal the truth about the pandemic.
Written by a former NYT reporter Alex Berenson, Unreported Truths is easy to read and understand. The "book" is being released as a series of booklets, each one dealing with a different aspect of the pandemic.
Part one deals with how COVID cases/deaths are counted, the likelihood of someone contracting COVID, and the odds of dying from the disease.
If you want objective, fact-based, easy-to-understand information about the virus, read this book.
June 8, 2020
The title says it all. The essay is what reporting and analysis used to look like. Alex is a former NYTimes reporter who actually did some digging and questioning about why the United States went into such a draconian lockdown in the name of medical panic.
In sum, we've flattened the curve to give our health care system space to react to the very elderly and unhealthy becoming sick from the virus, yet here we are - as a country - still pretending that many, many (healthy) people will die from COVID-19. When in fact, a large percentage of those who have died from COVID-19 would have died in the next 5-8 months anyway (due to being old or very unhealthy). Berenson shines a light on the complicated issue of classifying deaths - and how we may have over-counted the deaths from COVID-19.
If we are going to continue to react so harshly to this coronavirus, then at the very least, we need to take more rational steps of isolating the very elderly and very sick, while allowing the young and the healthy to go about their daily business and lives.
I'm afraid we have done far more damage to our people and economy for many years, by locking down, than if we had taken measured approaches to isolating the most vulnerable and letting the least vulnerable continue with their daily lives.
As more data emerges on COVID-19, it is becoming clear the actions we've taken were not aligned with the actual data. Instead, we've used fear to guide our policies and responses.
In sum, we've flattened the curve to give our health care system space to react to the very elderly and unhealthy becoming sick from the virus, yet here we are - as a country - still pretending that many, many (healthy) people will die from COVID-19. When in fact, a large percentage of those who have died from COVID-19 would have died in the next 5-8 months anyway (due to being old or very unhealthy). Berenson shines a light on the complicated issue of classifying deaths - and how we may have over-counted the deaths from COVID-19.
If we are going to continue to react so harshly to this coronavirus, then at the very least, we need to take more rational steps of isolating the very elderly and very sick, while allowing the young and the healthy to go about their daily business and lives.
I'm afraid we have done far more damage to our people and economy for many years, by locking down, than if we had taken measured approaches to isolating the most vulnerable and letting the least vulnerable continue with their daily lives.
As more data emerges on COVID-19, it is becoming clear the actions we've taken were not aligned with the actual data. Instead, we've used fear to guide our policies and responses.
June 5, 2020
Short But Timely & Necessary
Lost a star for being shorter than I had hoped (even though I understood it to basically be a pamphlet). Packed with important numbers, stats, sources and some analysis that is quite helpful.
Frankly, if you've been aggressively following the virus, especially with a critical and scientifically skeptical eye on the numbers, trends, and major "news" outlet "analysis," you're probably as up-to-date as this booklet is. Better looked at as a resource for directing the less informed to or for archiving the data to date than for something that will increase your knowledge if you've been following along the whole time. (That stated, it would probably be a real eye-opener for that friend or relative that still wears a mask while walking the dog . . .)
Why on Earth Amazon ever considered censoring this is quite indefensible.
Lost a star for being shorter than I had hoped (even though I understood it to basically be a pamphlet). Packed with important numbers, stats, sources and some analysis that is quite helpful.
Frankly, if you've been aggressively following the virus, especially with a critical and scientifically skeptical eye on the numbers, trends, and major "news" outlet "analysis," you're probably as up-to-date as this booklet is. Better looked at as a resource for directing the less informed to or for archiving the data to date than for something that will increase your knowledge if you've been following along the whole time. (That stated, it would probably be a real eye-opener for that friend or relative that still wears a mask while walking the dog . . .)
Why on Earth Amazon ever considered censoring this is quite indefensible.
June 15, 2020
I like Berenstein's quote from investigative reporters: "If your mother says she loves you, check it out." I've always been a "data person." While models are helpful and necessary in predicting future events, it's important that they be fact and data-based. Berenstein asks many critical questions about the COVID-19 infection and facts related to it. He recognizes that the data is still being collected for some aspects of the pandemic and shares important data that provides real information about the infection and death rates. I appreciate his focus on examining facts and recognizing that more data (testing, clean-up of faulty death cause reporting, etc.) will help us better understand the virus and how to manage it and prepare for future potential viruses. I'm interested in learning more from the upcoming information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews