Popular Science Feature - Four Way Interview - Richard Platt

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Four Way Interview - Richard Platt - December 2006

Our four-way interviews give a quick insight into the current thinking of a popular science author.

Richard Platt has recently published [Would You Believe] Cobwebs Stop Wounds Bleeding and Marzipan Contains Cyanide.

Why science?

I was good at science at school, but when I went on to Newcastle University to study civil engineering, I found I wasn't good enough! In particular, I was rubbish at maths, and they eventually kicked me out. I ended up as a writer, not an engineer, but I never lost my interest in science. I have written 11 books about science and technology, and hope to write more.

Why this book?

I wrote this book for two reasons. First of all, because medicine became scientific only quite recently. A couple of centuries ago doctors relied on a lot of hocus-pocus, and cures had more to do with superstition, magic and religion than with science. Some of the treatments were quite mad, and fun to read about.

The other reason is more serious. A lot of people are turning away from medicine. Instead of going to the doctor, they are treating themselves with bogus remedies like "healing crystals", magnets, and pills that contain nothing at all. I hoped that I would be able to show how important and powerful real medicine is, and to discourage people from trying untested alternative cures that just don't work.

What’s next?

Right now I am working on a book about the rainforest; one on Pompeii (the Italian city smothered by an earthquake 2000 years ago); one about Beijing; and one about smugglers.

What’s exciting you at the moment?

I recently bought a new camera, and I'm rediscovering photography.

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