Follow the Science: How Ideology Corrupts the Evidence by Sharyl Attkisson Summary

1. How Big Pharma manipulates media and government to prioritize profits over patient safety
2. Sharyl Attkisson exposes systemic suppression of vaccine injury data and scientific dissent
3. Financial ties between medical experts and drug companies distort public health policies
4. Covid-19 vaccine risks were downplayed while critics faced orchestrated smear campaigns
5. Pharmaceutical giants weaponize "follow the science" rhetoric to silence legitimate scrutiny
6. Medical schools teach biased pro-industry curriculum funded by drug company dollars
7. Government agencies secretly acknowledged vaccine-autism links while denying public accountability
8. Investigative journalists face advertising pressure to kill critical Pharma stories
9. Follow the Science reveals how research nonprofits covertly serve industry agendas
10. Attkisson documents first child severely injured in Pfizer's Covid vaccine trial
11. Why public health agencies protect corporate interests through incomplete safety monitoring
12. Big Pharma's playbook: discredit victims, control narratives, and profit from chronic illness

About the Author of Follow the Science

Sharyl Attkisson, author of Follow the Science, is a five-time Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author renowned for her unflinching reporting on media bias and government accountability. A recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award, she spent over three decades at CBS News and CNN, where her investigations into controversies like the Benghazi attack and the Fast and Furious scandal cemented her reputation for challenging powerful institutions. Her work often intersects with themes of scientific integrity and institutional transparency, reflecting her career-long dedication to uncovering suppressed truths.

Attkisson’s critically acclaimed books, including The Smear and Stonewalled, dissect media manipulation and political censorship. She hosts Sinclair’s Full Measure, a nationally syndicated investigative program, and her TEDx talks on media manipulation and fake news have garnered 3.4 million views.

A fifth-degree TaeKwonDo black belt and University of Florida journalism alumna, she established an investigative journalism award to mentor emerging reporters. Her relentless pursuit of accountability has shaped public discourse and inspired a new generation of journalists.

FAQs About Follow the Science

What is Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson about?

Follow the Science exposes systemic corruption in the pharmaceutical industry, documenting how Big Pharma, government agencies, and media outlets collude to prioritize profits over public safety. The book reveals financial ties between vaccine advocates and manufacturers, undisclosed vaccine injuries, and efforts to suppress dissenting voices. Attkisson supports her claims with exclusive evidence, including leaked documents and insider testimonies.

Who should read Follow the Science?

This book is essential for readers interested in public health controversies, investigative journalism, or vaccine policy debates. It appeals to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and citizens concerned about corporate influence on medical research. Attkisson’s findings are particularly relevant for those skeptical of mainstream narratives about drug safety.

Is Follow the Science worth reading?

Yes—the book combines rigorous investigative reporting with shocking case studies, such as Pfizer’s first documented severe Covid vaccine injury in a child. Attkisson’s Emmy-winning credibility and reliance on primary sources make it a compelling critique of institutional conflicts of interest.

What evidence does Sharyl Attkisson present about pharmaceutical industry corruption?

Attkisson cites financial ties between vaccine promoters and manufacturers, secret government acknowledgments of vaccine-linked autism cases, and collusion between pharmaceutical companies and media outlets to suppress adverse event reports. She also details how medical schools receive industry-funded curricula that downplay risks.

How does Follow the Science critique Big Pharma’s influence on medical education?

The book reveals that pharmaceutical companies fund biased training materials for doctors, emphasizing drug benefits while minimizing risks. Attkisson argues this creates systemic bias in healthcare, with practitioners unknowingly disseminating industry-friendly narratives to patients.

Does Follow the Science address Covid-19 vaccine controversies?

Yes—it highlights the case of a child who suffered severe neurological damage during Pfizer’s Covid vaccine trial, alleging the incident was initially obscured. Attkisson also examines financial incentives behind rapid vaccine approvals and censorship of safety concerns.

What examples of media collusion with Big Pharma does the book describe?

Attkisson documents undisclosed partnerships between news outlets and pharmaceutical advertisers, including suppressed investigations into vaccine injuries and pre-scripted talking points distributed to journalists. These practices allegedly skewed coverage toward uncritical promotion of industry claims.

How does Follow the Science portray the government’s role in pharmaceutical oversight?

The book accuses regulatory agencies of prioritizing corporate interests over public safety, citing leaked conversations where officials privately admitted vaccine risks while publicly denying them. Attkisson argues this revolving-door dynamic enables systemic failures in safety monitoring.

What are the key takeaways from Follow the Science?

1. Profit-driven motives often override patient safety in healthcare
2. Mainstream narratives about drugs/vaccines frequently exclude dissenting data
3. Whistleblowers and injured patients face aggressive retaliation
4. Media and government institutions are deeply entangled with industry interests

What criticisms exist about Follow the Science?

Some critics argue Attkisson selectively presents evidence to support anti-establishment views, potentially oversimplifying complex medical issues. Others note the book focuses heavily on anecdotal cases over large-scale epidemiological data.

Why is Follow the Science relevant in 2025?

The book remains timely amid ongoing debates about mRNA vaccine safety, drug pricing reforms, and transparency in clinical trials. Its themes resonate with growing public distrust in institutional health guidance.

How does Follow the Science compare to Sharyl Attkisson’s previous works?

Like Slanted and The Smear, this book critiques institutional power structures, but it focuses specifically on healthcare rather than media or politics. It shares Attkisson’s signature investigative approach, blending documentary evidence with narrative storytelling.

How can readers apply Follow the Science’s insights to real life?

The book encourages critical evaluation of health information, advocacy for transparency in medical research, and scrutiny of financial ties between prescribers and pharmaceutical companies. It also provides frameworks for identifying biased reporting on public health issues.