Evil Scientists - Nonfiction Edition
A harrowing examination of the times when science abandoned ethics in the name of progress. These books document the exploitation of vulnerable bodies, exposing the systemic racism, sexism, ableism, and unchecked power that have historically hidden behind the white coat. These are the true stories of the "evil scientists" who operated not in gothic castles, but in government and university settings getting paid to make the rich richer.
created by lizzyy
last updated August, 2026
Comments
This is so interesting! I'll definitely be checking out a few!! Just thinking though, unsure if Radium Girls really fit this theme. IIRC, the doctors/science were fairly support of the girls experiencing the troubles whereas, the corporation heads were fighting against it and exploiting them. It's been a moment since I read it though.
lizzyyOP
I'm so glad to hear this!! I haven't read it yet and was ready to blame both the corporations AND the scientists. I guess I just expect the worst from them, so I will happily remove it and just be outraged at capitalism as per usual
lizzyyOP
Calling out all my nonfiction lovers, please send your recommendations. I'm ready to be mad
I fear I may never be strong enough to read most of this list đŤ but saving it nonetheless. Thank you for putting it together!
lizzyyOP
Oh, it is INFURIATING for sure! It's one of my special interests but I have to pace myself and read some lighter stuff in between books because otherwise I would just burn everything
love/hate this list !!! đ¤ my only comment, i'm not sure if Palestine Laboratory fits, it's less medical/experimental, and more focused on Israel's global atrocities and impact in government, technology, surveillance, weapons, etc.
lizzyyOP
I thought really hard about adding this book and The Atlas of AI, because they are not purely about the scientist but how science/technology can be used in harmful ways. Do you think it would still be best to remove it? I haven't read it so I fully trust you, love
I would think it does unless you wanted to fully focus on the just medical aspects then maybe not. But science in general and the harm they do seems to work within what you said in your description to me.
okay agreed thank you! it felt like both to me, so i just wanted to clarify!
lizzyyOP
Thank you for both of your inputs!!
got it got it, under that science/technology can be harmful, it makes a bit more sense! just less white coat, more evil soldiers
Books on my TBR and haven't read yet, so I'm not 100% sure, but I think they fit the brief: They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family Doctor Dealer: A Doctor High on Greed, a Biker Gang High on Opioids, and the Woman Who Paid the Ultimate Price The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan is also excellent and is told from the point of view of journalists who went undercover into asylums in the 70s to expose what doctors were doing to mentally ill and disabled patients.
As I was adding all these to my TBR and scrolling my own list, wow is it horrifying and upsetting to see just how many books there are about this, which means there are millions of cases and instances that are probably going on unknown. Even still. shrieks
lizzyyOP
This list is incredible!! Thank you so much, Cassieđ The organ thieves sounds so interesting, the whole history of organ transplants is wild, I fully recommend the episode "This Podcast Will Kill You" did about it if anyone's interested.
Thank you! I've listened to that pod before, but it's been AGES, and I didn't know they did an episode on this! Will listen tonight!
lizzyyOP
I listen to it every week, I love it sooo much, they have expanded to other topics more politicalđ¤Š
Excellent list of some very important reading - though not to be entered into lightly! I read Unit 731 earlier this year and thought I was prepared. I am nor sure I was. Thank you for putting this together.
lizzyyOP
It's for sure one of the hardest books on this list, I still haven't gotten in the right headspace for it. Sending big hugsâ¤ď¸âđŠš
I have yet to read it, but The Occasional Human Sacrifice by Carl Elliot would probably fit this list. And maybe Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini since it discusses a lot of people who have tried to pass pseudoscience off as real science to promote a racist agenda.
lizzyyOP
I love Superior, I was sure I added it!! Thank you for your suggestions, adding them right now. The Occasional Human Sacrifice is a wild title btw
Isn't it?! I saw that and immediately checked it out but I quickly realized after the intro that was not actually in the headspace for it đ I look forward to giving it another go!
This is such a great list. I mean⌠devastating in that thereâs a list to be made, but I think itâs important that we know these things. I was wondering if there were any books specifically about the experimentation on Indigenous folks, particularly in the Residential Schools. I know that information is in some of the more general books about the Residential School system, but I donât know if there are any really focused on that aspect. Commenting in case others know.
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese(memoir) also found this link to a list of books https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/1262380287/1915798449
These books lean towards younger audiences but there are adult books too.
lizzyyOP
I fear getting angry at systems of oppression is my hobbieđđ Thatâs a great question, I only have one book about the residential school system (Paris memoir was hard enough) titled We carry their bones but itâs not particular to experiments on indigenous populations. Let me do some digging and see what I can find! Definitely worth adding this subject to the list to get more eyes on it!!
lizzyyOP
I found a couple of great sources:
- Fighting for a Hand to Hold: Confronting Medical Colonialism against Indigenous Children in Canada, which I added to the list
- This Benevolent Experiment: Indigenous Boarding Schools, Genocide, and Redress in Canada and the United States, which sounds super interesting but I don't think quite fits this list.
- And this research article that's going in my scientific articles tbr Administering Colonial Science: Nutrition Research and Human Biomedical Experimentation in Aboriginal Communities and Residential Schools, 1942â1952
Aaaahhh I love this place. Thank you!
Fun fact: you can see Galileo's middle finger in the Galileo's museum in Florence. It needs a bit of moisturizer IMHO
lizzyyOP
What is it with men and their hate for moisturizer?? smh
TWO LISTS WHAT YOU GENIUS (im so scared but determined to read these v important books)
lizzyyOP
I went to sleep thinking about you and evil science, I can't wait for buddy reads with youuuu
omg she ranked me up there w evil science imâ𼚠[twirls hair, kicks heels]
me tooooo, it'll be so fun !
lizzyyOP
I went to the Goodreads list by my favorite podcast This Podcast Will Kill You and added a lot of books, take a look if you want to learn and be angry at everyoneđ
Thank you so much for this list
