Nathan's Reviews > Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives
Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives
by Michael Specter
by Michael Specter
Nathan's review
bookshelves: on-the-kindle, read-2011
Jan 06, 12
bookshelves: on-the-kindle, read-2011
Read from November 20 to December 04, 2011 — I own a copy
I read this book immediately before reading Predictably Irrational and through the power of relativism (a concept explained in the latter book) this one did not have the same impact for me.
If I could give half stars this would be 3.5. Don't get me wrong, it's good, I recommend you read it. It's just that I found it dragged in places, and that I felt as though the author had a thesis going into the book and was merely picking evidence to buttress his pre-determined conclusions.
That said, I find myself returning to the themes and examples of this book more and more; Vioxx, the great Vaccine denial, herbal remedies - terrific stuff.
Since reading this book I am more able to spot denialism, the see similarities of language between anti-vaxxers and global warming denialists. What I don't feel I have is the tools to combat them - perhaps sadly, there are no such tools.
Returning to the point at the start, I enjoyed this book, but I felt as though the author was laying out a thesis and seeking to prove that thesis, rather than providing the more rational readers the tools to combat denialism where we see it.
If I could give half stars this would be 3.5. Don't get me wrong, it's good, I recommend you read it. It's just that I found it dragged in places, and that I felt as though the author had a thesis going into the book and was merely picking evidence to buttress his pre-determined conclusions.
That said, I find myself returning to the themes and examples of this book more and more; Vioxx, the great Vaccine denial, herbal remedies - terrific stuff.
Since reading this book I am more able to spot denialism, the see similarities of language between anti-vaxxers and global warming denialists. What I don't feel I have is the tools to combat them - perhaps sadly, there are no such tools.
Returning to the point at the start, I enjoyed this book, but I felt as though the author was laying out a thesis and seeking to prove that thesis, rather than providing the more rational readers the tools to combat denialism where we see it.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Denialism.
sign in »
