From the Wandering Jew to William F. Buckley, Jr.

by Martin Gardner

s/t: On Science, Literature, and Religion
For over fifty years Martin Gardner has been writing witty, entertaining, and highly intelligent articles on an amazing range of topics. Best known for his works on popular science and mathematics, and as an incisive skeptical commentator on the paranormal, Gardner is also an accomplished writer of children's literature, a novelist, and an essayist on religion and philosophy. This collection of essays and book reviews takes its name from the bookend articles. "The Wandering Jew and the Second Coming" and "The Faith of William Buckley," which in themselves demonstrate the extent of Gardner's interests." "Besides the legend of the Wandering Jew and Bill Buckley's religious convictions, Gardner also tackles such subjects as astrology, psychic surgery, word play in the stories of L. Frank Baum (author of The Wizard of Oz), and the history of a forgotten children's magazine. In addition, there are reviews of books by astronomer Carl Sagan, philosopher Paul Edwards, televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye, and psychologist Susan Blackmore, along with commentary on mathematics, Lewis Carroll, science fads, chess, Christian Science, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction

350 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature (especially the writings of Lewis Carroll), philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion. He wrote the Mathematical Games column in Scientific American from 1956 to 1981, and published over 70 books.

Reviews

[Dennis Littrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which Gardner debunks the debunkable

Martin Gardner, creator of the "Mathematical Games" column in Scientific American, and the author of more books than he or I can remember, takes on some of his pet peeves here in his usual readable and understated style.

There are ten short essays on such subjects as psychic surgery in the Philippines, "Oral Roberts on Jim Bakker," "Life Magazine and Astrology," etc., and a number of book reviews, including Searching for Bobby Fischer (1988) by Fred Waitzkin, a life of Lewis Carroll and Lewis Carroll as a photographer, both by Morton Cohen, Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World (1995), and What is Mathematics, Really? (1997) by Reuben Hersh. In the latter, Gardner strongly disagrees with Hersh's thesis, insisting that mathematics does indeed exist outside the human mind, and that, for example, two plus two equals four anywhere in the galaxy. (Notice my reluctance to write "anywhere in the universe.") Perhaps the most incisive essay is Gardner's debunking of the phony psychic surgeons, which he does in a style that would please both Carl Sagan and James Randi, and does indeed please this reviewer. Notable in the review of Reflections in a Looking Glass (1998) by Morton Cohen about Lewis Carroll are two photos taken by the author of Alice in Wonderland, one of them of the real-life Alice herself. Also included are introductions to new releases of three books by H.G. Wells.

I was particularly entertained by Gardner's deflation of William F. Buckley Jr. in his review of Buckley's Nearer, My God (1997). It seems that Buckley believes whole heartedly in such fundamental Catholic doctrines as incarnation, virgin birth, atonement, the resurrection of Jesus, papal infallibility, hell, and hell fire. Literally. Gardner wonders if Buckley thinks that Eve was fabricated "from one of Adam's ribs, or does he accept the evolution of human bodies?" (p. 343). Buckley replies to Gardner's review but does not respond to the question about evolution. Gardner concludes that, in spite of his admirable faith, "Buckley is guilty of what has been called the sin of willful ignorance."

I also liked Gardner's devaluation of the so-called science of memetics in his review of psychologist Susan Jane Blackmore's recent book, The Meme Machine. Gardner sees the "memes-eye view" as "little more than a peculiar terminology for saying the obvious" (p. 214), and he agrees with Stephen Jay Gould, who called memes "meaningless metaphors" (p. 215).

I have only one question of Mr. Gardner: how can you justify the time spent on reading works from the likes of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye or about such charlatans as the Seventh Day Adventist fraud, Margaret Rowen? I suspect Gardner would reply that he is doing a public service by flailing against the ever-present tide of pseudoscience and fake religiosity. He undoubtedly feels as Carl Sagan did, that "the rising flood of superstition and pseudoscience is too damaging to society to be ignored" (p. 125). I agree, and in fact, his is a noble cause. May he long persist.

--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK read. Essays and Reviews. He has a definite axe to grind about Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Homeopathic Medicine, and a lot of religion in general. I don't disagree with him, but his writing style is dry and it wasn't a real enjoyable read.

[Sergio Frosini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo adoro e sempre l'adorerò: contro l'astrologia, contro l'omeopatia, contro i crop circles... dove parlando di Carl Sagan si legge:

"Other follies> covered by Sagan include [...] the fake shroud of Turin; bleeding and weeping statues of the Virgin Mary;..."

The FAKE shroud of Turin. Splendida definizione della sindone. Per tacere delle vergini piangenti e sanguinanti citate subito dopo:)