Denialism

How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives

De: Michael Specter

Narrado por: Richard Poe

New Yorker staff writer Michael Specter has twice won the Global Health Council’s Excellence in Media Award, as well as the Science Journalism Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In Denialism, he fervently argues that people are turning away from new technologies and engaging in a kind of magical thinking that is hindering scientific progress.

©2009 Michael Specter (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Breathless excitingly narrated as it should be

First, the narrator gives the book the exciting breathless manner the book deserves. Science and education are the best defense we have against the denialist of the scientific method and believers in anecdotal data over reason. Oddly, the best chapter in the book is on Vioxx and how the pharmaceutical companies purposely mislead us on its side effects. That leads to a partial defense wrongly used by anti-immunization zealots justifying their positions for not trusting everything "they" tell us.

I think the book made the conflict of science against denialist a little more pessimistic than things really are. I'm betting on science to win out.

BTW, for the author, if your writing a book on science make sure you get all of your science right. You made a brief statement that how following science would lead one with iron deficiency to eat more iron. Read the book "Half Life of Facts" on how spinach does not contain loads of iron and is just a falsehood.

A compelling read

This book is an example of how “common sense” is not all that common. Tackling many myths about science – and the growing popular belief that science is “evil” but alternatives are “good,” Michael Specter shows us how the scientific method holds the key to the continuing existence of our species. He urges us not to go back to the era when we believed that “science” was all good and urges us to investigate discoveries rationally – not hysterically. He does raise some serious ethical questions – some of which do not have ready answers. This is all the more reason for us to learn how to neither investigate new discoveries with hysteria nor compete faith and acceptance. The book is well narrated – fast paced – and very compelling.

denialism

so good leads u through the evidence. He lays well story and detail I'd recommend this book to all who love science

Great Thesis - Terrible Argument

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The summary accurately states "...he fervently argues that people are turning away from new technologies and engaging in a kind of magical thinking that is hindering scientific progress." It is unfortunate that the book was not written by someone with a more scientific and focused approach because his theme is so very important to our future. Surely he would admit that ideology, whether it is religious or nationalistic, is a fundamental force in denialism. A good book would have spent more time on that then on a few anti-vaccine crusaders. Where are the chapters on the evolution deniers, climate change deniers, over population deniers, etc. While his thesis is laudable his approach, which can be insulting and demeaning, can do more harm than good. Never before have I started a book in more agreement with an author and ended it more doubtful.

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael Specter again?

perhaps but not likely

Have you listened to any of Richard Poe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Good performance.