Calling Bullshit

The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World

By: Carl T. Bergstrom, Jevin D. West

Narrated by: Patrick Zeller

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Bullshit isn’t what it used to be. Now, two science professors give us the tools to dismantle misinformation and think clearly in a world of fake news and bad data.

Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news abound, and it’s increasingly difficult to know what’s true. Our media environment has become hyperpartisan. Science is conducted by press release. Start-up culture elevates bullshit to high art. We are fairly well equipped to spot the sort of old-school bullshit that is based in fancy rhetoric and weasel words, but most of us don’t feel qualified to challenge the avalanche of new-school bullshit presented in the language of math, science, or statistics. In Calling Bullshit, Professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West give us a set of powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data.

You don’t need a lot of technical expertise to call out problems with data. Are the numbers or results too good or too dramatic to be true? Is the claim comparing like with like? Is it confirming your personal bias? Drawing on a deep well of expertise in statistics and computational biology, Bergstrom and West exuberantly unpack examples of selection bias and muddled data visualization, distinguish between correlation and causation, and examine the susceptibility of science to modern bullshit.

We have always needed people who call bullshit when necessary, whether within a circle of friends, a community of scholars, or the citizenry of a nation. Now that bullshit has evolved, we need to relearn the art of skepticism.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“A passionate exposition of how the language of science can be weaponized to mislead both researchers and the public . . . landing just when it has never been more important to know how to navigate data.” (Nature)

“The information landscape is strewn with quantitative cowflop; read this book if you want to know where not to step.” (Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to be Wrong)

“Part playful polemic and part serious scientific treatise on a plague that ‘pollutes our world by misleading people about specific issues and ... undermines our ability to trust information in general’ ... a statistically challenging master class in the art of bullshit detection.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Where is the pdf?

I’m enjoying the book so far but the attached pdf is nowhere to be found! Where is it

EHH -- Common Sense + Lefty Bias

This book was OKAY. A run-through of (to me) common sense statistical points and examples of misuse.

Their examples they chose to use of misuse skewed against conservatives -- tipping the hand of the authors, who clearly lean left. Certainly there's no shortly of leftist misuse they COULD have included, whether from Vox or wishful thinking about the budget, gun control, etc.

A modern refresher on critical thinking

Critical thinking has never been more important. Calling Bullshit does an excellent job of demonstrating these concepts and how to apply them in modern life. The book’s examples are thoughtful, well organized, and represent a broad range of subjects. I consider this a must-read!

2020/2021 Table Stakes!!!

Wow, these authors turned out a book that is not political, not a soapbox sermon & doesn't tell you what to think. I was relieved... my fear was that they would use the toolkit to try and tell me what to think, but they didn't. It was very fair in the use of examples and really focused on HOW to think about and question things. How to hold a fact in your mind and see if, despite the fact that it is factually a true statement; if it fairly and accurately represents the truth of a matter. Definitely a must read in these headline & clickbait times!

Detailed and Accessible

PDF for audio follow along is great, but descriptions are clear to the point it didn’t even feel necessary.

Logical order with good connections between chapters. Good pacing with snippets of story that keep energy and attention high.

Demeanor consistent with message and call to action.

Simple, Tactful, and Insightful

Bergstrom and West provide helpful ways to spot BS. Insightful directions and tips on calling out BS and verbally refuting BS with simple and tactful methods. Personal and professional advice we all should understand to hold our family, friends and acquaintances accountable for, not who they are, what they say and do.

Read this now

Probably one of the most important new releases to read in 2020. Don’t delay this.

Solid review of a vital topic

Covers some basic research techniques and some ways to engage others when you disagree with them

This Should Be Required Reading For Humans!

I just finished this, and I am going to start it over. I am going to integrate some of this into a class I teach!

Facebook user’s manual

My title may sound a bit absurd but having gone cover to cover on this wonderful book, I sincerely believe anyone with a social media account or access to 24 hour news, let alone an internet connection, should read this. I have enjoy sharing a significant book for holiday gift and it is my pleasure to be sending many copies of Calling Bullshit this year.