- ISBN13: 9780137155224
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
“Comprehensive, readable, and replete with current, useful examples, this book provides a much-needed explanation of how to be a critical consumer of the scientific claims we encounter in our everyday lives.” –April Cordero Maskiewicz, Department of Biology, Point Loma Nazarene University “Seethaler’s book helps the reader look inside the workings of science and gain a deeper understanding of the pathway that is followed by a scientific finding–from its beginnings… More >>
Nowadays is becoming difficult to separate wheat from chaff, whether you are concerned about your health, transgenic foods, or global warming, the media and advocacy groups (on all sides of the issue) are distorting and politicizing real science. Often just one scientific paper is enough to reject a product or technology, and no longer is publication in a technical or scientific journal enough to guarantee findings we can trust. Where is our rational thinking?
Lies, Dammed Lies, and Science is a good book to start if you are not familiar with a given subject and you want to understand why so many contradictions and controversies are discussed in the media and scientific journals. Written for the laymen, this book will help you to do your own rational thinking even if you lack a background in science. The author is very courageous as she uses plenty of cases considered taboo, politically incorrect, or settled science (meaning that normal scientific skepticism is not allowed). You will be surprise to learn that many mainstream theories and paradigms are not as mature nor as settled as they are being sold to the public. We all need to understand how real science works and evolves, and deal adequately with scientific uncertainty. Often there is no black and white, and as explained in the book, we have to overcome our built-in capacity to oversimplify and avoid uncertainty. In a very concise but comprehensive way, the book also analyzes how policy making must proceed in light of the normal uncertainties and controversies typical of scientific research. The author also presents a very honest criticism of the “precautionary principle”, which was applied by the European Union to ban genetically engineered food.
Mrs Seethaler delivers what she promises, a handy toolkit to allow you to do your own debunking of the bombardment of “scientific facts” we are exposed every day by the media, politicians, lobbing groups, and NGOs. Excellent book, highly recommended, every serious science teacher and journalist should at least take a peek at this book. The truth is out there and the public deserves to know!
Rating: 5 / 5
There are many (well, more than a few) books about errors and
fraud in science. The common term is junk science. They tell
you what to believe. The better ones tell you why you should
believe what they tell you is the truth. But junk science books
also tell you what to believe, and sometimes provide reasons
why you should believe their claims. How can you tell who to
believe? Sherry Seethaler tells you how you can sort out the
claims and reach sound conclusions.
In the Watergate era, “follow the money” led to the truth.
this book offers 10 powerful lines of questioning to help you
get past honest errors and fraudulent science. The only nit
I can pick with the book is that some of the web sites recommended
for additional information have some of their content with
popular trends, giving them apparent reliability they do not
deserve. Hunt for an opposing view. Vigorous debate tends to
reveal the truth. Three web sites I have found useful are
wattsupwiththat dot com, junkfoodscience dot com, and
climateaudit dot org.
The same approach, critical evaluation of claims, has been applied
to other areas. David Hackett Fischer wrote for historians in
“Historians’ Fallacies : Toward a Logic of Historical Thought”
but the work is useful for readers of history and readers in
general. My Amazon review ended with “This is a book worth
rereading every few years. ” Jeremy Bentham’s work on
Political Fallacies is also fine, and more general than the
title implies.
Rating: 5 / 5
Sound bite information has replaced solid data based reporting. Sorting through “science backed” claims and counter claims can lead people to unreasonable conclusions. Or worse, in the public sector, policy makers embark on paths that are not fruitful or in the best interest of the public. Lies, Damned Lies and Science provides illustrative examples of where science is used, misused or simple not understood. But more importantly, it provides some tools and a basic structure for thinking about the “science backed” information we get thrown at us. This book should be read by all City/County Officials to understand and weigh the information being provided in some many of the decisions they are required to make.
Rating: 5 / 5
Sherry Seethaler’s //Lies, Damned Lies, and Science// is educational, insightful, and useful.
This book comes out at the perfect time, as there is a growing controversy over global warming and whether or not strong legislation should be written to reduce carbon emissions. Seethaler makes a compelling overall argument that one must consider the source and the science before reasoning a conclusion.
With huge political hype and partisan backing of certain initiatives, Seethaler’s book is an intriguing read and counterpoint to the growing list of books further hyping trends with dubious scientific backing.
The moral? Use all information at hand to make a reasoned judgment and understand when science is used correctly to back up a point and when it is twisted.
This would make a great gift for that special someone who may be just a little bit susceptible to believing anything they are told. Even if you disagree with some of the points in this book, it is a compelling read.
Reviewed by
Susie Kopecky
Rating: 4 / 5
This book teaches a learner, any learner how to analyze an issue, any issue! It’s a primer to scientific literacy and understanding and recommended for not only the public reader, but also school and college students.
Rating: 5 / 5