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Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Harms the Planet and Threatens Our Lives by Michael Specter
girl_in_glasses's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. Yes, the tone that Specter uses is extremely defensive, but he has good right to be! So many things in our country are hindered by wishful thinking and anti-intellectualism/rational scientific consensus.
Specter covers topics that most of use are familiar with, autism and vaccines, to relative new research in bioengineering. Think the Human Genome Project.
Great read!
Specter covers topics that most of use are familiar with, autism and vaccines, to relative new research in bioengineering. Think the Human Genome Project.
Great read!
ula_j's review against another edition
2.0
It's not that I don't agree with the premise; I am firmly on the side of science. But for a journalist, this is a terribly written book. If I had turned this in to my college professors, I would've gotten maybe a C and a "organize your thoughts in a cohesive manner!!" in big red letters. He's all over the place and unduly simplifies issues while demonizing the opposition. It comes off as so condescending that it is hard to accept, even as someone who generally agrees with him. His chapter on race and genetics is hugely simplistic, he doesn't even try to parse out what he means by 'race' (as if all African-Americans come from the same place..) and I am highly suspicious when anyone says that "we are just being too politically correct." few things stir up my rage more than anti-vaccine proponents, global warming denialists or creationists, but even so, I wouldn't recommend this book.
beckydham's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of disappointed that this book didn't really talk about *why* denialism exists, only to hint at it through a bunch of examples. And it jumps around from topic to topic so much that it kind of loses its power--frustrating.
faith_the_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not very engaging. It had an interesting premise. A lot of people have an irrational trust of anything that is scientific or that cannot be easily understood. However, I felt that the author didn't give enough credence to the fact that there have unfortunately been times when science has failed us, sometimes unapologetically. Perhaps, people in various scientific arenas work to build up the public trust again.
epersonae's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting review of aspects of modern society where emotional reactions and political positions overwhelm scientific thinking. Mostly focuses on the anti-vaccine nutters and organic food (and its problems for feeding larger numbers of people). Not in agreement with everything he has to say, and the end trails off awkwardly, but good reading.
emiged's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, especially since I agree with the author's premise that some segments of our society have developed a knee-jerk distrust of all things scientific which is endangering lives, wasting money and distracting us from making scientific progress. In Mr. Specter's words, "Denialism is denial writ large - when an entire segment of society, often struggling with the trauma of change, turns away from reality in favor of a more comfortable lie."
Mr. Specter opens Denialism by describing in thorough detail the Vioxx case (an arthritis wonder-drug that was pulled from the market in 2004 after an increased risk of heart attack and stroke was found to be linked to its usage). He uses Merck's shortsighted and selfish mishandling of the drug’s shortcomings as a powerful example of why so many people are distrustful of scientists and large corporations. The next chapter outlines the anti-vaccine movement - his disdain for Jenny McCarthy, in particular, is palpable. Fear of genetically engineered foods is next along with society's "organic fetish" that is not supported by scientific data and is, in some cases, preventing starving people from receiving food. Then vitamin and herbal supplements are up - again, Mr. Specter's disgust with Dr. Andrew Weil was dripping off the page. Genetic variations between races follows, with Mr. Specter lamenting the "political correctness" that refuses to acknowledge any difference based on race and leads to inappropriate or ineffective medical treatments. The final chapter talks about synthetic biology and some not-so-distant possibilities for sticky ethical applications.
While Mr. Specter has obviously done his homework, each of these topics has been covered individually and more thoroughly in full-length books of their own. It’s interesting to have them assembled in one place, the better to make his argument that society is trending toward distrust of science. But it was also incredibly frustrating that he didn't offer much in the way of solutions, particularly since he starts out with such a clear example (Vioxx) of why people don't trust science, the government or Big Pharma anymore. He also mentions the Tuskegee experiments, Ford's Pinto, SARS and Chernobyl, to name a few. Information is withheld, bureaucracies move far too slowly or have too little actual authority, self-interested companies stonewall and spin their PR machines. So what is the wo/man in the street supposed to do about it? What sources should we trust for scientific information? How do you see through the spin?
I admit to having little patience with those who ignore all scientific evidence in favor of the anecdotes and non-peer-reviewed information available at the "University of Google", especially when their ignorance puts others at risk. Mr. Specter seems both angry and defensive throughout this book - which he certainly has a right to be. I just wish more of that energy was directed towards helping the average person figure out how to know what to trust rather than railing against the ignorant and the charlatans.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
Mr. Specter opens Denialism by describing in thorough detail the Vioxx case (an arthritis wonder-drug that was pulled from the market in 2004 after an increased risk of heart attack and stroke was found to be linked to its usage). He uses Merck's shortsighted and selfish mishandling of the drug’s shortcomings as a powerful example of why so many people are distrustful of scientists and large corporations. The next chapter outlines the anti-vaccine movement - his disdain for Jenny McCarthy, in particular, is palpable. Fear of genetically engineered foods is next along with society's "organic fetish" that is not supported by scientific data and is, in some cases, preventing starving people from receiving food. Then vitamin and herbal supplements are up - again, Mr. Specter's disgust with Dr. Andrew Weil was dripping off the page. Genetic variations between races follows, with Mr. Specter lamenting the "political correctness" that refuses to acknowledge any difference based on race and leads to inappropriate or ineffective medical treatments. The final chapter talks about synthetic biology and some not-so-distant possibilities for sticky ethical applications.
While Mr. Specter has obviously done his homework, each of these topics has been covered individually and more thoroughly in full-length books of their own. It’s interesting to have them assembled in one place, the better to make his argument that society is trending toward distrust of science. But it was also incredibly frustrating that he didn't offer much in the way of solutions, particularly since he starts out with such a clear example (Vioxx) of why people don't trust science, the government or Big Pharma anymore. He also mentions the Tuskegee experiments, Ford's Pinto, SARS and Chernobyl, to name a few. Information is withheld, bureaucracies move far too slowly or have too little actual authority, self-interested companies stonewall and spin their PR machines. So what is the wo/man in the street supposed to do about it? What sources should we trust for scientific information? How do you see through the spin?
I admit to having little patience with those who ignore all scientific evidence in favor of the anecdotes and non-peer-reviewed information available at the "University of Google", especially when their ignorance puts others at risk. Mr. Specter seems both angry and defensive throughout this book - which he certainly has a right to be. I just wish more of that energy was directed towards helping the average person figure out how to know what to trust rather than railing against the ignorant and the charlatans.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
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