Lies, Damned Lies, and Science: How to Sort through the Noise around Global Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other Scientific Controversies
- 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 >>
This book will not tell you what to think; it will teach you how to evaluate what others -want- you to think. If I were teaching a course on Critical Thinking, I would use this book as the central textbook; never before have I seen such a concise, readable coverage of the topic in a single volume. Each component of the process is identified, described, and presented with real-world examples.
At a time when everyone is trying to sell us something — be it material goods or strange new ideas — critical thinking is essential for survival. Whether you are trying to figure out where to take a stand on global warming, or how to not get ripped off by the local used-car salesman, this book will help. *Everyone* should read this book: I can only give it five stars here, but it rates many more. Excellent job!
Rating: 5 / 5
disclaimer: Sherry is a friend of mine. But, I am *not* a scientist and will give you an unbiased view – especially since this book is not what I expected at all. What I was hoping for when she would describe her book was more like a “science for dummies” – I wanted her to simplistically describe what I was hearing and reading. Wrong.
While Sherry does include very understandable explanations of how things work (imagine comparing Harry Potter learning potions to the scientific method), reading this book makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about current scientific issues. While the science is serious, the text is readable and humorous. She gives you an insiders view of the research and politics that are not apparent when reading a newspaper summary of a research report from a journal like “Science” or the “New England Journal of Medicine.”
Want to better understand the scientific issues of today? This book is for you. It’ll will make you think and will make you look at everything – including non-science issues – in a different light.
Rating: 5 / 5
Written by a science educator, this excellent book presents a very logical and level-headed overview of the scientific process, scientific findings and the often confusing aftermath. The author discusses how results from scientific research are presented and how they may be interpreted – by other scientists, by the media, by various stakeholders, etc. The reader is coached on how to be cautious when seemingly extraordinary scientific claims are made and by whom. One learns which questions are the right ones to ask. A few examples are as follows: Is this finding the result of coincidence or an actual cause and effect relationship? Who is making the claim and what do they have to gain from this finding? Is the study large enough, e.g., enough data, to inspire confidence in the validity of the results? Throughout this well-written book, useful real-life cases are discussed as examples to illustrate the author’s points. Through these examples, the reader can get a feel for how science really works. The writing style is authoritative, accessible, clear, friendly and engaging. This enjoyable book can be used as a guide by anyone who wants solid, down-to-earth advice on how to make sense of the many scientific claims that so often make the headlines.
Rating: 5 / 5
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1NY0FCOWAG6FD Hi, this is Joanne, a bioengineering instructor at the University of Illinois. I read science books and review them. See more at my youtube site [...]
The review for Dr. Seethaler’s book begins several minutes in.
This book is a fabulous manual to help readers learn how to think critically about scientific information we are bombarded with via the news.
Rating: 5 / 5
And this book is aimed at providing the tools to reduce ignorance.
How can a non-scientist make sense of science when so much science-related information is poorly presented, incomplete, contradictory or wrong? What tools can we use in order to assess and make sense of what is presented as fact? So much of the `information’ we receive is packaged and presented in a format which makes it difficult to understand let alone analyse the underlying facts.
In this book, Dr Seethaler covers topics such as the use and misuse of statistical data; identifying logical fallacies; uncovering the difference between cause and coincidence; and how to identify both the relevant stakeholders in any particular issue and their motivations. In short, this book is a guide to the techniques of critical thinking and evaluation applied to science.
Dr Seethaler reminds us how science really works, and how progress can involve disagreement between scientists. There are a number of examples discussed in this book: including BSE (Mad Cow Disease); global warming, genetic engineering of crops, and drug treatments for depression.
I enjoyed this book. The tools of critical thinking and evaluation discussed here are used in a number of different fields – including health, science and public policy more generally. These tools are not just restricted to these fields: we each have to make decisions based on science, and live with the consequences of such decisions made by others. It makes sense that we seek to understand the material presented so that we can make informed choices.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Rating: 5 / 5