Thursday, December 10, 2009

DENIALISM BY MICHAEL SPECTER

I have finished reading a wonderful book by Michael Specter called: Denialism How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives. The author is a writer for the New Yorker and has been a staff writer since 1998. He writes about science, technology and global public health. He has twice won the Global Health Council's Excellence in Media Award. He has also recieved an award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 6 chapters he covers everything from the vioxx controversy, vaccines, organic food, CAM, to genetics and genetic engineering. It is thought provoking and well written, a definite read for the scientific skeptic. He asks the tough questions, then demands answers supported by compelling evidence. He said:"we must learn to accept data that has been properly judged and verified-no matter what it says, or how much we might have wished that it pointed in another direction." It is the denialists that have an ideology that makes them ignore evidence or twist it to fit their definitions and conclusions. That is not how science works. I highly recommend the book and it will go into the must read section.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

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