Search - Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives

I find it difficult to know what to think about this book. In many ways, it's a must-read if you agree that irrationality runs rampant today. Hot-button issues concerning large pharmaceutical companies, childhood vaccines, or even the origin of the lettuce in your salad can generate torrents of heated debate and floods of mis- and dis- information and personal anecdotes, but very little of actual value. Specter discusses this disturbing lack of regard for hard science, and writes clearly about picking our way through these complex, often frightening, issues. But I would have found the book more convincing if he had been able to set aside his personal (and very blatant) political leanings and instead make the case for real science stand on its own merits. As it is, he falls prey to his own form of denialism when he fails to maintain the objectivity that would reinforce his credibility.