Reviewed by Rita Hoots
Professor
Denying Science may as well be titled "Ignoring evidence." This is the gist of the issues discussed in length in this fast–reading chronicle of society’s lapses in perceiving what the author judges to be the truth.
History records the public resistance to novel interpretations of natural phenomena, even when proof is proffered to substantiate the findings. Even today there is keen resistance to novel ideas that upset prevailing irrational opinions. Unfortunately too many of the public prefer to maintain beliefs based on emotion, prior instruction, or cultural attitudes. The author decries the lack of critical thinking and prevalence of science illiteracy in a citizenry that should be aware of local, national, and global problems that currently afflict us.
Examined here are science distortions in legal issues, the tobacco industry’s cover–up, medical shams, the ongoing vaccine debates, creationists’ messages, and the media attacks on science theory. Current issues dealing with health care, global warming, science education, diet, heredity, spiritual guidance, and other myriad complex matters demand cogent analysis based on evidence, and not on programmed prejudice. This is the message the author propounds in this book illustrating the unscientific reasoning currently rampant in our society.
Review posted on 5/22/2012
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