"Denialism" on this morning's Weekend Edition

[Bikewer]

Nice segment this morning on a book by Michael Specter called "Denialism":

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120139776

He talks about the anti-vax movement, organic foods, and other aspects of modern life where folks are using anything but rationality and evidence to come to a conclusion.
Looks like it might be a good read.....

 

[Trakar]

Nice segment this morning on a book by Michael Specter called "Denialism":

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120139776

He talks about the anti-vax movement, organic foods, and other aspects of modern life where folks are using anything but rationality and evidence to come to a conclusion.
Looks like it might be a good read.....

Yeah the author is a writer for the New Yorker, I've been waiting for this book to come out but somehow missed its release, thanks for the heads up!
Author's website - http://www.michaelspecter.com/

 

[Apathia]

Yup!
Heard it this morning.
It's on my list of books to read now!

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

I heard the first part of it on my way home from work. Sounds like an interesting book. And I hope more intelligent people who aren't necessarily skeptics will read it.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I know about that Vashon Island enclave of antivaxxers. That's a short ferry hop from Seattle.

I'll definitely add the book to my Xmas wish list.

 

[ExMinister]

Thanks for posting this. It looks very interesting.

 

[Wayward son]

I have read the first 2 chapters of the book and so far I feel it is pretty good. I started reading the book knowing that I am probably in agreement with Specter on most issues so there is certainly not a lot of benefit to my reading the book compared to others (who, of course are unlikely to). At one point in time I was an anti-vaxer, opponent of conventional medicine, supporter of many (but not all) forms of alternative medicine, opponent of GMO/biotechnology, and proponent of organic agriculture so I am interested to see if he presents the information in a similar manner to the method/process that I challenged each of those previously held beliefs and found them full of flaws.