Michael Shermer
Paperback | Pages: 384 pages Rating: 3.87 | 9159 Users | 458 Reviews
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| Original Title: | Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time |
| ISBN: | 0805070893 (ISBN13: 9780805070897) |
| Edition Language: | English URL http://www.michaelshermer.com/weird-things/ |
| Literary Awards: | Prismas Casa de las Ciencias a la Divulgación for Libro editado (2009) |
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Revised and Expanded Edition.In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print, Why People Believe Weird Things debunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science.
Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes. Why People Believe Strange Things is an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them.
Mention Based On Books Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
| Title | : | Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time |
| Author | : | Michael Shermer |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 384 pages |
| Published | : | September 1st 2002 by Holt Paperbacks (first published 1997) |
| Categories | : | Science. Nonfiction. Psychology. Philosophy. Skepticism. Religion |
Rating Based On Books Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
Ratings: 3.87 From 9159 Users | 458 ReviewsCommentary Based On Books Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
I finished this book and came to the conclusion, the same as the Amish have, if you get someone young enough and you deny them a scientific education they will believe almost anything. In other words, brainwash them young when they don't know the difference between reality and fantasy and the big frightening man that will come and get them if they bite their nails is as real in their heads as their mother or father.Not that you can't brainwash adults though. Look at the 8 glasses of water a dayThis guy is in Australia at the moment for Science Week and I was thinking of going to see him, but this is not really a week in which I can engage in such optional behaviours so, I thought Id get out one of his books instead.And look, it was very good and if it had been the first book Id ever read on scepticism (which I think it was written to be) than I really would have been impressed. But it wasnt the first book Id read on this subject and so that in itself gave the book a bit of a struggle
I picked up this book a few years ago, but just started reading it. I wanted a better understanding of how people can believe in certain things such as creation-science, but then deny other phenomena such as climate change. The author does a good job discussing how cults gain popularity, and how pseudoscience and pseudo-history are perpetrated. In light of today's hype of "alternative facts", and fake news, this book underscores the ever-growing importance of critical thinking.
I finished this book and came to the conclusion, the same as the Amish have, if you get someone young enough and you deny them a scientific education they will believe almost anything. In other words, brainwash them young when they don't know the difference between reality and fantasy and the big frightening man that will come and get them if they bite their nails is as real in their heads as their mother or father.Not that you can't brainwash adults though. Look at the 8 glasses of water a day
Audiobook - Abridged - 3.5 hours-- Note this is not the Revised and Expanded edition (if there even is one for audio). I listened to the original audio from '98.Shermer is the founder of The Skeptics Society and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic. He knows his stuff. In this book, he explores alien abductions, Holocaust denial, the legal history of creationism in science classrooms, and some other things. These are all interesting and covers Shermer's experiences with all of them. My
This book is not only an incredibly good book but was what lead me to the Skeptic community.I found this book at a point in my life where my belief in a lot of really weird things had caused me to hurt and upset many people. I wasn't happy with just accepting I had made mistakes, but wanted to know how and why I had fallen into believing so many incredibly strange things. IT was the title alone I think that lead me to getting this book, but holy hell was it illuminating. It lays out in pretty
This book seems to hold great promise from the outset. It's a book (as the author would confess) that values reason, science, knowledge and the examination of beliefs. Nothing wrong with that. However, the book seems to ramble on a bit and takes on the feel of the author's personal musings instead of objective examination of the material. A couple of the chapters could be condensed into one chapter that contains more focus and sticks to the topic. For instance, in one chapter Shermer drones on
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