How to Talk to a Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason

by Lee McIntyre Narrated by Eric Michael Summerer

Overview

"Climate change is a hoax-and so is coronavirus." "Vaccines are bad for you." These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology to facts. They are not merely uninformed-they are misinformed. They cite cherry-picked evidence, rely on fake experts, and believe conspiracy theories. How can we get them to change their minds and accept the facts when they don't believe in facts? In this book, Lee McIntyre shows that anyone can fight back against science deniers, and argues that it's important to do so. Science denial can kill.



Drawing on his own experience-including a visit to a Flat Earth convention-as well as academic research, McIntyre outlines the common themes of science denialism, present in misinformation campaigns ranging from tobacco companies' denial in the 1950s that smoking causes lung cancer to today's anti-vaxxers. He describes attempts to use his persuasive powers as a philosopher to convert Flat Earthers; surprising discussions with coal miners; and conversations with a scientist friend about genetically modified organisms in food. McIntyre offers tools and techniques for communicating the truth and values of science, emphasizing that the most important way to reach science deniers is to talk to them calmly and respectfully-to put ourselves out there, and meet them face to face.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

2021 INDIES Finalist in Political and Social Sciences (Adult Nonfiction)

Finalist for the Next Big Idea Book Club

"Timely and founded in sound psychology, How to Talk to a Science Denier is vital reading for fraught times."
–ForeWord Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“This book is a necessary tool in an age that depends more and more on people trusting and believing in science in order to meet the simultaneous challenges posed by the long-term effects of epidemics, climate change and post-truth misinformation.”
–Shelf Awareness

“Well-argued . . . provides ingenious insights throughout.”
– Kirkus Reviews

"How to Talk to a Science Denier by philosopher Lee McIntyre draws on his encounters with flat Earthers, anti-vaxxers, coronavirus truthers and others. McIntyre offers tools and techniques for communicating the truth and values of science."
–New Scientist

"Superb."
–E&T, Engineering & Technology

“I honestly believe it’s one of the most important books of the year . . . I could go on and on about this book all day, but I just need you to get this book ASAP and buy a copy for a friend as well. Lee helps you get inside the mind of science deniers, explains the political aspect of science denial, and so much more. Again, get this book, and thank me later.”
–Chris Boutte, The Rewired Soul

"When attempting to bridge the gap, start with compassion.... McIntyre’s enterprise is hopeful, and his book is littered with productive conversations."
–The Washington Independent Review of Books

"An authoritative and entertaining account of science denial and how we might fight it, moving smoothly between theory and the author’s personal experiences of talking to science deniers." 
–Physics World

Kirkus Reviews

2021-06-16
Irrational beliefs have reached epidemic proportions, writes philosopher and science historian McIntyre in this earnest effort to explain them.

The author hits the ground running with an account of the 2018 Flat Earth International Conference, whose attendees believe that the Earth is a disk surrounded by a wall of ice (Antarctica) under a transparent dome, that all space travel is faked, and that the truth is suppressed by a worldwide conspiracy of “experts.” The leaders in the flat Earth movement seem sincere, and the members are thrilled to belong to an elite that has discovered a truth denied to the hapless mainstream. “Science denial is not based on lack of evidence,” writes McIntyre. “Which means that it cannot be remedied just by providing more facts. Those who wish to change the minds of science deniers have to stop treating them as if they were just misinformed.” Furthermore, insults rarely work. Readers may be frustrated that the author shows as much interest in understanding how believers think as in disproving errors, but he provides ingenious insights throughout. Among those most familiar to psychologists are five factors involved in organized science denial: “cherry-picking evidence, belief in conspiracy theories, reliance on fake experts (and the denigration of real experts), logical errors, and setting impossible expectations for what science can achieve.” McIntyre shows how deniers ignored or denied the existence of climate change because it’s something that may happen in the future. Then came Covid-19, which was ubiquitous—and they denied that, too. Especially in the U.S., science denial has become politicized, with a distinct rightward tilt. “To some extent,” writes the author, “conservative denial of climate change and evolution may be explained by the fact that this is just what conservatives are expected to believe.” Lest liberals get too comfortable, McIntyre casts a gimlet eye on the fierce opposition to foods containing genetically modified organisms. “There have been no credible studies that have shown any risk in consuming them.”

A well-argued yet discouraging exercise in the application of reason to unreason.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176207149
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/21/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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