Welcome to Litsy!

Absolutely essential reading. If you want to know where the War on Science comes from and the tactics it uses, this impeccably researched book - seriously, like a quarter of this thing is citations - delves into the history and philosophy of the handful of men who have destroyed American faith in science. One of the best books I‘ve read to illustrate how we got here.

This is a fantastic book! It goes into more detail on some things I already knew or suspected and it‘s well-documented. The conclusion and epilogue are just reads because they do such a great job of explaining why scientists don‘t always defend themselves or their science.

Ok, so the part on acid rain got a little sciency. Not bad, still accessible but I wasn‘t expecting it so my eyes started to glaze over. Did you know that climate science is 150ish years old so when people deny climate change they‘re saying 150 years of some of the best minds in science are full of it? Also, the scientists leading the charge in science denial are not climate scientists and also tried to convince you smoking was good for you.

One really cool thing about this book is it references Ralph Cicerone, who was the Chancellor of UC Irvine while I was a grad student there, and F. Sherwood Rowland, who was a professor while I was there. He wasn‘t one of my professors but I have met him.

This book is, essentially, becoming a horror story. I recall of these topics making the news in the 80s and 90s but I didn‘t know the backstory. Wow! #readathon #24hourreadathon

Now the book is covering the science or, in this case, the lack of evidence used to push for a nuclear arms race with Russia. Reagan‘s Star Wars defense nonsense is discussed. I vaguely remember this because I was alive in the 80s. I also remember when the tide turned against tobacco and cigarettes. #readathon #24hourreadathon

My book club meets next week and @DeweysReadathon is happening right now. Coincidence? I think not. I‘m not far into this book but so far it appears as if it will be accessible to a lay person. I know a lot of times people chose not to read science-based books is because the science is, well, sciency. They‘re using a well-known and documented example of how science is attached - the Tobacco Strategy. So far, it‘s terrifying.

EPA administrator, “We don‘t know what‘s causing it” Well now, this sounds familiar....

This month‘s Talk Green to Me book club choice. Anyone in the Austin, TX area who would like to join us at Recycled Reads on October 26th at 7 pm please do! And this fits the #30daysofreadathon prompt for today - #green.

Tasked with researching pseudoscience for work which then reminded me of this book I read for my historiography class in undergrad.