Shadows of Science: How to Uphold Science, Detect Pseudoscience, and Expose Antiscience in the Age of Disinformation

The book Shadows of Science explores the controversial boundary between science and pseudoscience/anti-science, highlighting the importance of truth-seeking tools in countering misinformation. It is a love letter to science, describing its unique ability to find provisional truths about nature and its values of uncertainty, humility, and fact-based observation. The author has reported on scientific discoveries and exposed pseudoscience and anti-science, sharing his experiences and insights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2024
Publisher: Prometheus Books

In this captivating and informative book, author and Skeptical Inquirer editor Kendrick Frazier takes readers on a fascinating exploration into the contentious borderland between science and its adversaries: pseudoscience (deceptive pseudoscience) and anti-science (open hostility to science). Pseudoscience lurks in the shadows of science, masquerading as science to captivate, persuade, mislead, and deceive the public. Anti-science disparages and even denies scientific findings for ideological purposes.

In this perilous era of misinformation and disinformation, we urgently need the powerful truth-seeking tools of science to counter society's crazier impulses, where opinions, beliefs, and lies take precedence over facts, evidence, and truth. In a sense, Shadows of Science is Frazier's heartfelt tribute to science, one of humanity's greatest achievements, a marvel we should cherish for its remarkable ability to uncover provisional truths about nature. In a friendly and accessible style, he shares recent discoveries, explains how science works, and showcases its error-correcting mechanisms, leading to the accumulation of new knowledge. He tells the stories of some of our champions of science and reason, highlighting their invaluable contributions and the values of science, which embrace uncertainty and humility, emphasizing fact-based observation and experimentation.

While pseudoscience adopts some of the language and allure of science, it is crucial to recognize that the similarities end there. Frazier has dedicated his career to professionally reporting on groundbreaking scientific discoveries and exposing the pretensions and dangers of pseudoscience and anti-science. Here, he shares his experiences, knowledge, and insights, as well as his deep love and passion for our ability to discern what is truly real about the natural world and to identify and expose fake science, deceptive pseudoscience, and anti-science.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of scientific discourse, discern between truth and deception, and advocate for evidence-based policies and practices. It serves as a reminder that science is not just a subject of study but a way of life, one that empowers us to understand the world around us and make informed decisions that benefit both ourselves and our society. By embracing the power of science and rejecting pseudoscience and anti-science, we can build a brighter and more informed future for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 558g
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781633889385