Frankly speaking, this book was bullshit. From tired, sexist tropes about what scientists look and act like (unattractive! antisocial! white men!) that he obviously only researched from the Big Bang Theory to the entire point of the book being that scientists are mostly to blame for the scientific illiteracy of America. He was completely unwilling to put some of the blame on himself, even though the media plays a huge role in the lowered role of science. It completely glossed over the policy issues and barriers that make it impossible for scientists to even do research, let alone advocate for public policy changes. As a scientist who is very concerned about the scientific future of this country, I was extremely excited to read this book. I was extremely disappointed and this book perpetuates a dangerous idea that unless you are a scientist, there is nothing you can do about the state of science in this country. While scientists are not completely at fault, we need look no further than politicians who deny global warming and seek to remove evolution education from schools as a huge portion of the root of scientific illiteracy. Apparently, Chris Mooney does not think so. The authors castigate the G.W. Bush administration for its anti-science stance, and probably rightly so. But they do a good job of demonstrating that the science community can do a much better job in communicating with the public and the country really needs to have scientists who are not just good scientists but good communicators. While a bit dated for me to be reading it now, but the principles are still very relevant.
What do You think about Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future (2009)?
I couldn't quite finish it. It was good, but not exactly what I was looking for.
—Tshering
This is a timely book about how pseudo-science is promoted by the media.
—lurdes
lots of controversy surrounding! ooo...i can't wait.
—Mama2012
