{"product_id":"why-people-believe-weird-things-pseudoscience-superstition-and-other-confusions-of-our-time-by-michael-shermer-stephen-jay-gould-3414b","title":"Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time by Michael Shermer, Stephen Jay Gould","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis sparkling book romps over the range of science and anti-science. -Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel  n nRevised and Expanded Edition. n nIn 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. n nShermer, 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. n nEditorial Reviews n nThis sparkling book romps over the range of science and anti-science. -Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel n nSplendid. -Vanity Fair n- From the Publisher n nDedicated to Carl Sagan, with a foreword by Stephen Jay Gould, this book by the publisher of Skeptic magazine and the Director of the Skeptics Lecture Series at California Institute of Technology, has the pedigree to be accepted as a work of scholarly value. Fortunately, it is also readable, interesting, and well indexed and provides an extensive bibliography. The author discusses such topics of current interest as alien abduction, near-death experiences, psychics, recovered memories, and denial of the Holocaust. Never patronizing to his opponents, Shermer explains why people may truly believe that they were held by aliens (he had a similar experience himself) or have recovered a memory of childhood satanic-ritual abuse. He clearly explains, often with pictures, tables, or graphs, the fallacy of such beliefs in terms of scientific reasoning. While teens may find the first section of the book about Science and Skepticism a bit too philosophical and ponderous, the rest of it will surely captivate them. -- Carol DeAngelo, Garcia Consulting Inc., EPA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. n- School Library Journal\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Express","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41818826047562,"sku":"3414b","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0618\/9101\/8826\/files\/3414b.jpg?v=1764332769","url":"https:\/\/www.bookexpress.nz\/products\/why-people-believe-weird-things-pseudoscience-superstition-and-other-confusions-of-our-time-by-michael-shermer-stephen-jay-gould-3414b","provider":"Book Express","version":"1.0","type":"link"}