Review of 'Skepticism 101: How to Think like a Scientist' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
The book was full of triggers to look out for in terms of keeping a check on your beliefs and impressions, kind of on the world. It points out some well-known deceptions and over exaggerations of claims, as well as helping to identify when someone is "trying to pull the wool over your eyes".
There was the requisite discussion about creationism versus evolution and some discussion of religion, in general, but it clearly took care not to totally discredit any religion or its believers (although the author did point out that he personally is an atheist).
The title pretty much tells us what it is: it's about skepticism and how to practice it, basically in order to have more concept of reality than myths. The subtitle, How to Think like a Scientist helps. It's full of examples and a list of types of argument fallacies that are often used in …
The book was full of triggers to look out for in terms of keeping a check on your beliefs and impressions, kind of on the world. It points out some well-known deceptions and over exaggerations of claims, as well as helping to identify when someone is "trying to pull the wool over your eyes".
There was the requisite discussion about creationism versus evolution and some discussion of religion, in general, but it clearly took care not to totally discredit any religion or its believers (although the author did point out that he personally is an atheist).
The title pretty much tells us what it is: it's about skepticism and how to practice it, basically in order to have more concept of reality than myths. The subtitle, How to Think like a Scientist helps. It's full of examples and a list of types of argument fallacies that are often used in trying to convince one of an idea that really doesn't have solid evidence behind it to stand on: things such as "ad hominem attacks" and "the 'either or' fallacy".
He goes into "pseudoscience", and why our brains are constructed to believe. He goes into both WHAT we are likely to accept, and WHY - historically and physically - we are likely to believe and accept these things.
My only negative is that I didn't much care for the fact that it was a course, but the title and publisher told me what I was in for.
It was good!
