83 pages • 2 hours read
368
Book • Nonfiction
United States • Late 20th century
2010
Adult
18+ years
Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway reveals how a small group of politically motivated scientists, including Fred Seitz, Fred Singer, Bill Nierenberg, and Robert Jastrow, used their influence to create the illusion of scientific uncertainty on topics such as smoking, acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming, and pesticide use, in order to prevent government regulation. The book addresses the harmful effects of tobacco use and the misleading information that contributed to doubts about climate change, environmental pollution, and public health.
Informative
Mysterious
Unnerving
Challenging
9,160 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway is praised for its thorough research and compelling narrative. It effectively exposes the strategies used by industries to mislead the public on scientific issues. Critics note a dense writing style and a potentially overwhelming amount of detail, but overall, it's a powerful, enlightening read.
Readers who enjoy Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway are often interested in environmental science, history, and the politics of misinformation. Similar to those who appreciate Rachel Carson's Silent Spring or Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, they'll value the investigative approach to how scientific facts are manipulated to influence public opinion.
9,160 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
368
Book • Nonfiction
United States • Late 20th century
2010
Adult
18+ years
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