How Do You Know It's True?

by Hy Ruchlis

Superstition still requires that many buildings have no floor numbered thirteen. More than 25% of Americans say they believe in astrology. Knocking on wood is an almost universal habit. Are these harmless notions - or dangerous delusions? Unfortunately, "fairy-tale thinking" is still the greatest enemy of progress, and education often bypasses the teaching of cognitive skills young readers can use to think independently.

How Do You Know It's True? will provide young readers with an understanding of the basic nature of science, not just as a body of knowledge, but as a way of thinking. Hy Ruchlis addresses the main theme by contrasting the Cinderella fable with the way scientists establish facts; he describes the scientific method and how it has been applied to increase human knowledge. In subsequent chapters, Ruchlis demonstrates the unobservable nature of superstition, illustrates the dangers of magical thinking using the example of the Salem witch trials, explores the contradictions of such elaborate superstitions as astrology, and shows how astonishing events can be analyzed and explained using rational methods.

Genres: Science, Education, Childrens, Nonfiction, Skepticism

112 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 1991

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be a great textbook for a child. Recommended for 11 to 14, but I find it to be suitable for much younger children, 6 to 10, with adult conversation. I disagree with this book's use of the words "correct," "true," and "prove" in a scientific context, as well as using sources without properly citing them, but still a great introduction to the concepts if observation, conducting experiments, scientific reasoning, probability and statistics, and how collective scientific knowledge builds upon itself.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for all teenagers. Adults, too, but I call out teens because they need this primer to critical thinking -- something not being taught in this culture. We tend to think of all theories and ideas as being on equal ground, and this book teaches a person how to judge ideas and sort out which ones have a) actual evidence behind them and are b) probable. Give the gift of thinking and get this book for every young person you know.

[Annisa UuU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini berusaha menyingkirkan pola pikir awam manusia dengan menyanggah "logika searah". Deduktif dilakukan untuk membuktikan yang mana yang takhayul, fakta, teori atau baru sekedar wacana.

Ada banyak sekali paham awam, dari memberikan aspirin yang ditumbuk sebagai obat korengan, sampai takhayul mengenai angka 13 dan astrologi. Pemahaman masyarakat awam patut diluruskan agar kita bisa tahu kebenaran yang hakiki

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short book, designed for tweens and teens, it asks questions that make you think. Why is 13 considered unlucky? What does "unlucky" mean, anyway?