Don't Get Fooled Again: A Sceptic's Handbook

by Richard Wilson

Why is it that, time and again, intelligent, educated people end up falling for ideas that turn out on closer examination to be nonsense? We live in a supposedly rational age, yet crazy notions seem increasingly mainstream. New Age peddlers claim to cure Aids with vitamin tablets. Media gatekeepers stoke panic and regurgitate corporate press releases in the name of 'balance'. Wild-eyed men in sandwich boards blame it all on the CIA. But while it may be easier than ever for nonsense to spread, it's never been simpler to fight back ..."Don't Get Fooled Again" offers practical tools for cutting through the claptrap and unravelling the spin - tackling propaganda, the psychology of deception, pseudo-news, bogus science, the weird cult of 'Aids reappraisal', numerous conspiracy theories, and much more. Richard Wilson's book is user-friendly, enjoyable, shot through with polemic - and argues forcefully for a positive solution. Don't be acynic - be a sceptic!

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2008

Reviews

[Nurshafiqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very thought-provoking book. it made me think, and when a book does that, its a winner. (for me)

from the topic if aid really does exist or is it just a conspiracy, to the issue of the iraq war, it is written in such a way that it is easy enough for me to understand. a part of me was a bit dissapointed it had to end.

i assure you, once you have finished reading this book, you will look at the world in a different light. seriously.

[DaveD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but a little dated because of when it was published. It reviews some methods for critical thinking and how easily it is for humans to be fooled from common misinformation whether it is intentional or not. Not a bad read and pretty quick if you actually sit and read every day, which I didn't...

[Icon Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is it that, time and again, intelligent, educated people end up falling for ideas that turn out on closer examination to be nonsense? We live in a supposedly rational age, yet crazy notions seem increasingly mainstream. New Age peddlers claim to cure Aids with vitamin tablets. Media gatekeepers stoke panic and regurgitate corporate press releases in the name of 'balance'. Wild-eyed men in sandwich boards blame it all on the CIA.Even the word 'sceptic' has been appropriated by cranks and conspiracy theorists bent on rewriting history and debunking sound science. But while it may be easier than ever for nonsense to spread, it's never been simpler to fight back. "Don't Get Fooled Again" offers practical tools for cutting through the claptrap and unravelling the spin - tackling propaganda, the psychology of deception, pseudo-news, bogus science, the weird cult of 'Aids reappraisal', numerous conspiracy theories (including the one about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq), and much more. Richard Wilson's book is user-friendly, enjoyable, shot through with polemic - and argues forcefully for a positive solution.

[Erika RS · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like books where examples illustrate principles rather than principles being secondary to examples. Thus, this was not the type of book that I tend to enjoy. If I had known how example-centric it would be, I probably would have skipped over this book.

That said, this book does have some good points. The examples used are not the mainstream American controversies. This is not surprising given that the author is British. This could be seen as a weakness, but I see it as a strength. By using examples that are more neutral to an American audience in 2013, the book might get its points about scepticism across to those who would reject the book outright if the controversies were more emotionally charged.

I also thought Wilson did a good job of differentiating scepticism from various flavors of pseudo-scepticism, denialism and relativism in particular.

Thus, if books that focus on examples over principles are your style, you may like it even though I was not particularly fond of the book.

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book grabbed me as I read through the author’s details exposing the smoking/cancer cover-up, corporate giants’ control of the media, the lack of legal sanctions against lying politicians, and on and on. He convincingly backs up his research with forty pages of footnotes at the end and exhorts us to be skeptical of all the cons and scams that abound. Yes, I got angry as I read about all the damage done by these liars, but that is the author’s intention I would think, to get us to be doubting Thomas’s.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will now never be fooled again. Well... I am slightly more aware of how cultural and social myths spring up and should be able to recognise them in future. Or to spot genuinely exciting books and not have to trawl through something quite so repetitive.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special, nothing new. Stirrs up righteous indignation for a few moments though