Britain's leading science journalist makes an agenda-setting argument that science matters to every aspect of politics with a rallying call to all geeks, wannabe geeks, and secret geeks to join together in a new force our leaders cannot ignore. There has never been a better time to be a geek (or a nerd, or a dork). What was once an insult used to marginalize those curious people (in either sense of the word) and their obsessive interest in science has increasingly become a badge of honor. And we should be crying out for them. England is a country where only one of 650 MPs has worked as a research scientist, the government's drug adviser was sacked for making a decision based on scientific fact rather than public opinion, a writer can be forced into court for telling the scientific truth, and the media would rather sell papers by scaremongering over MMR vaccines and GM crops than report the less sensational facts. Whether one wants to improve education, cut crime, enhance public health, or generate clean energy, science and its experimental method is critical. It's time to stop the nonsense! The Geek Manifesto explains what needs to happen to entrench scientific thinking more deeply into politics and society; and how those who are concerned can turn their frustrated outrage into positive action that our country's leaders cannot ignore. Contributors include Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Robin Ince, Evan Harris, Tim Harford, Brian Cox, and Sir Paul Nurse.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"With over a decade of experience as the science correspondent for The Times, Henderson has seen it all. Today science is enjoying unprecedented coverage in the media and recognition in popular culture. Here is the account of how and why this has happened, how science works, and how it is perceived, warts and all . . . Fascinating stuff." —Jim Al-Khalili
"In this timely and important book, Mark Henderson explains why Geeks are on the march—and why the world will become a better place as a result." —Tim Harford
"Mark Henderson's new book shows that CP Snow's "Two Cultures" are still all too apparent in today's society, and also charts the frustrating tussle for power between forces of irrationality and the rational over recent years. Henderson advances a compelling argument that we shouldn't be ashamed of rational thinking, but instead, we need to recognize and embrace the importance of science in our politics, education, economy, and culture." —Professor Alice Roberts
About the Author
Mark Henderson, the Science editor of The Times, is an award-winning journalist who has covered science for The Times since 2000, building a reputation as one of the UK's most respected and best connected journalists in the field. As well as covering science news he is a regular contributor to comment pages and played a pivotal role in founding their science supplement, Eureka, for which he writes features and a regular column about science and politics. Freelance writing includes recent work for the British Medical Journal, Prospect, and the Royal Society's 350th anniversary program.
He is an accomplished broadcaster for TV and radio, whose recent appearances include BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC4's "Dinner with Portillo," BBC Breakfast, Sky News, LBC, and BBC R4's "Material World." He is also a regular panelist at the Royal Institution, the Wellcome Collection, and the Cheltenham Science Festival. In 2011 Mark Henderson was awarded the European Cancer Reporter Prize and the Royal Statistical Society Prize for statistical excellence in journalism.
He is an accomplished broadcaster for TV and radio, whose recent appearances include BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC4's "Dinner with Portillo," BBC Breakfast, Sky News, LBC, and BBC R4's "Material World." He is also a regular panelist at the Royal Institution, the Wellcome Collection, and the Cheltenham Science Festival. In 2011 Mark Henderson was awarded the European Cancer Reporter Prize and the Royal Statistical Society Prize for statistical excellence in journalism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Will
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book makes a convincing argument for science-minded people to become active in politics and for society as a whole to incorporate the scientific process into their decision making. The book did not blow me away - I think because the argument could have been summed up in one chapter. Like any book which makes a straight-forward argument, it can be tough, at times, for it to keep your attention. I would argue that almost anyone that buys this book already agrees with the author's argument, but that the book is still helpful in articulating that argument as well as in identifying methods to put it to use.
Ultimately, I think the book is worth the read - if only to form a social contract to act on the argument put forth.
Ultimately, I think the book is worth the read - if only to form a social contract to act on the argument put forth.
