The Science of Fear: How the Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain [Paperback]

Daniel Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 24, 2009

A timely and entertaining psychological look at why we're afraid and what to do about it

From terror attacks to bursting real estate bubbles, from crystal meth epidemics to online sexual predators and poisonous toys from China, our list of fears seems to be exploding. Yet we are the safest and healthiest humans in history. Why are we so worried?

The Science of Fear is an introduction to the new brain science of risk, dissecting the fears that misguide and manipulate us every day. Award-winning journalist Daniel Gardner demonstrates how irrational fear springs from the ways humans miscalculate risks based on our hunter-gatherer brains. With the exclusive cooperation of risk-science pioneer Paul Slovic and other leading experts, Gardner reveals how our "gut" reactions lead us astray. Understanding our irrational fears frees us from political and corporate manipulation, and makes our choices better, and our lives braver.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent...analyses everything from the media's predilection for irrational scare stories to the cynical use of fear by politicians... [A] cheery corrective to modern paranoia."
-The Economist

About the Author

Daniel Gardner is a columnist and senior writer for The Ottawa Citizen. He has received numerous awards for his writing, including Amnesty International's Media Award and the Michener Award. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (June 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452295467
• ISBN-13: 978-0452295469
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read but..... December 9, 2010

By Jdiesel77

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book very interesting in concept, however i got so bored with it. Essentially the story is this: People are afraid of things they shouldn't be as afraid of, and not as afraid of the things they should be. For example, people are afraid to fly, but u have a much greater chance of dying in a car crash. People are afraid of cancer, but u have a better chance of dying from the flu. Things like this are stated throughout the book. We are afraid of this bc of that but these are the statistics on why we are afraid of this and that. Its essentially a bunch of statistics that i really liked in the beginning, but got really bored with as the book went on , and frankly started skimming it. Decent book to read but just got really bored with it....

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, and a must-read for everyone March 3, 2011

By Bartlomiej Walczak

Format:Paperback

This is the best book on the subject that I've read. I liked both the theoretical explanations, and practical examples with recommendations. It is impartial, and also shows how the risks of the rare but emotionally significant events are overinflated and overused by media and politicians, and also how our own brains and "guts" mislead us in our daily life. Well-written, I recommend it to everyone.

23 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars lots of statistics April 14, 2010

By J. Reicherts

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

and you know, 40% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
this book isn't quite what i was after-i think i was looking for more of a neuroscience approach with a blend of psychology, whereas this is a bulk of sociology and statistics with a healthy mix of psychology, with some interesting social experiments referenced.
Not to say it's a bad book, it's actually quite the eye opener, and i would absolutely recommend it. very insightful with regards to media and advertising.
my only complaints are 1, it seems a few times the author lets a little of his personal bias towards a few of the specific subjects show. for example, i clearly get the impression that the author thinks all vaccinations are completely safe, and that the "anti-vaccination people" are illogical or misinformed. this topic i feel has a great many points on both sides, both with scientific data and both with respected educated voices to back up their points, and it should not be presented as a fear manipulated position in a book on fear.
and 2, a couple times you are presented with questions that are somewhat brain teasers, and the answer is no where in the book, not even the end sections. ~frustrating--
overall though not a bad read. flows well and for the most part holds your interest.