Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time Revised & enlarged Edition

This is an interesting book where Shermer explores why people believe weird things by which he means things that once considered seemed odd or strange. The book is divided into five parts. which dela with sciecne and skepticism, pseudoscience and superstition, evolution and creationism, history and pseudohistory, and hope springs eternal. Shermer deals with a number of topics. The book begins with some anecdotes and an attempt to define skepticism. By skeptic, Shermer tells readers he means, "one who questions the validity of a a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it" (17) and emphasizes that this ought to be a self correcting approach to the positions one holds. Chapter 2 discusses some of the differences between science and pseudoscience and briefly explores the internalist v. externalist debate in the historiography of science. Shermer suggests that even though scientific principles only exist in people's mind; the actual phenomena they describe exist outside of us.; "all description is in the mind, but scientific laws describe repeating natural phenomena while pseudoscientific claims are idiosyncratic. Further, he contends, that science, at least on average, moves forward due its cumulative nature while recognize that "there is no question that science is heavily influenced by the culture in which it is embedded, and that scientists may al share a common bias that leads them to think a certain way about nature" (41). Chapter 3 discusses ways in which thinkers commonly make mistakes (theory influences observations, observer changes the observed, equipment constructs results, anecdotal thinking, the use of scientific language cab mislead, bold statements, heresy, rumors, where the burden of proof lies, after the fact reasoning, coincidence, etc). Part II begins begins with a Chapter on Deviations where Shermer briefly explores how deviations from the mean will statistically occur when experiments are run. Chapter 5 is about near death experiences and explores the phenomena concluding that it is likely the result of chemical interactions in the brain when people are close to dying. Chapter 6 is about alien abductions; here Shermer explores, recovered (read implanted) memories. He further wonders why aliens never actually give important information. Lastly, Shermer points out that these fantasies which human experience are culturally affected: "humans are experiencing fantasies and interpreting them in the social context of their age and culture" (98). Chapter 7 is about epidemics of accusations - where he discusses witch crazes, crazes about satanic abuse cults, and so forth. In chapter 7 he describes how individuals can 'acquire' memories and come to belief that they did things they did not do. Chapter 8 is about the cult of Ayn Rand, which Shermer (who once considered himself an Objectivist), calls "the unlikeliest cult" (114). This chapter offers a brief history of Rand and her work. Rand's philosophy is supposedly based on reason and argues that an objective reality exists which can be understood by reason, thus one must be self-interested and support capitalism.Strangely, and unlike, science, Objectivism is not self-correcting, once something is established it is taken as truth. Shermer claims that the "great flaw in her philosophy is that morals can be held to some absolute standard or criteria" (123). Part III begins with chapter 9 on the question of origins. Chapter 10 is about confronting creationists. Chapter 11 is about a supreme court case about creationism and evolution. Part 4 is about history and pseudohistory. This part deals mostly with holocaust denialism. Chapter 15 looks at race, variation and the like. Part 5, begins with Chapter 15 and attempts by scientists to find evidence to support some of their metaphysical conveptions (Tipler and christianity). Chapter 17 is why people belief weird things - because of immediate gratification, simplicity and morality/meaning Shermer suggests. In Chapt 18 Shermer explores why smart people belief weird things (they are better at rationalizing beliefs they reached without evidence)

I've always been curious why humans have such faulty logic, and this books goes into great pains to explain some of the more natural reasons that humans are prone to believe weird things. The author describes not just scenarios he's dealt with, but scenarios that have occurred in history and some of the arguments made. All in all, it's an interesting read if you've ever had a close encounter with a New Age website detailing its pricing catalog for remote psychic activation of ethereal DNA. However, if you really want to study more on this topic, I strongly recommend "Mistake Were Made (But Not By Me)" which details actual studies done on various human ... thinking errors.

We are all guilty. Each of us holds some aspect of the irrational dear to our hearts. A belief that if we just root the right way for our home team, they will triumph. The thought that stepping on a crack will break our mother's back. It is human nature. Michael Shermer addresses some of the larger issues of irrationality and their impact on society at large and humanity in specific. He digs deeply into some very tricky topics and presents a comprehensive and readable treatise on thoguht and behavior.

I found his objective analysis of Holocaust deniers and their beliefs to be sound and free from the emotional rantings of those who simply devolve into ad hominem attacks. What was most interesting was Shermer's posing of a model for odd beliefs. Using the witch trials of the middle ages and a more recent event in rural America (the mad gasser of Mattoon, Illinois to be precise!), Shermer demonstrates how odd beliefs rise and fall in society. Given the speed and nature of the world wide web, one might expect odd beliefs to rise and fall with even more frequency and speed.

Pick up this book in order to refresh your critical thinking skills. As he points out in his Skeptic's Manifesto chapter, the role of the skeptic is not to perpetually doubt, but to maintain an open mind - just not so open one's brains fall out.

A very well written book. Mr. Shermer attempts to show both sides of the issues discussed. He keeps an open mind, while at the same time utilizing the power scientific skepticism. He brings in scores of quotations from outside resources to support his information. My only negative criticism is in regard to the part on Holocaust Deniers. While well written and interesting, that portion of the book tends to drag on.

Shermer has a pretty good combination of debunking specific topics such as "intelligent" design, and holocaust deniers along with some speculation and discussion of motivations and psychological inclinations to believe odd or clearly wrong-headed ideas. I think he spent too much space (60+ pages) on holocaust deniers.

Shermer has an engaging style and appropriately discloses some of his personal experiences in relevant contexts

Highly recommended.

I am a religious person, but I grew up in a religious tradition that required me to suspend critical reasoning. My adult life has been largely a walk of deepening my authentic spirituality, while at the same time developing my critical reasoning skills. This book helps me with the latter goal, and has assisted me in getting beyond a lot of the superstition I grew up with, as well as my religion's attempt at explaining the world scientifically through a pre-scientific literary work. I have become a better christian and a better scientist, thanks to this book. It has given me rhetorical frameworks through which to discuss issues that have been dear to my heart for a decade. Thank you for this one very much!

Very useful reading, though not particularly well written. I'm appreciate to Michael Shermer for his years of serious research, writing and public speaking. I wish that more people would listen to him, but instead, they prefer to pretend.