Conway merchants of doubt is a fascinating book that tells the upsetting story of how a small powergroup of conservative scientists ran destructive campaigns to mislead the public about science. An entire industry flame retardants for furniture sprung up based on their misinformation. Does this movie provide the seeds for ending the merchants of doubt meme. They created a potemkin village populated, in only a few cases, with actual scientists. Exhaustively researched and documented, it explains how over the past several decades mercenary scientists have partnered. And if you have time to read two, reread merchants of doubt. Exhaustively researched and documented, it explains how over the past. How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming bloomsbury press. Merchants of doubt summary and study guide supersummary.
The film traces the use of public relations tactics that were originally developed by the tobacco industry to protect their business from research indicating health risks from smoking. Documentarian robert kenner lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silvertongued punditsforhire who present themselves in the inspired by the acclaimed book by. Bankruptcy of the merchants of doubt meme climate etc. Conways book of the same title, examines the history of corporatefinanced public relations efforts to. It identifies parallels between the global warming controversy and earlier controversies over tobacco smoking, acid rain, ddt, and the. In creating the appearance of science, the merchants of doubt sold a plausible story about scientific debate. Inspired by the acclaimed book, merchants of doubt takes audiences on a satirically comedic yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring american spin. Why the public, despite overwhelming evidence, cannot accept the obvious reality of climate change and continues to. Conways book of the same title, examines the history of corporatefinanced public relations efforts to sow confusion and skepticism. Merchants of doubt is a 2014 american documentary film directed by robert kenner and inspired by the 2010 book of the same name by naomi oreskes and erik m. Merchants of doubt chapter 1 summary freebooksummary. John has more than 30 years in energy and the environment with government, private. From tobacco to climate change, merchants of doubt. The whole doc is available only for registered users open doc.
Mckie says that merchants of doubt includes detailed notes on all sources used, is carefully paced, and is my runaway contender for best science book of the year. Merchants of doubt is a nonfiction account of how a looseknit group of scientistsfred seitz, fred singer, bill nierenberg, and robert jastrowwith similar political agendas worked to prevent government regulation by creating the appearance of scientific debate on several topics. Merchants of doubt chapter 4 summary freebooksummary. The merchants of doubt often highlight a very special and isolated case in order to make their dismissive argument more reliable. Merchants of doubt quotes showing of 1 while the idea of equal time for opposing opinions makes sense in a twoparty political system, it does not work for science, because science is not about opinion. When you put the stories side by sidelike the book doesyou start noticing that their strategies are always the same. These topics included smoking both first and secondhand. Merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and erik m conway. The book provides a number of fascinating cases that has a direct impact on the public. Elizabeth kolbert if you read just one book on climate change this year, read merchants of doubt. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedlysome of the same.
Merchants of doubt is an impressive account of sciences role in many key public issues of today. It should be read by every editor and every member of congress, and by climate scientists as well. It is, and we ignore this message at our peril elizabeth kolbert if you read just one book on climate change this year, read merchants of doubt. Merchants of doubt which includes detailed notes on all sources is clearly and cleanly outlined, carefully paced and is my runaway contender for best science book of the year. Uncertainty is our item after seitz resigned from his renowned logical profession, he was procured by the tobacco organization rj reynolds to run its program subsidizing biomedical research at significant colleges, medical clinics, and research foundations the nation over 10. Theyve all been the victims of an antienvironmentalist program that has for decades contradicted scientific facts and hence has. Merchants of doubt quotes showing of 1 while the idea of equal time for opposing opinions makes sense in a twoparty political system, it does not work for science, because science is. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedlysome of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global. But if there was one debate that is worth paying attention to, and actually thinking about both sides, is the one that started back in the late 1970s and early 1980s between thomas schelling. Not only that, the characters of the different parts of the story are always the same too. Merchants of doubt how a handful of scientists obscured. This 81page guide for merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and eric m. Merchants of doubt how a handful of scientists obscured the. Merchants of doubt free summary by naomi oreskes and erik m.
Merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and erik m conway book. Its a surprising story of a true conspiracy by the government that not many know about. Merchants of doubt should finally put to rest the question of whether the science of climate change is settled. Nature merchants is an impressive and disturbing piece of scholarship that does a good job of answering the questions the authors pose. In seven compelling chapters addressing tobacco, acid. Access a free summary of merchants of doubt, by naomi oreskes and erik m. And with the threat that real limitations would soon be enforced, the merchants of doubt redoubled their efforts.
A documentary that looks at punditsforhire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change. Inspired by the acclaimed book by naomi oreskes and erik conway, merchants of doubt takes audiences on a satirically comedic yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring american spin. The merchants of doubt love highlighting these uncertainties to make the whole study seem unreliable. Observer uk merchants of doubt is a sizzling pageturner. While not flawless, merchants of doubt is an immensely important and timely book.
How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming is a 2010 nonfiction book by american historians of science naomi oreskes and erik m. Merchants of doubtwhich contains detailed notes on all sourcesis clearly and cleanly outlined, carefully paced and is my runaway contender for best science book of the year. Ever wonder why nothing is getting done about global warming. The book the movie is based on the book merchants of doubt by conway and oreskes, which was published in 2010. I really enjoyed it and think its a very important book, including for those of us who are ecologists who also think about the factors that influence public views on science.
Now, ive complained throughout this post about the fake debates that the merchants of doubt initiate, and most of them are precisely that. In 2014, they published the collapse of western civilization. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Jun 22, 2010 merchants of doubt might be one of the most important books of the year. Merchants of doubt free summary by naomi oreskes and erik. The book about the movement to refute global warming. In their new book, merchants of doubt, historians naomi oreskes and erik conway explain how a looseknit group of highlevel scientists, with extensive political connections, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny wellestablished scientific knowledge over four decades. Mar 06, 2015 merchants of doubt, based on naomi oreskes and erik m. Based on a book by naomi oreskes and erik conway, the documentary merchants of doubt begins by looking at big tobacco companies, which, unable to flatout lie about the dangers of their products, learned techniques of casting doubt.
Merchants of doubt, based on naomi oreskes and erik m. Doubt is our product after seitz retired from his illustrious scientific career, he was hired by the tobacco company rj reynolds to run its program funding biomedical research at major universities, hospitals, and research institutes across the country 10. Conway and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract. Conway includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. A merchant of doubt attacks merchants of doubt posted on 20 december 2010 by john cook. The book tells the story of how, in their later years, they used their accrued clout and credibility to attack and undermine important scientific discoveries involving tobacco, acid rain, ozone depletion, and especially, climate. Inspired by the acclaimed book by naomi oreskes and erik conway, merchants of doubt takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring american spin. But what makes the story so fascinating or rather infuriating are the methods used by the merchants of doubt. Inspired by the acclaimed book by naomi oreskes and erik conway, merchants of doubt takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the hea. To find out more about merchants of doubt, including why the economist calls the book powerful, the washington times considers it wellresearched and lucidly written, and the journal science. How climate science became a victim of the cold war earth101 duration. A view from the future, and they are currently working on the magic of the marketplace. Merchants of doubt is a fascinating book that tells the upsetting story of how a small powergroup of conservative scientists ran destructive campaigns to mislead the public about science.
Merchants of doubt might be one of the most important books of the year. Merchants of doubt tells the story of how a looseknit group of highlevel scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny wellestablished scientific knowledge over four decades. Merchants of doubt, a documentary by robert kenner, takes up where the 2006 global warming tutorial an inconvenient truth left off, probing the dubious annals of climatechange denial. The merchants of doubt of the title were a few scientists who had been productive researchers during the cold war. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Merchants of doubt is a book about an orchestration of obfuscation and doubt concerning some of the most pressing environmental issues in the history of humanity. It shows how much power big business can wield when they spread doubt about the scientific research that isnt in their favor. Merchants of doubt expertly follows the historical twists and turns to answer all those questions and more in exquisite detail translated into entertaining narratives easily digested by readers from all backgroundsthis book should be a staple for any scientist and progressive, especially those whose work intersects public policy. Erik conway talked about the book he wrote with naomi orestes, merchants of doubt.