Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedlysome of the same. 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. The merchants of doubt often highlight a very special and isolated case in order to make their dismissive argument more reliable. Inspired by the acclaimed book, merchants of doubt takes audiences on a satirically comedic yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring american spin. It is also a meticulously researched history book and a portal into the world of real science. A view from the future, and they are currently working on the magic of the marketplace. 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. An entire industry flame retardants for furniture sprung up based on their misinformation. Merchants of doubt chapter 1 summary freebooksummary. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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.
Merchants of doubt summary and study guide supersummary. Merchants of doubt should finally put to rest the question of whether the science of climate change is settled. And with the threat that real limitations would soon be enforced, the merchants of doubt redoubled their efforts. Merchants of doubt might be one of the most important books of the year. 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. Does this movie provide the seeds for ending the merchants of doubt meme. 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. Exhaustively researched and documented, it explains how over the past.
In creating the appearance of science, the merchants of doubt sold a plausible story about scientific debate. 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. Theyve all been the victims of an antienvironmentalist program that has for decades contradicted scientific facts and hence has. But what makes the story so fascinating or rather infuriating are the methods used by the merchants of doubt.
Conways book of the same title, examines the history of corporatefinanced public relations efforts to sow confusion and skepticism. Bankruptcy of the merchants of doubt meme climate etc. 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. Mar 06, 2015 merchants of doubt, based on naomi oreskes and erik m. The whole doc is available only for registered users open doc. Merchants of doubt how a handful of scientists obscured the. Merchants of doubt chapter 4 summary freebooksummary. 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.
And if you have time to read two, reread merchants of doubt. The book the movie is based on the book merchants of doubt by conway and oreskes, which was published in 2010. 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. 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 doubt free summary by naomi oreskes and erik m.
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. 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. Access a free summary of merchants of doubt, by naomi oreskes and erik m. While not flawless, merchants of doubt is an immensely important and timely book. 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 an impressive account of sciences role in many key public issues of today. 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. Now, ive complained throughout this post about the fake debates that the merchants of doubt initiate, and most of them are precisely that. Elizabeth kolbert if you read just one book on climate change this year, read merchants of doubt.
They created a potemkin village populated, in only a few cases, with actual scientists. Real limits would be determined later, in a protocol that would be eventually signed in kyoto, japan. 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. Merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and erik m conway. These topics included smoking both first and secondhand hand smoke, acid rain, regans star wars or strategic defense initiative, the ozone hole, global warming, and the use of pesticides, specifically ddt. 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. 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 free summary by naomi oreskes and erik.
These topics included smoking both first and secondhand. Merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and erik m conway book. 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. Why the public, despite overwhelming evidence, cannot accept the obvious reality of climate change and continues to. Aug 07, 2010 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. Its a surprising story of a true conspiracy by the government that not many know about. It shows how much power big business can wield when they spread doubt about the scientific research that isnt in their favor. 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. How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming bloomsbury press. How climate science became a victim of the cold war earth101 duration. Conway and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract.
Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedlysome of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global. Erik conway talked about the book he wrote with naomi orestes, merchants of doubt. Merchants of doubt how a handful of scientists obscured. 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. Conway includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. 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. The merchants of doubt love highlighting these uncertainties to make the whole study seem unreliable. 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 identifies parallels between the global warming controversy and earlier controversies over tobacco smoking, acid rain, ddt, and the. Not only that, the characters of the different parts of the story are always the same too. Ever wonder why nothing is getting done about global warming. John has more than 30 years in energy and the environment with government, private.
When you put the stories side by sidelike the book doesyou start noticing that their strategies are always the same. It should be read by every editor and every member of congress, and by climate scientists as well. Conways book of the same title, examines the history of corporatefinanced public relations efforts to. 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. Jun 22, 2010 merchants of doubt might be one of the most important books 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. From tobacco to climate change, merchants of doubt. The book about the movement to refute global warming.
Exhaustively researched and documented, it explains how over the past several decades mercenary scientists have partnered. The book merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and erik conway puts forward the common fibre that links lung cancer, nuclear weapons, acid rain, the ozone hole, pesticides like ddt, and climate change together. In 2014, they published the collapse of western civilization. In seven compelling chapters addressing tobacco, acid.
The book provides a number of fascinating cases that has a direct impact on the public. 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. Nature merchants is an impressive and disturbing piece of scholarship that does a good job of answering the questions the authors pose. Merchants of doubt, based on naomi oreskes and erik m. This 81page guide for merchants of doubt by naomi oreskes and eric m. 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.
Observer uk merchants of doubt is a sizzling pageturner. A merchant of doubt attacks merchants of doubt posted on 20 december 2010 by john cook. 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. 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. With frederick singer, naomi oreskes, jamy ian swiss, sam roe.
1588 1277 837 1307 1357 539 814 77 787 220 224 915 1298 1485 438 412 252 1046 1135 128 1002 1223 811 912 801 440 1451 696 663 969 1467 743 1385 1029 890