Science Friction: Where the Known Meets the Unknown (original 2005; edition 2005)

by Michael Shermer (Author)

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Razinha's review

This is an excellent group of essays. As a psychologist and science historian, as well as founder and editor of Skeptic, Shermer thinks!

This book groups his thoughts into four sections: Science and the Virtue of Not Knowing; Science and the Meaning of Body, Mind and Spirit; Science and the (Re)Writing of History; and Science and the Cult of Visionaries

He begins with an amusing recount of how he played psychic for a day, using tarot, palms, astrology and mediumship to see how well he could fake the product. And apparently, he did quite well. Other essays in the group look at the movement to rebrand atheists as "Brights", why we should always be skeptical of what we always thought to be true, and the importance of skepticism ans a way of life (and a way of thinking).

He discusses anthropology and one particular instance of infighting and how even science gets spin-doctored. An interesting essay looks at streaks and sports psychology and reveals some amazing results: streaks are no more unusual than statistical possibilities. He explains quite candidly the battle of his mother against cancer and the failed efforts of science to defeat it.

An amazing analysis of the Bounty mutiny (Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian) shows his take on the causes from both a scientific analysis (comparing flogging stats across the Navies at the time) and a psychological and evolutionary perspective. He looks at the hows and whys of history, why the QWERTY came about and why it still exists today in its incredibly inefficient arrangement. He looks at counterfactuals and the What Ifs of some histories.

My favorite essay treats with Intelligent Design and the ten most common arguments creationists throw out. One essay is devoted to lists and how arbitrary they are. He does offer his own list of the 100, 12 and single most influential event in the history of science and technology. And I agree with his #1 - Theo Origin of Species.

Finally, he talks about Gene Rodenberry and blurring the boundaries between science fiction and science, the ego of Gene and twisting of the most famous Star Trek episode from the author's (Harlan Ellison) original screenplay (The City on the Edge of Forever). And wraps with a tribute of sorts to Stephen Jay Gould.

All in all, a good and thought-provoking read. I'm looking for the rest of Michael Shermer's books now! (

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Razinha | May 23, 2017 |

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I like Michael Shermer's ideas, but his writing style leaves me wanting, not sure why. I read the preface (which summarizes the contents) and discovered there were only a few chapters I might have an interest in... then found reading the chapters somehow boring. (

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keithostertag | Oct 5, 2018 |

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Razinha | May 23, 2017 |

Several of Michael Shermer's writings have been Hal's Picks in the past. Back in October of 1997 (link is external), I recommended his "Why People Believe Weird Things", Chapter Ten of which was "Confronting Creationists - Twenty Five Creationist Arguments, Twenty Five Evolutionist Answers". Since then, Shermer has published several additional excellent books and has become Scientific American's resident Skeptic. In 2005, Creationism has largely evolved into Intelligent Design, and Shermer provides new answers in Chapter 11 of "Science Friction". Most of us are ill-equipped to deal respectfully and intelligently with the religious beliefs of our students, 45% of whom (according to a 2001 Gallup poll) believe that the earth and its inhabitants were created in pretty much their present form about 10,000 years ago. It is nice to have Shermer (along with Richard Dawkins and the late Carl Sagan, among others) providing counterpoints that rebut without confrontation. This collection of essays explores some of the controversial fringes of science. Parts reflect ideas that Robert Erlich has also explored (see Hal's Picks in December 2001 (link is external) and February 2004 (link is external)). As usual, Shermer provides plenty of fresh ideas, as he discusses the virtues of skepticism, "spin-doctoring" in anthropology, chaos and complexity, the mutiny on the Bounty, and the place of science in the history of humankind. His book begins with a description of his own experiences (and success)posing as a psychic. I have come to expect both a lighthearted attitude and intellectual challenges from this author, and "Science Friction" does not disappoint. (

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hcubic | Jul 27, 2014 |

More of Shermer's cogent analysis of popular culture and pseudo-science.

BruceAir | Jul 25, 2006 |

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