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The cover of Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science

Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science

Martin Gardner

How do cranks, cults and pseudoscientists win followers, and how can you tell a fad from real science?

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At a glance

Author
Martin Gardner

Why read it

  • You will notice how believers in one fringe theory often mock all the others, as the author's angry letters from readers showed
  • You will be able to recognize food faddists, medical cults and quacks, and be wary of their claims
  • You will see how pseudoscience can serve politics and prejudice, from Lysenko's biology in the Soviet Union to apologists for racial hate

Who it is for

  • Reader pulled in by miracle cures online
  • Science teacher looking for examples of bad reasoning
  • Skeptic who enjoys a tour of strange beliefs

Contents

  1. DOVER BOOKS ON THE OCCULT
  2. Preface to Second Edition
  3. CHAPTER 1
  4. In the Name of Science
  5. CHAPTER 2
  6. Flat and Hollow
  7. CHAPTER 3
  8. Monsters of Doom
  9. CHAPTER 4
  10. The Forteans
  11. CHAPTER 5
  12. Flying Saucers
  13. CHAPTER 6
  14. Zig-Zag-and-Swirl
  15. CHAPTER 7
  16. Down With Einstein!
  17. CHAPTER 8
  18. Sir Isaac Babson
  19. CHAPTER 9
  20. Dowsing Rods and Doodlebugs
  21. CHAPTER 10
  22. Under the Microscope
  23. CHAPTER 11
  24. Geology versus Genesis
  25. CHAPTER 12
  26. Lysenkoism
  27. CHAPTER 13
  28. Apologists for Hate
  29. CHAPTER 14
  30. Atlantis and Lemuria
  31. CHAPTER 15
  32. The Great Pyramid
  33. CHAPTER 16
  34. Medical Cults
  35. CHAPTER 17
  36. Medical Quacks
  37. CHAPTER 18
  38. Food Faddists
  39. CHAPTER 19
  40. Throw Away Your Glasses!
  41. CHAPTER 20
  42. Eccentric Sexual Theories
  43. CHAPTER 21
  44. Orgonomy
  45. CHAPTER 22
  46. Dianetics
  47. CHAPTER 23
  48. General Semantics, Etc.
  49. CHAPTER 24
  50. From Bumps to Handwriting
  51. CHAPTER 25
  52. ESP and PK
  53. CHAPTER 26
  54. Bridey Murphy und Other Matters
  55. Appendix and Notes
  56. CHAPTER 1
  57. CHAPTER 2
  58. CHAPTER 3
  59. CHAPTER 4
  60. CHAPTER 5

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