Unscientific America
Encyclopedia
Unscientific America is a book that was written by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum. In the book, the two authors tackle the problem of scientific illiteracy in America
. They blame both science and society alike for the increasing gap, and they offer compromises that will likely improve the problem . They blame the New Atheist Movement
, the evolution/creationists controversy, the entertainment industry, the media, and science skeptics.
The journal Science Communication
gave the book a favourable review, noting that the arguments presented "may make the Ph.D. crowd even more cranky than usual." Indeed, the book did spark significant debate particularly on-line. Seed magazine
selected Unscientific America as one to "read now" although it was subsequently more critical of certain aspects of the book. The BMJ
, while supporting the authors' assessment of the problem, was critical of the proposed solution. It said that the book sometimes "reads like an overlong and somewhat condescending whine about why science and scientists are not sufficiently appreciated." The New Scientist
was similarly supportive of the description of the problem while being critical of the solution arguing that "by looking only at science, Unscientific America misses the big picture." American Scientist
called it "at best, a thin and unsatisfying broth." Science
was also critical calling the book "slight in both length and substance" and the analysis it contains "shallow and unreflective". This review was itself criticised by Professor Marcus of Baylor College of Medicine
, who called it "a dismissive rant that misrepresents the text." PZ Myers
, who was criticised in the book, stated in his review that "It's not a badly written book, but it's something worse: it's utterly useless.".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They blame both science and society alike for the increasing gap, and they offer compromises that will likely improve the problem . They blame the New Atheist Movement
New Atheism
New Atheism is the name given to a movement among some early-21st-century atheist writers who have advocated the view that "religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises." New atheists argue that recent...
, the evolution/creationists controversy, the entertainment industry, the media, and science skeptics.
The journal Science Communication
Science Communication (journal)
Science Communication is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Communication. The journal's editor is Susanna Hornig Priest...
gave the book a favourable review, noting that the arguments presented "may make the Ph.D. crowd even more cranky than usual." Indeed, the book did spark significant debate particularly on-line. Seed magazine
Seed (magazine)
Seed is an online science magazine published by Seed Media Group. The magazine looks at big ideas in science, important issues at the intersection of science and society, and the people driving global science culture...
selected Unscientific America as one to "read now" although it was subsequently more critical of certain aspects of the book. The BMJ
BMJ
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
, while supporting the authors' assessment of the problem, was critical of the proposed solution. It said that the book sometimes "reads like an overlong and somewhat condescending whine about why science and scientists are not sufficiently appreciated." The New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
was similarly supportive of the description of the problem while being critical of the solution arguing that "by looking only at science, Unscientific America misses the big picture." American Scientist
American Scientist
American Scientist is the bimonthly science and technology magazine published since 1913 by Sigma Xi. Each issue includes four to five feature articles written by scientists and engineers. These authors review research in all fields of science...
called it "at best, a thin and unsatisfying broth." Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
was also critical calling the book "slight in both length and substance" and the analysis it contains "shallow and unreflective". This review was itself criticised by Professor Marcus of Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
, who called it "a dismissive rant that misrepresents the text." PZ Myers
PZ Myers
Paul Zachary "PZ" Myers is an American biology professor at the University of Minnesota Morris and the author of the Pharyngula science blog. He is currently an associate professor of biology at UMM, works with zebrafish in the field of evolutionary developmental biology , and also cultivates an...
, who was criticised in the book, stated in his review that "It's not a badly written book, but it's something worse: it's utterly useless.".