Merchants of Doubt

How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming

Naomi Oreskes

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Merchants of Doubt" by Naomi Oreskes is a captivating and eye-opening exploration of the strategies employed by a group of influential scientists to cast doubt on pressing issues, such as climate change and the harmful effects of tobacco smoking.

Drawing on extensive research and interviews, Oreskes exposes the disturbing tactics utilized by these scientists to manipulate public opinion and delay necessary action. She reveals their connections to powerful industries and think tanks, which provide them with resources and platforms to spread their misleading narratives.

By delving into the historical context and examining case studies, the author reveals a pattern of scientists trading their expertise for personal gain, in an effort to undermine scientific consensus and perpetuate doubt. Oreskes sheds light on how this manipulation contributed to the delay in implementing effective policies, resulting in dire consequences for public health and the environment.

Through her meticulous analysis, Oreskes challenges readers to question the sources of information they encounter, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and confronting the intentional spread of misinformation. She encourages a more critical approach to evaluating scientific knowledge and understanding the broader societal implications of doubting established facts.

"Merchants of Doubt" serves as a wake-up call, urging individuals, policymakers, and society as a whole to confront and reject the manipulation of scientific knowledge for personal and corporate interests. Oreskes empowers readers to recognize the dangers of doubt manipulation and take action, emphasizing the importance of supporting evidence-based decision-making in addressing pressing global challenges.

Explore More Books

See All
Confessions of a Pricing Man
Kingpin
River Out of Eden
My American Journey
Behave
Take On The Street
Life 3.0
The Republic
Beyond Good and Evil
Kill Switch
King of Capital
Mindware
The Bitcoin Standard
The Rise And Fall Of American Growth
Systems Medicine
Saving Capitalism from Short Termism
Start With Why
Representing Talent
House On Fire
Made to Stick
Meaningful Work
Don't Make Me Think
The Power of Positive Thinking
The Unsettling of America
The Madness of Crowds
The Master and Margarita
The Body Keeps The Score
The Kill Chain
A History of the Mind
Getting Things Done
Wild Swans
Startup Playbook
Uncommon Measure
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Why Minsky Matters
Bad Therapy
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Trade Is Not A Four Letter Word
The Gift of Good Land
Leadership
The Copernican Revolution
Night Sky with Exit Wounds
Start-up Nation
It's Earnings That Count
Jurassic Park
That Will Never Work
Bravey
Electrify
A Man for All Markets
The Great Revolt
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
The Real Crash
Atomic Habits
The Truth about Carbs
Striking Thoughts
Calm Your Mind with Food
Master Of The Game
Let Your Life Speak
How The Internet Happened
Acts of Love
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive
Just Mercy
Dynasty
Radical Uncertainty
Mint Condition
Norwegian Wood
Beyond Religion
The Accidental Universe
The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Welcome to Your Brain
Andy Grove
Maisy Mouse Collection
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Quality Investing
A Shot To Save The World
The Great Book of Amber
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
Bloodlands
Apollo's Arrow
Conflicted
Deiter Rams
Being Nixon
The Book of Awakening
Future Babble
Charlie Munger
Zorba the Greek
Entangled Life
Marc's Mission
Intellectuals and Society
Lost Ocean
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
Black Elk
The Botany of Desire
The Creature from Jekyll Island
Genome
A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things
Political Tribes
How Trump Is Making Black America Great Again
The Fiat Standard
Sex at Dawn