Review: S3 - Science, Statistics, and Skepticism
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 25, 2014
We’re constantly bombarded by those claiming to have proof of one thing or another with someone else claiming to have proof of just the opposite. Those offering this “proof,” often scientific (or at least scientific appearing) or statistical, can’t both be right. So does this mean we don’t’ know the answers? Two conflicting sets of evidence are rarely equally accurate.  In this book FouratJanabi attempts to show us how to ferret out the truth in these contradictory claims.When conflicting scientific claims happen, it is usually due to multiple groups having their respective axes to grind, due to religious, political, or business reasons. (This is not new, it’s happened since the earliest days of scientific inquiry when science and the church disagreed on whether the Earth was the center of the universe or not.) Janabi looks at some of the more controversial scientific subjects of our age and explains why one position or the other is correct based on the available evidence. Regardless of your current thinking on these issues, some of the answers are likely to surprise you. At least that was what I found.However, the more important knowledge to be gleaned from this book is a generic approach to use when investigating for yourself.  A Mark Twain quote from the beginning of the book says, “a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” S3 … gives us some tools to recognize those lies while we continue to seek out the truth.**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **