For the better part of the past two years, and if I’m honest for quite some time before that, the idea of talking to someone now commonly described as a “science denier” on any topic of a level of seriousness exceeding the air temperature of the given moment held approximately the same amount of appeal to me as – and I believe I’m quoting Rowan Atkinson on this – “having my tongue pounded flat with a meat mallet and then pierced with a croquet hoop.”
However, Mrs. Naturalist, who as we’ve long established is a much better person than I am, has all this time persisted in her believe that it’s worth the effort for the amount of good that might possibly be accomplished. And – as it appears, she’s got some authoritative people on her side, including Dr. Lee McIntyre, the author of the recently published How to Talk to a Science Denier; Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason.
Not, as its title might seem to imply, a “how to” guide, but rather a detailed examination from direct in-the-field research of why those who reject at least some aspects of modern science and at times reason and logic itself, Dr. McIntyre’s book presents the “why’s” that are necessary to understand before any “how’s” can or should be undertaken. Indeed, there is much reason and logic in what he has collected here – enough both to equip one with the necessary understanding to undertake the title’s activity and to give hope for potential success to those willing to try it.
And for those who might be interested in hearing the author himself discuss the ideas that he presents in greater detain in his book, I highly recommend giving ear to an interview for which he sat in August of 2021 with the one of the New Books Network‘s most astute interviewers, Galina Limorenko. It was the interview that made me wish to look further into his book – something I’m now very glad I did.
Available from:
