As misinformation runs rampant, is it possible to do anything to combat conspiracy theories and science denialism? This is the question that science historian and philosopher Lee McIntyre (Post-Truth) earnestly attempts to address. In How to Talk to a Science Denier, he identifies and defines what tactics undergird science denial in all its forms, and then outlines strategies to combat misinformation and attempt to win science deniers back to the side of believing in science.
As he considers perspectives about a Flat Earth, those against vaccination and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), as well as deniers of climate change, McIntyre carefully pulls apart the commonly held belief that people who hold such views are simply misinformed. He painstakingly connects the formation of beliefs to other constructs of identity, and presents a more compassionate and empathetic road map toward possible persuasion. Perhaps even more importantly, he outlines and demonstrates a process of technique rebuttal that allows space for engagement and leaves room for personal dignity for all parties. He emphasizes trust-building as part of the process, rather than a brute reliance on empirical proof as method of persuasion "to try to bring science deniers back into the fold and show them how useful science can be."
This book is a necessary tool in an age that depends more and more on people trusting and believing in science in order to meet the simultaneous challenges posed by the long-term effects of epidemics, climate change and post-truth misinformation. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer