The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality
Praise for the Republican War on Science

"Nothing short of a landmark in contemporary political reporting."
Salon.com

"Mooney has bravely tackled a gigantic and complex topic."
The Washington Post

"The Republican War on Science does score some major hits when it takes on ideological campaigns against embryonic stem cell research and for intelligent design."
The New York Sun

"Mooney's very readable, and understandably partisan, volume is the first to put the whole story, thoroughly documented, in one place."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Addresses a vitally important topic and gets it basically right."
The New York Times

"Chris Mooney [is] one of the few journalists in the country who specialize in the now dangerous intersection of science and politics. His book is a well-researched, closely argued, and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists. In almost every instance, Republican leaders have branded the scientific mainstream as purveyors of 'junk science' and dubbed an extremist viewpoint—always at the end of the spectrum favoring big business or the religious Right—'sound science.' Rightists argue that the consensus itself is flawed. Then they encourage a debate between the consensus and the extremist naysayers, giving the two apparently equal weight. Thus, Mooney argues, it seems reasonable to split the difference or simply to argue that there is too much uncertainty to, say, ban a suspect chemical or fund a controversial form of research."
Scientific American

"A careful reading of this well-researched and richly referenced work should remove any doubt that, at the highest levels of government, ideology is being advanced in the name of science, at great disservice to the American people."
Neal Lane, former Director, National Science Foundation

1110767099
The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality
Praise for the Republican War on Science

"Nothing short of a landmark in contemporary political reporting."
Salon.com

"Mooney has bravely tackled a gigantic and complex topic."
The Washington Post

"The Republican War on Science does score some major hits when it takes on ideological campaigns against embryonic stem cell research and for intelligent design."
The New York Sun

"Mooney's very readable, and understandably partisan, volume is the first to put the whole story, thoroughly documented, in one place."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Addresses a vitally important topic and gets it basically right."
The New York Times

"Chris Mooney [is] one of the few journalists in the country who specialize in the now dangerous intersection of science and politics. His book is a well-researched, closely argued, and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists. In almost every instance, Republican leaders have branded the scientific mainstream as purveyors of 'junk science' and dubbed an extremist viewpoint—always at the end of the spectrum favoring big business or the religious Right—'sound science.' Rightists argue that the consensus itself is flawed. Then they encourage a debate between the consensus and the extremist naysayers, giving the two apparently equal weight. Thus, Mooney argues, it seems reasonable to split the difference or simply to argue that there is too much uncertainty to, say, ban a suspect chemical or fund a controversial form of research."
Scientific American

"A careful reading of this well-researched and richly referenced work should remove any doubt that, at the highest levels of government, ideology is being advanced in the name of science, at great disservice to the American people."
Neal Lane, former Director, National Science Foundation

27.99 In Stock
The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality

The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality

by Chris Mooney
The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality

The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality

by Chris Mooney

eBook

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Overview

Praise for the Republican War on Science

"Nothing short of a landmark in contemporary political reporting."
Salon.com

"Mooney has bravely tackled a gigantic and complex topic."
The Washington Post

"The Republican War on Science does score some major hits when it takes on ideological campaigns against embryonic stem cell research and for intelligent design."
The New York Sun

"Mooney's very readable, and understandably partisan, volume is the first to put the whole story, thoroughly documented, in one place."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Addresses a vitally important topic and gets it basically right."
The New York Times

"Chris Mooney [is] one of the few journalists in the country who specialize in the now dangerous intersection of science and politics. His book is a well-researched, closely argued, and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists. In almost every instance, Republican leaders have branded the scientific mainstream as purveyors of 'junk science' and dubbed an extremist viewpoint—always at the end of the spectrum favoring big business or the religious Right—'sound science.' Rightists argue that the consensus itself is flawed. Then they encourage a debate between the consensus and the extremist naysayers, giving the two apparently equal weight. Thus, Mooney argues, it seems reasonable to split the difference or simply to argue that there is too much uncertainty to, say, ban a suspect chemical or fund a controversial form of research."
Scientific American

"A careful reading of this well-researched and richly referenced work should remove any doubt that, at the highest levels of government, ideology is being advanced in the name of science, at great disservice to the American people."
Neal Lane, former Director, National Science Foundation


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781118236741
Publisher: Trade Paper Press
Publication date: 03/27/2012
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 272
File size: 807 KB

About the Author

Chris Mooney is the bestselling author of The Republican War on Science, the host of the "Point of Inquiry" podcast, and the author of "The Intersection" blog for Science Progress. In addition to three books, in the past he has written for Mother Jones, the American Prospect, Harper's, the Washington Post, USA Today, and Slate. He has appeared on The Last Word, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Book TV, Science Friday, Morning Joe, and Fresh Air, among other programs.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Equations to Refute Einstein 1

PART I POLITICS, FACTS, AND BRAINS 17

Prelude: Liberal Fresco on a Prison Wall 19

1. Denying Minds 26

2. Smart Idiots 42

PART II THE “NATURE” HYPOTHESIS: DANGEROUS CERTAINTY 57

3. Political Personalities 59

4. For God and Tribe 77

5. Don’t Get Defensive 89

6. Are Conservatives from the Amygdala? 111

PART III ENTER THE “ENVIRONMENT”: TURNING AGAINST CHANGE 127

7. A Tale of Two Republicans 129

8. The Science of Fox News 147

PART IV THE TRUTH: WHO’S RIGHT, WHO’S WRONG, AND WHO UPDATES 169

9. The Reality Gap 171

10. The Republican War on Economics 187

11. The Republican War on History 202

12. What the Frack Is True? 219

PART V THE POLITICAL LABORATORY 239

13. A Liberal Confronts New Data 241

Conclusion: Rescuing Reality 261

Acknowledgments 275

Notes 279

Index 311

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