This book was not a "scholarly tome" written in a language convoluted to those who don't know scientific jargon. It's a call for attention to the problems with science and science education in America today. Unfortunately, many of the people who should read this book never will. Great points and some unusual arguments. Good book.

like Penn & Teller's Bullshit, it is focused on the difference between what is acceptable and what is real

If you want to be educated on what's happening in America that directly affects you, TODAY - READ THIS.

Every word in this book is deeply intoxicating, mind blowing, and is something every American should read!

At a first glance I thought it would be daunting - however, it was the farthest thing from it - a very quick read!

Scientists have this tendency to build themselves up in castles of vocabulary and reason. Yet, the walls block both ways preventing the people from grasping the informations that for the most part is created explicitly for them. And at the same time the walls prevent scientists from defending themselves from attacks that are irrational and ideologically driven. This book comes down from that lofty fortress, rolls in the mud, and throw spunches back in a rhetorical style of the adversaries. We don't see verbose passages expertly crossreferenced or arguments confined explicitly to the logos. The author presents what it takes to develop a real drug and the depressing stories of the lives that end up trying to scratch into the academics. He goes into healthcare, science education, stem cells, cloning and the warped lies present in discussions about sex.

"Let me make one thing absolutely clear: this is not a scholarly tome. There are no references, interviews or balanced arguments. It is, in essence an experiment. you see the public often finds science books boring, and frankly so do I. They can be very pretentious. Science is anything but pretentious. It is really a humbling endeavor. The decision to write this book did not come out of any overwhelming need to document moments of discovery, or the history of science, or to make balanced scientific arguments. It came from my perception of a need to address the litany of of bullshit and lies spewed to the public . This sort of no-holds-barred writing is virtually never used in science, so i am going to take a lot of shit. So be it."

-Dr Michael Stebbins

The only chapter worth reading was chp. 1. The rest is arrogant leftist propaganda justified by scientific excuses.

So far, so good! Pretty entertaining!

Fun science factoids.

Great book about the U.S. governments policies on scientific topics. Dr. Stebbins makes it easy for everyday people like me to understand scientific topics (like stem cell research), what the facts are and what the potentials are.

" Lipopaxia. Your ticket to normal sized underwear " ( and then today ' Lorquess is approved by the FDA , ha ! )

For those of you who want to pull your hair out every time you hear the media, politician or pundit hijack and abuse science for their own personal gain, this book is for you.

I'm only a couple chapters in but this book has made me laugh and given me insight into the complex world of scientific research.

Data driven and abrasive, Stebbins' diatribe on the woeful state of science education in the U.S. is amusing and depressingly detailed. Stebbins really communicates the hair-pulling frustration many scientists feel with the willful embracing of scientific ignorance in politics, the media, and among many of the people themselves. Written during Bush Jr.'s second term, Stebbins relies heavily on then-relevant issues, which date the work and can somewhat obfuscate its continued relevance; he would have done better by cataloging instances across several decades that demonstrated the steady decline of scientific knowledge rather than focusing primarily on the early 2000's. It's also clear that his expertise is in science and academia, as some of the solutions he puts fourth for some of the problems are superficially appealing, yet would be clearly problematic to even a novice student of economics. As Stebbins' primary goal, however, is to present the sorry state of science literacy in America, this book definitely qualifies as an engaging success.

I say it's for next semester's class, but truly, it just amuses me.