83 pages • 2 hours read
Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. ConwayMerchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway reveals how a small group of politically motivated scientists, including Fred Seitz, Fred Singer, Bill Nierenberg, and Robert Jastrow, used their influence to create the illusion of scientific uncertainty on topics such as smoking, acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming, and pesticide use, in order to prevent government regulation. The book addresses the harmful effects of tobacco use and the misleading information that contributed to doubts about climate change, environmental pollution, and public health.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway is praised for its thorough research and compelling narrative. It effectively exposes the strategies used by industries to mislead the public on scientific issues. Critics note a dense writing style and a potentially overwhelming amount of detail, but overall, it's a powerful, enlightening read.
Who Should Read Merchants of Doubt?
Readers who enjoy Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway are often interested in environmental science, history, and the politics of misinformation. Similar to those who appreciate Rachel Carson's Silent Spring or Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, they'll value the investigative approach to how scientific facts are manipulated to influence public opinion.