The war on science Who's waging it, why it matters, what we can do about it

Alarmed by the lack of discussion about crucial science policy issues during the 2008 presidential election, science advocate and writer Otto helped create the initiative Science Debate to provide a public forum for the presidential candidates to discuss topics such as climate change, genetic and stem cell research, and sustainable energy practices. When the candidates declined to participate, Otto realized this was a glaring form of antiscience in action: silence on the part of politicians on issues of global importance. To explain how we got to this low point, Otto examines the highly organized and well-funded antiscience campaigns that have resulted in an atmosphere in which scientific knowledge can be denied, dismissed, or discredited without question or comment. He believes we must take action, individually and collectively, to "beat back the war on science" and offers 14 compelling strategies to do so. Most of this volume's content comes from Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America, the author's 2011 book on the same subject; collections that already have that title may want to pass on this one. Verdict This is a well-written-albeit drawn-out-study of the politics of science. For the nonspecialist, this work might be more effective at half its length. Nonetheless, voters interested in the critical role science plays in a healthy democracy will find this vital reading.-Cynthia Lee Knight, Hunterdon Cty. Historical Soc., Flemington, NJ © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.