Park sides with the forces of reason in a world of continuing and, he fears, increasing superstition. Chapter by chapter, he explains how people too easily mistake pseudoscience for science. He discusses parapsychology, homeopathy, and acupuncture; he questions the existence of souls, the foundations of intelligent design, and the power of prayer; he asks for evidence of reincarnation and astral projections; and he challenges the idea of heaven. Throughout, he demonstrates how people’s blind faith, and their confidence in suspect phenomena and remedies, are manipulated for political ends. Park shows that science prevails when people stop fooling themselves.

Compelling and precise, Superstition takes no hostages in its quest to provoke. In shedding light on some very sensitive–and Park would say scientifically dubious–issues, the book is sure to spark discussion and controversy.

“If a tree falls on a scientist in a forest with no one else around does it mean he won’t make a sound? Not if that scientist is the indomitable Bob Park, the skeptic’s skeptic, the Ralph Nader of nonsense, the man who rose from the (nearly) dead to pen this uncompromising critique of superstition and the beliefs that follow once you abandon science and reason. Read this book. Now.”–Michael Shermer, publisher of the Skeptic and author of Why Darwin Matters

“Bob Park has done it again. His lucid, humorous, style–the envy of those of us who fancy themselves writers–gets through the pervasive nonsense that he finds everywhere, from the ‘afterlife’ delusion to intelligent design. He rightly and joyously celebrates how science has led us from the Dark Ages to the brink of understanding a myriad of mysteries that we should contemplate with a reverence that was once reserved for priests and witchdoctors. No one knows better than Bob–personally–the real miracles of medical science surpass anything offered by religion. As he says in this provocative book: ‘Science is the only way of knowing–everything else is just religion.’”–James Randi, president of the James Randi Educational Foundation

“Superstition is yet more evidence that Bob Park is always worth reading. At times funny, at times acerbic, always thoughtful, Bob Park is not one to ‘go with the flow.’ There is a lot to think about in this book, as usual.”–Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education

“You may have the impression that mythology expired with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Far from it, mythology has only evolved into another perhaps more pervasive form. It is an insidious force in the modern scene. Park slays the modern dragons with authority and acerbic wit, whether it is ESP or intercessory prayer. The book is a delight.”–Val Fitch, Princeton University, 1980 Nobel laureate in physics

“Opinionated and well-informed, this is a lucid promotion of rationality in a world of rising superstition. We can disagree with the author but he forces us to think harder.”–Yves Gingras, University of Quebec, Montreal
About the Author
Robert L. Park is professor of physics at the University of Maryland. He is the author of “Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud“.

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“Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, yet oddly exhilarating.”
- Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising

A lively astronomy primer that uses cataclysmic scenarios to explain the universe’s most fascinating events. According to astronomer Philip Plait, the universe is an apocalypse waiting to happen But how much do we really need to fear from things like black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae? And if we should be scared, is there anything we can do to save ourselves? With humour and wit, Plait details the myriad doomsday events that the cosmos could send our way to destroy our planet and life as we know it. This authoritative yet accessible study is the ultimate astronomy lesson. Combining fascinating and often alarming scenarios that seem plucked from science fiction with the latest research and opinions, Plait illustrates why outer space is not as remote as most people think. Each chapter explores a different phenomenon, explaining it in easy-to-understand terms, and considering how life on earth and the planet itself would be affected should the event come to pass. Rather than sensationalizing the information, Plait analyses the probability of these catastrophes occurring in our lifetimes and what we can do to stop them. With its entertaining tone and enlightening explanation of unfathomable concepts, Death from the Skies will appeal to science buffs and beginners alike.

Reviews:

“Plait, an astronomer and author of the popular Web site badastronomy.com, presents ‘in loving detail’ the many, many ways the human race could die, from temperature extremes and poisonous atmosphere to asteroid impacts and supernovae explosions. Such a state of destruction existed some 65 million years ago, when a giant meteoroid struck Earth, sending up so much flaming debris that ‘the whole planet caught fire’ and the dinosaurs were wiped out. Solar flare activity could bring on another Ice Age. Worse yet would be a gamma ray burster, a collapsed star whose radiation would be comparable to detonating ‘a one-megaton nuclear bomb over every square mile of the planet.’ Plait discusses insatiable black holes, the death of the Sun and cannibal galaxies — including our own. Balancing his doomsday scenarios with enthusiastic and clear explanations of the science behind each, Plait offers a surprisingly educational and enjoyable astronomical horror show, including a table listing the extremely low odds of each event occurring. He gives readers a good scare, and then puts it in context.” Publishers Weekly © Reed Business Information, Inc

“Phil Plait has done it again. He brings his unique and funny voice of reason and sanity to bear on making sense of a deadly universe. If things worked the way I wanted them to, any reporter about to do another “sensational” story on deadly meteors would consult this volume and BANG! Common sense would find it’s way into the news. How strange would THAT world be? On his blog and in his books, Plait is an important source of sanity and critical thinking, with just the right sense of wonder, reminding us that the universe is an amazing enough place without having to make crap up about it..”
— Adam Savage, from Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters

“These Doomsday scenarios are as gripping as any science fiction, but– amazingly–each one is grounded in carefully researched science. Plait’s message is simple: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow–or five billion years from now–we die!”
- Simon LeVay, Ph.D., author of When Science Goes Wrong: Twelve Tales from the Dark Side of Discovery

“Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, yet oddly exhilarating.”
- Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising

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