Even a healthy, intelligent, educated mind is capable of believing strange (and dangerous) things. In an age where there are people that believe the earth was created in 7,000 years, where Fox TV can run a show that causes Americans to doubt whether men really walked on the moon, and otherwise normal people doubt whether the Holocaust occurred, along comes a book with a perfect explanation. These kinds of beliefs are a naturally occurring side-effect of the way we are wired to think. But this book does more than explain why we believe weird things - it also shows common errors in reasoning, and how to catch them. Critical thinking is one of the most important skills a person in a civilized society can posses, yet it is not taught as part of most high school or college curriculums. In my opinion, reading and discussing this book should be required to graduate from high school.

This book is entertaining, educational, thought-provoking, and scary. I have bought several copies for friends and acquaintences, but have found they don't always finish the book unless they have an interest in the topic - which is too bad, because the subject material is so important.

I will close with my favorite quote: "The undiscerning mind is like the root of a tree - absorbing all that it touches - even the poison that would kill it" (from an old Kung Foo TV episode, of all places). Read this book and learn to discern.

Buy two copies of this book - one for yourself, and one for a fundamentalist friend. But don't expect them to change their beliefs. The book will tell you why.


Recommended: Yes