Science: Good, Bad, and Bogus

There is little I can add to the excellent comments already presented here. The only thing that could have improved this volume would have been a bibliography.

Gardner, in his usual fine style, tackles biorhythms, ESP, quantum theory, black holes, faith healing, and much more. The collection also includes letters from readers and the author's replies, which make the book especially intriguing. A large collection of fascinating topics.

Gardner has never pulled his punches when it comes to claims of ESP, paranormal abilities, spoon-bending and the like. This book collects 38 pieces he wrote over thirty years, half book reviews and half articles. All of them attack, and in most cases dismember, pseudoscience and its claims.The book reviews are acid and make interesting reading, but the articles are the meat of the book, because here is where Gardner assembles fully coherent arguments not just to demolish a foolish book, but to show in detail how someone like Uri Geller fools people. It becomes abundantly clear as you read this book that any competent magician (Gardner is one) can duplicate any of the feats of ESP or spoon-bending cited. It's sad, but not surprising, that this never makes the headlines the way Geller's original claims did back in the seventies.In addition to pieces on modern figures, some less well-known than Geller, Gardner also writes about figures such as Conan Doyle, who was a passionate believer in spiritualism; and Freud, who had a long and very close friendship with a numerologist. There is a short piece on Einstein, who is often cited by parapsychologists as an establishment figure who nevertheless believed in ESP. Gardner comprehensively demolishes the basis for this citation, quoting letters from Einstein showing that he had no such belief, and was in fact very sceptical.The only reason I haven't given the book five stars is that its very nature as an anthology prevents it from really achieving coherence. It's an excellent addition to the sceptic's armoury, though, and I strongly recommend it, along with another of Gardner's along similar lines: "Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science".

The following review was printed in Doubting Thomas #1 (reprinted here with permission):I am a fan of Gardner's work, especially his 1952 Fads & Fallacies in the Name of Science which helped jump start the skeptical movement. Gardner's wit is always refreshing and the curious reader is never disappointed.So, it was a great pleasure to see this book being offered again after its initial publication in the mid-80s, not long after the remains of Titanic were found by Dr. Robert Ballard....I would recommend this book in two ways: to read a good critique on precognition on this specific case, and as a selection of century-old literature that cannot be found in many places.

Martin Gardner, acclaimed rationalist, debunks those who would call Robinson psychic. Some of the "amazing coincidences" regarding "The Wreck of the Titan" may in fact be explained by the White Star Line's own news releases! Gardner includes the Robinson story, plus lots of other related Titanic material. Great book.