{"product_id":"9781471178283","title":"The Irrational Ape: Why We Fall for Disinformation, Conspiracy Theory and Propaganda - David Robert Grimes","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE \u003ci\u003eIRISH TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e TOP FIVE BESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e 'An unstoppable page-turner. If our leaders were forced to read this book, the world would be a safer place' Richard Dawkins\u003cbr\u003e 'A beautifully reasoned book about our own unreasonableness' Robin Ince\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy did revolutionary China consider the sparrow an 'animal of capitalism' - and what happened when they tried to wipe them out? With a cast of murderous popes, snake-oil salesmen and superstitious pigeons, find out why flawed logic puts us all at risk, and how critical thinking can save the world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It may seem a big claim, but \u003cb\u003eknowing how to think clearly\u003c\/b\u003e and critically \u003cb\u003ehas literally helped save the world\u003c\/b\u003e. In September 1983, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union's early warning system showed five US missiles heading towards the country. Stanislaw Petrov knew his duty: he was to inform Moscow that nuclear war had begun, so that they could launch an immediate and devastating response. Instead, he made a call to say the system was faulty. He'd assessed the situation and reasoned that an error was more likely than such a limited attack. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We may not have to save the planet from nuclear annihilation, of course, but \u003cb\u003eour ability to think critically has never been more important\u003c\/b\u003e. In a world where \u003cb\u003efake news\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003emistrust of experts\u003c\/b\u003e, prejudice and ignorance all too often hold sway, we can all too easily be misled over issues such as \u003cb\u003evaccinations\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eclimate change\u003c\/b\u003e or \u003cb\u003econspiracy theories\u003c\/b\u003e. We live in an era where access to all the knowledge in the world is at our fingertips, yet that also means misinformation and falsehoods can spread further and faster than ever before. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Irrational Ape\u003c\/i\u003e, David Robert Grimes shows how \u003cb\u003ewe can be lured into making critical mistakes\u003c\/b\u003e or drawing false conclusions, and \u003cb\u003ehow to avoid such errors\u003c\/b\u003e. Given the power of modern science and the way that movements can unite to protest a cause via \u003cb\u003esocial media\u003c\/b\u003e, we are in dangerous times. But fortunately, we can learn from our mistakes, and by critical thinking and scientific method we can discover how to apply these techniques to everything from deciding what insurance to buy to averting global disaster. \u003cb\u003eThis book, packed with fascinating case studies and examples, helps ensure we are ready for the modern world. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\/Width\/Depth (mm): \u003c\/strong\u003e198\/130\/\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm: \u003c\/strong\u003ePaperback \/ softback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47599199224035,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1701\/6275\/files\/9781471178283.jpg?v=1712675498","url":"https:\/\/www.harbourbookshop.co.uk\/products\/9781471178283","provider":"The Harbour Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}