The Heretics
Adventures with the Enemies of Science
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3 Months Free
The Heretics
Buy Now for $20.14
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Narrated by:
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Ben Allen
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By:
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Will Storr
Why do obviously intelligent people believe things in spite of the evidence against them?
Will Storr has travelled across the world to meet an extraordinary cast of modern heretics in order to answer this question. He goes on a tour of Holocaust sites with David Irving and a band of neo-Nazis, experiences his own murder during 'past-life regression' hypnosis, takes part in a mass homeopathic overdose, and investigates a new disease affecting tens of thousands of people - a disease that doesn't actually exist.
Using a unique mix of personal memoir, investigative journalism and the latest research from neuroscience and experimental psychology, Storr reveals why the facts just won't convince some people, and how the neurological 'hero-maker' inside all of us can so easily lead to self-deception and science-denial. The Heretics will change the way you think about thinking.
Initially a red flag appeared as he was in Gympie, QLD, Australis and failed to mention the gympie plant, which is such an interesting story worth a couple of paragraphs, but he doesn't mention it at all. Sad, because it is a fascinating plant.
The overall backdrop of this is a kind of forced or strained "but we're on the side of right and they are WRONG!"
Rather than, "wait on, there might be a more nuanced version of events here, maybe some of these people have a point"? It does veer into that a little bit, but then bobs back to this false centre, assuming all of us are with "the science'" on all of these issues.
His bit about David Irving seemed to be more interested in the personal politics of the group rather than "why do these people believe what they do?" Sure, it was interesting enough... kind of.
The title is a dead giveaway, of course, so even if you do believe Sheldrake is brilliant, this will be a thoughtful exercise to read.
Of course, today heretics are tomorrows heros, one has to wonder how many of these people will be regarded as such in 100 year when forensic investigation brings all these matters into greater stark relief.
All the personal stuff is interesting, but not greatly so. Him quitting the buddist retreat is disappointing however.
Almost nuanced, almost balanced, not quite engrossing, worth a ilsten if you are into exploring ideas and skepticism.
Certainly, the skeptics do not come out on top in this book, but neither do many of other people, everyone gets taken down a bit, and as an examination into human motivation and belief, it is likely worthy of your time and will hold your attention.
an interesting journey with caveats....
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