The Unpersuadables: Adventures with the Enemies of Science Paperback – March 3, 2015

One of the best books out there on why people believe weird things. Goes into more depth about the formation and stubborn existence of belief systems than any other of the many books I've read on the subject. Also, the author is honest enough to constantly question his own belief systems. Along the way are some entertaining and illuminating encounters with a wide range of true believers, from Holocaust deniers to believers in Satanic abuse. I've been studying this area for decades and I still learned a lot by reading it. Five stars, easily.

This book is far deeper than the title and blurb suggest. It is quite different from other books I've read about anti-science and fringe beliefs in a couple of ways. First, it is very experiential and subjective. The author spent time with various groups and representatives of beliefs, interviewing them, going undercover in some cases, and even going through grueling training in meditation. A good bit of the writing … See more

Storr is an accomplished writer with a deep ability to make contact with people with unusual world views and present their views with insight and compassion. The title is misleading. This is mostly not about groups that deny scientific evidence, but rather who have strong beliefs that have no plausible empirical support.When dealing with climate change denial, Storr is very good. When dealing with ESP, he is less than insightful. He catalogs at great length the dispute between ESP supporters and their critics, but misses the big picture. Belief in Mind as a force not yet validated in physics is not unscientific at all, and the skeptics are not all brute materialists who deny the existence of forces outside the four known to physics. The problem with ESP research, it appears to me, is that its supporters repeatedly find it and neutral practitioners find almost none of it (but perhaps a little).Storr's argument that we are all a little crazy and believe in things that contradict science or are simply unfounded. He provides no evidence for this view and I think it is wrong.

If you've ever been debating someone and found yourself thinking "How can ANYONE be that stupid?" read this book. It is challenging in the best way.

A very interesting read on how we make meaning of our worlds, the fallacies we ALL fall into, and the trap of polarized right/wrong tribalism. Reads like a novel. Great read for current climate and for anyone willing to develop some humility re: cherished beliefs....

This is a great approach to understanding the illogic of many people, from flat-earthers to those who believe in astrology or other such nonsense.

Thought provoking. It encourages us all to keep an open mind, examine why we hold the opinions we do, and to question their validity.

Great book - fascinating review of how we 'see' the world, the mental models we make and how we deceive ourselves to allow the mental models to survive!

This is the best book I have read in years.. Will Storr is a brilliant author and this book is so compellin g- you won't want to put it down. He presents the themes of the book nicely and ties it all together with such ease. Very complex ideas but written in a way that is not tedious to read. This book has provided me with lots of dinner table discussion - it is so thought provoking. Would recommend others read all of Will's books as he is a stunning writer

In the end (and I never got to the end) I couldn't figure out what this book was about. The lack of 1 and 2 star write-ups should have flagged me that something wasn't quite right. I got bored then I started skiming, then I gave up. Couldn't finish it.

Not for the faint of mind. A thoroughly-engrossing investigation into the nature of belief--well-researched, lucid, and thought-provoking. Eminently reliable, Storr plays the unreliable narrator, continually pointing out his emotional responses and assumptions, his unfounded beliefs and prejudices. It's a reminder of the unreliability of perception, an invitation to continually examine our own reactions, to delve deeply and with an open mind.Constance R. Brochet

Libro molto interessante, aiuta a capire un po' di più la natura umana e il perché altre persone possano avere visioni e idee che reputiamo irrazionali e avversiamo, nonché a rendersi conto anche dei processi che portano noi stessi a sostenere determinate tesi al posto di altre

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