Calling Bullshit is a book that teaches readers how to think critically and skeptically about the world around them. The book is written by Carl T. Bergstrom, a professor of biology at the University of Washington, and Jevin West, a data scientist at the University of Washington. The book is divided into nine chapters, each of which focuses on a different aspect of critical thinking and skepticism.
Chapter 1: Introduction
The first chapter of the book introduces the idea of bullshit, which the authors define as “a kind of language that is intended to mislead or confuse, rather than to inform or persuade.” The authors argue that bullshit is everywhere, from politics to advertising to science, and that it is important to be able to identify and call out bullshit when we encounter it.
Chapter 2: The Nature of Bullshit
In the second chapter, the authors explore the nature of bullshit, including its characteristics and how it differs from other forms of deception, such as lies. They argue that bullshit is often more insidious than lies because it is harder to detect and can be more convincing.
Chapter 3: Detecting Bullshit
The third chapter of the book focuses on how to detect bullshit. The authors provide a number of tools and techniques for identifying bullshit, including fact-checking, analyzing sources, and looking for patterns of deception.
Chapter 4: Evaluating Evidence
In the fourth chapter, the authors discuss how to evaluate evidence and determine whether it is reliable or not. They provide a number of tips for evaluating evidence, including looking for conflicts of interest, checking the credentials of the source, and analyzing the methodology used to gather the evidence.
Chapter 5: Fallacies
The fifth chapter of the book focuses on fallacies, which are errors in reasoning that can lead to incorrect conclusions. The authors provide a number of examples of common fallacies, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false cause fallacies.
Chapter 6: Science and Bullshit
In the sixth chapter, the authors explore the relationship between science and bullshit, including how scientists can fall prey to bullshit and how to spot bullshit in scientific research. They also discuss the importance of scientific skepticism and the role it plays in the scientific process.
Chapter 7: Politics and Bullshit
The seventh chapter of the book examines the role of bullshit in politics, including how politicians use bullshit to manipulate the public and how to spot bullshit in political discourse. The authors also discuss the importance of political skepticism and the role it plays in democracy.
Chapter 8: Business and Bullshit
In the eighth chapter, the authors explore the role of bullshit in business, including how businesses use bullshit to sell products and services and how to spot bullshit in business discourse. They also discuss the importance of business skepticism and the role it plays in the free market.
Chapter 9: Conclusion
The final chapter of the book provides a summary of the key lessons learned from the book and provides advice on how to apply critical thinking and skepticism in daily life. The authors emphasize the importance of being able to call bullshit and encourage readers to use their critical thinking skills to question everything they hear and read.
Overall, Calling Bullshit is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking and skepticism skills. The book is well-written and easy to understand, making it accessible to readers of all levels. Whether you are interested in politics, science, business, or simply want to become a better critical thinker, this book is a must-read.
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