Debunk It! Fake News Edition: How to Stay Sane in a World of Misinformation

by John Grant

Overview

We live in an era of misinformation, much of it spread by authority figures, including politicians, religious leaders, broadcasters, and, of course, apps and websites.

In this second edition, author John Grant uses ripped-from-the-headlines examples to clearly explain how to identify bad evidence and poor arguments. He also points out the rhetorical tricks people use when attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, and offers advice about how to take these unscrupulous pundits down. Updated to include a chapter on fake news, Debunk It serves as a guide to critical thinking for young readers looking to find some clarity in a confusing world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942186595
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1240L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

John Grant is author of about seventy books, including the highly successful Discarded Science, Corrupted Science, and Denying Science. He has received two Hugo Awards, the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, and a number of other international literary awards.

Editorial Reviews

"In an era of fake news, click-bait, and viral media, this book demands to be read."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/07/2019

Gr 9 Up-Written in a humorous, conversational tone, this revised and updated edition of what the author describes as the "Young Person's Guide to [B.S.]" attempts to explain how and why misinformation spreads in our society. Grant, who has written many books about the manipulation of scientific information, covers anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, and other conspiracy theorists, using scientific facts to disprove these groups' ideas. He also defines key terms like tribalism, quote mining, and cherry-picking while remaining politically neutral. If anyone questions the necessity of this book, consider that according to some studies "between 6 percent and an astonishing 20 percent of the US public" believes that NASA faked the 1969–72 moon landings or that "12 percent [of American adults] think Joan of Arc was Noah's wife." Although Grant's endorsement of Wikipedia as a helpful place to check a news source's legitimacy might shock some readers, he discourages folks from trusting the accuracy of specific articles on the site. Educators will appreciate his emphasis on using the scientific method to detect false information. This updated edition includes a new chapter on fake news as well as a handy list of fact-checking websites, a lengthy bibliography, and an exhaustive index. VERDICT Adults as well as teens will gain perspective on the barrage of dubious Internet posts that we attempt to sift through every day. Highly recommended for school libraries that discuss fake news with students and anyone interested in the topic.-Amy Duffy, Chicago Public Library

School Library Journal

2019-06-05
A helpful and humorous tool to help teens understand and unpack the proliferation of unethical nonsense.

Grant's (Eureka!: 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History, 2016, etc.) authorial voice—sometimes clever, sometimes corny—helps readers understand the spread of misinformation in the media and ways to detect such falsifications. Grant unpacks the rhetorical strategies by which liars and spin doctors operate, allowing readers to better distinguish and analyze quote mining, cherry-picking, intimidation, false anomalies, and other deceptive traps. Although Grant overuses the word "bullshit," the message is clear: We live in a world where facts frequently go unchecked and misinformation spreads instantaneously. Thoughtfully and methodically examining case studies such as climate-change deniers and anti-vaxxers, Grant guides readers in a clearheaded yet entertaining approach to distinguishing falsehoods from facts. The value of this volume goes far beyond the news, as the author explains psychological traps such as confirmation bias and stereotyping and the tragedy of the prejudice that led to a slow response to the AIDS crisis, among other examples. Originally published in 2015, this revised and updated edition includes an additional section on fake news and even addresses how that term is misappropriated. This introduction to the importance of critical thinking in the age of misinformation is both well researched and academic as well as teen friendly.

In an era of fake news, click-bait, and viral media, this book demands to be read. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews