Rating: 
Summary: Good breakdown of the dynamics of "weird things."
Review: I'll concede to comments of some earlier reviewers: the book had a few weaknesses. I give it 5 stars, however, as it's a great analysis of...just what the title states.Contrary to what some other reviewers thought, I liked the way the book was set up. It started with the priciples of science, of skepticism, etc., then went into countless examples of its opposite. I liked the chapter "How Thinking Goes Wrong," as it offers an examination of HOW we think we're thinking when we're not, and what we may do about that. It's not a dogma, just an honest examination of where are reasoning takes us, and how. Without using Sagan's oft-quoted maxim," Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," Shermer says essentially the same thing. And he gives scores of examples. Two that come to mind right off are the entertaining claims of the Afro-centrists, and those who perpetuate belief in the Near Death Experience (NDE). Sure Shermer seems adamant and inflexible. But, really, people claiming their beliefs in these things cannot expect us to believe them except in faith. In the former, there are easily confirmable facts which refute the claims of the Afro-centrists. As to the latter, there ARE other, simpler explanations which are almost inevitably the right ones. Oh, yes. And, sure there are other takes on history. But they're NOT all equally valid! And I liked the piece on Ayn Rand, which some others criticized. It's a cult so riddled with self-contradiction, and I think it's important we realize that lest we get trapped by Rand's alleged eloquence. The loyalty of her disciples to Rand and her clique is mind-boggling, and it's important we recognize WHY...and why we should challenge that degree of allegiance to anything! As to the book's weaknesses, at the expense of endorsing the jargon I frequently criticize, I wish Shermer had used some more of the definitions of the logical fallacies in the chapter I mentioned above. He covered some, and some are in Latin. But I think it's important to know not only what they are, but how other people refer to the fallacies. We can retort to them intelligently then, when we know what they're called. Then, as others have said, there was too much of the book dedicated to the holocaust denial. However, that WAS a major historical event, and there ARE those who, despite mountains of evidence, deny it. So it's a case in point as to erroneous thinking, contrived evidence, etc. So, while I wish that portion of the book hadn't been so long, I will not penalize Dr. Shermer a star or two for it. Overall I think it's an important book, one that should be used in college freshman courses, assuming colleges wish to foster critical thinking. This, despite its weaknesses. And I WILL read other Shermer books. He offers an educated--and rational--perspective sadly lacking in too much of today's discourse.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical Skeptic
Review: When the top Skeptics of the 20th century were listed by Skeptical Enquirer recently, Michael Shermer was not among those named. He should have been. Unlike the average debunker of false lore and hoaxes, Shermer starts from the premise that those who believe in weird things are intelligent people who have been miseducated. One of the best sections of this book lists and explains 25 errors in thinking which lead people to fail to critically evaluate the claims of Randenoids, Holocaust revisionists, creationists, astrologers, and others. He then proceeds to use these principles, first to explore the contradictions of the most "unlikeliest cult of all" (the followers of Ayn Rand who claim to be disciples of objective reason) and then to explain the evidence for the Holocaust and Evolution. Anyone who needs a tune-up on her or his objectivism can stand reading this book. That means nearly everyone should own a copy.
Rating: 
Summary: Critical thinking or alien propaganda?
Review: A 1990 Gallup poll revealed that 52% of adult Americans believe in astrology, 42% believe in extrasensory perception, 22% believe aliens have visted the Earth, 41% believe that dinosaurs and humans walked the Earth simultaneously, 42% believe in communication with the dead, 35% believe in ghosts, and 67% have had a psychic experience (p. 26). Still others believe that Paul McCartney died and was replaced by a look-alike, that giant alligators inhabit the sewers of New York, that George Washington had wooden teeth, and that the Air Force kept the bodies of aliens in a secret warehouse following a New Mexico flying saucer crash. Michael Shermer wonders why these people believe such things. Shermer became a born-again skeptic on August 6, 1983, while bicycling up Loveland Pass, Colorado, following an intense training program of magavitamins, colonics, iridology, Rolfing, and other alternative, New Age therapies (p. 15). For those unfamiliar with his work, Shermer is the editor in chief of Skeptic magazine, a frequent contributor to Scientific American, and author of HOW WE BELIEVE and THE SCIENCE OF GOOD AND EVIL. In his first book, WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS, he takes on subjects including Holocaust denial, psychics, creationism, alien abductions, Satanism, Afrocentrism, near-death experiences, recovered memories, Ayn Rand, and astrology. The result will either be interesting and entertaining for readers who share Shermer's love for critical thinking, or antagonizing for readers who instead identify with creationists, fundamentalists, New Age gurus or paranormal preachers. Most of the material included here was originally published in Skeptic magazine, and the 2002 revised edition of Shermer's book includes a new Introduction as well as an additional chapter on why smart people believe weird things. Shermer not only writes from personal experience, inasmuch as he previously believed in fundamentalist Christianity, alien encounters, Ayn Rand's philosophy, and megavitamin therapy, but he also examines his subject matter using the tools of scientific reasoning. "Most believers in miracles, monsters, and mysteries are not hoaxers, flimflam artists, or lunatics," he observes; "most are normal people whose normal thinking has gone wrong in some way" (p. 45). People fall into "fuzzy" thinking for reasons of consolation, immediate gratification, simplicity, moral meaning, and wishful thinking. In Chapter Three, "How Thinking Goes Wrong," he carefully examines the kinds of logical fallacies that allow people to believe weird (scientifically unsubstantiated) "nonsense," and concludes that when it comes to recognizing other people's fallacious reasoning, Spinoza said it best: "I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them" (p 61). G. Merritt
Rating: 
Summary: An adequate, if uneven, primer on pseudoscience
Review: While I agree with others who've noted that the book is deceptively titled (Shermer spends only the last four pages speculating about the "why" of his topic), this volume remains a useful and entertaining introduction refuting a random assortment of anti-scientific claims, ranging from the silly to the scary. The first part, "Science and Skepticism," is by far the best: Shermer explains the meaning of skepticism and offers guidelines for detecting doubtful scientific and historical pronouncements. The remainder of the book--a series of case studies--is somewhat ill-assorted, in large part because the chapters are, for the most part, revised versions of previously published articles and little attempt was made to weave everything into a coherent unit. Readers looking for detail on any particular subject should look elsewhere. There are, of course, far better books debunking Holocaust denial, creationism, IQ measurement, UFOs, etc. (One odd error by Shermer: his chapter on "medieval witch crazes" actually discusses the epidemics that swept Shakespearean England and colonial America--long after anyone's definition of the medieval period.) Nevertheless, as an overview, however, this volume succeeds nicely. The weakest chapter, it must be said, is the one attacking Frank Tipler and his eschatological philosophy-physics. Much of Tipler's over-the-top nonsense is certainly deserving of refutation, but Shermer spends several pages inexplicably discussing the fact that Tipler was an oldest child and presenting the assertion that the eldest sibling is more likely to hold conservative views. This presentation certainly doesn't refute Tipler's theories, and it fails even as a scientifically-based psychological underpinning. The study cited by Shermer compared variables that were randomly selected (for example: age, sex, and nationality--but not ethnicity, eye color, height, weight, diet, and wellness) and, in many cases, subjectively measured (socioeconomic status, religious and political attitudes, conflict with parents..., travel, education). The study concluded that birth order was the strongest factor in "receptivity" to "innovation in science" (which itself must be subjectively defined). Furthermore, to fit Tipler into this preordained mold, Shermer simply waves a wand and asserts that Tipler's beliefs are ultra-conservative. As Shermer points out elsewhere in this book, subjective measurements and subjective definitions do not lead to objective conclusions, and what may be true of a nebulously defined group will not necessarily be true of an individual, so it's a bit perplexing that he himself falls into these traps. Finally, the reader should be warned that the paperback edition is one of the most atrociously typeset books I've ever purchased. (I have the first printing, so later printings might be in better shape.) The prologue ends mid-sentence, entries (e.g., between Polkinghorne and Rand) are omitted from the bibliography, and parts of paragraphs are missing from the text, leaving the reader guessing what was supposed to be there.
Rating:
Summary: Skepticism isn't a Dirty Word!
Review: Pssst. You know the Roswell alien autopsy video? It's a government plant- the real alien they found had far more hideous tentacles....What? You don't believe me! You...you...skeptic! As Michael Shermer, professor at Occidental College and publisher of SKEPTIC magazine, points out in Why People Believe Weird Things, calling someone a skeptic can almost take on a pejorative meaning, equating skepticism with the worst possible cynicism. This in spite of the fact that skepticism is a methodology used at least partially in one circumstance or another by virtually every human being. Though some feel that skepticism should only be directed against used-car salesman, or followers of "them there false I-D-eol-O-g-eez" (from Satan no doubt)- never towards oneself- Shermer makes the case that skepticism merits attention in a wide variety of spheres. Using examples drawn from such diverse elements as Creationism, Alien Abduction, Near Death Experiences, and Holocaust Revisionism- as well as lesser known cases of pseudo-thought, such as the personality "cult" surrounding Ayn Rand- Shermer deftly explores the wide applicability of skepticism in debunking frivolous and sometimes even harmful pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and pseudo-truth. And importantly, he does so without a "holier than thou" style- even divulging in a few passages his own bouts of credulity. Shermer makes a valiant effort to follow one of Spinoza's dictums: "I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them." Although he mentions a number of reasons human perception goes awry, one of the key ones he cites is the exaltation of wishful thinking- also known as faith. As Nietzsche would say of anyone who thought that the strength of one's conviction was proof of the truth of one's conviction, a short stroll through an insane asylum might be just the antidote. In a culture inundated with a gamut of extraordinary claims based on strongly held yet-not-so-strongly-examined beliefs- where belief in the paranormal, supernatural, and extraterrestrial is encouraged by much of popular cinema and media- Why People Believe Weird Things is an invaluable tool for becoming a better critical thinker. (Or is it? ) Yes, for X-files fans (myself included) it can often be thrilling to imagine government conspiracies, classified alien technologies, and occult phenomenon. Unfortunately, there is no program on the tube today (that I'm aware of) that makes it just as thrilling to understand the roots of pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and superstition. For now we have to content ourselves with a smattering of outstanding books (Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World is another fine example) that pull the curtains on much of what tries to pass muster as truth- which turns out can be just as fun as credulously lapping up what the latest series of gurus, psychobabblers, quacks, and charlatans have to disperse in their plague of unreason.
Rating:
Summary: good primer on critical thinking
Review: In the public library where I live I found four shelves of floor to ceiling books on astrology, out-of-body experiences, the emotional lives of plants, alien abductions, ESP, Atlantis, and similar nonsense. The same library had only three books on skepticism and critical thinking: Sagan's Demon-Haunted World, this book, and Wendy Kaminer's Sleeping with Extraterrestrials. (That ratio of nonsense to sense is probably a pretty good picture of the mind of the American public. We live in a world where cable networks present haunted houses -- there is not a single instance where it has ever checked out in the real world when actually investigated -- as serious nonfiction.) They each had a somewhat different emphasis, but they all deal with the problem in this society that few people understand what evidence is or what to do with it if you manage to acquire some. Ms Kaminer was better on the social dynamics of New Age folks, and Dr. Sagan was a better writer, but this is a solid introduction to developing mental antibodies to the crap constantly being fed us. Worth handing to a relative paying psychics for advice.
Rating:
Summary: Lacking a little
Review: This book seems to hold great promise from the outset. It's a book (as the author would confess) that values reason, science, knowledge and the examination of beliefs. Nothing wrong with that. However, the book seems to ramble on a bit and takes on the feel of the author's personal musings instead of objective examination of the material. A couple of the chapters could be condensed into one chapter that contains more focus and sticks to the topic. For instance, in one chapter Shermer drones on about the diff. aspects of creation-science and real science which is testable. This is great except he lists a myriad of arguments in brief. The only way you could do anything worthwhile with the material intellectually is to dig deeper into other books with more insight on the topic. In other words, you aren't going to reach any conclusions yay or nay with such brief explanations. He discusses holocaust denial in a "part" of the book which is fine except a couple of the chapters once again could be condensed since the later chapter seems to rehash much of what was said before only in greater detail. Lastly, the very last chapter which deals with a Dr. Tipler and his fantasy-like Omega Point theory is superfluous. This is Shermer's personal book review of Tipler's physics work. To put it crudely, who really gives a crap except someone with a vested interest in physics? A short description of the weirdness of Tipler's work would have been sufficient. Also, one other gripe; Shermer seems to portray the personal idea that objective science is good and that theories are subject to change over time-"facts are data". Yet, despite him stating these points I found him more than once claiming evolution as fact. I am not saying that it isn't but am suggesting he should reframe himself to say it's commonly accepted as fact because of such and such testable evidence. Also, Shermer does discuss fringe beliefs somewhat such as; alien abductions, afrocentrism, witch hunts and the like. However, in my opinion he strayed away too much from these interesting topics and went into personal musings about science instead. Anyway, I can see many people giving negative reviews of this book simply because they do not like Shermer's relativistic, hard-science stand. That's no fault of his own though...Finally, I would recommend the book despite its flaws because it is for lack of a better description interesting. It could have been much better but we will have to accept it on merit of the ideas it espouses and not so much for the overall content.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing dose of logic
Review: Shermer is a skeptic who explores the importance of rigorous scientific inquiry in our everyday lives. We all know that people say and believe some rediculous things that have no foundation in logic, and this book does a good job of exploring why as well as providing insight into how you can avoid such traps by simply... thinking. A triumph for the Scientific Method (and a good, quick read).
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for an education in science
Review: I don't like to get hyperbolic about certain books, as in you gotta read this or you're dumb, but if you're going into science, or even if you claim a decent education, then Shermer's book, while not necessarily an in-depth analysis or catalogue of the causes behind various beliefs (though he provides a few psychological jumping-off points), is a good overview of scientific thought and history. What scientific thought is and isn't. There is no militant atheism here, or gloating (as another reviewer felt) over his intellectually superior position to historical revisionists, cons, academic hacks and quacks. I felt that there was a mature even-handedness to consideration of all points of view. A NY times writer wrote of his third book in this series (Science of Good and Evil) as having poor style, which I haven't read yet, but this book doesn't suffer from that at all. I thought the writing was original, bereft of cliche, and intelligent. It doesn't pander to a "general" audience and it is not too technical, but I can see where someone who doesn't have more than a passing interest in science or psychology might lose interest in the overarching theme. While some fault Shermer for being so gullible as to have been a born-again, an objectivist, and a new-age tinkerer (pyramids, crystals, herbs and such) as a younger man, I don't think this is a hindrance in taking Shermer's work and career in full. His contribution to the legacy of Sagan, Gardner, Gould, et al. is incontrovertible, what with founding the Skeptic's Society and editing its notable journal, and his strong academic career. While there are greater works in the canon for heavyweight science readers, I highly recommend it for a good introduction to scientific thought for the tourist and local.
Rating: 
Summary: IDIOT
Review: Shermer has obviouslly not done any reaserch for his book, he decides that astrology, esp and alien abductions don't exist and that is final based on psyhocoligcal CRAP. What shermer needs to realize that in order to prove somehting you need to research it, such as reading THE POWER OF BIRTHDAYS, STARS AND NUMBERS: SAFFIE CRAWFORD AND GERALDINE SULLIVAN, which ppl are like based on their birthday or going to professional tarot card readers, palm readers and seening if there analogies prove true to youself then. After sherman does this then he can write on book on why astrology, esp, and alien abductions is TRUE.
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