Download or read book Merchants of Doubt written by Naomi Oreskes and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2011-10-03 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. scientific community has long led the world in research on such areas as public health, environmental science, and issues affecting quality of life. These scientists have produced landmark studies on the dangers of DDT, tobacco smoke, acid rain, and global warming. But at the same time, a small yet potent subset of this community leads the world in vehement denial of these dangers. Merchants of Doubt tells the story of how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedly-some of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global warming is "not settled" denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole. "Doubt is our product," wrote one tobacco executive. These "experts" supplied it. Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, historians of science, roll back the rug on this dark corner of the American scientific community, showing how ideology and corporate interests, aided by a too-compliant media, have skewed public understanding of some of the most pressing issues of our era.
Download or read book Merchants of Deceit Opium American Fortune and the China Trade written by Richard Friswell and published by Bookbaby. This book was released on 2022-03-02 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the early 19th century, Connecticut resident, Samuel Russell set out for Canton, China to sell American made goods in this remote Asian nation. He was one of several Western businessmen who made the dangerous months' long journey halfway around the world in search of fortune. Once there, he discovered that opium sales was in high demand, and far more lucrative. In this little known chapter in American history the dangers and opportunities Russell faced there, as an opium importer are revealed; the many facets of feudal Chinese culture under the control of an ancient imperial dynasty are explored; and the difficult choices needed to traffic opium over the objections and under the nose of the emperor and his minions are described in vivid detail.
Download or read book The Triumph of Doubt written by David Michaels and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2020 with total page 343 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Opioids. Concussions. Obesity. Climate change. America is a country of everyday crises -- big, long-spanning problems that persist, mostly unregulated, despite their toll on the country's health and vitality. And for every case of government inaction on one of these issues, there is a set of familiar, doubtful refrains: The science is unclear. The data is inconclusive. Regulation is unjustified. It's a slippery slope. Is it? The Triumph of Doubt traces the ascendance of science-for-hire in American life and government, from its origins in the tobacco industry in the 1950s to its current manifestations across government, public policy, and even professional sports. Well-heeled American corporations have long had a financial stake in undermining scientific consensus and manufacturing uncertainty; in The Triumph of Doubt, former Obama and Clinton official David Michaels details how bad science becomes public policy -- and where it's happening today. Amid fraught conversations of "alternative facts" and "truth decay," The Triumph of Doubt wields its unprecedented access to shine a light on the machinations and scope of manipulated science in American society. It is an urgent, revelatory work, one that promises to reorient conversations around science and the public good for the foreseeable future"--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Merchants of Deceit written by Richard J Friswell and published by . This book was released on 2024-09-16 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: MERCHANT OF DECEIT offers a captivating glimpse into a little- known chapter of American history through the compelling narrative of Samuel Russell's adventures in 19th-century China. In this meticulously researched work of historical fiction, the author skillfully brings to life the bustling port city of Canton and the intrigues of the China Trade, weaving together a tapestry of ambition, love, betrayal, and tragedy. Russell emerges as a complex and compelling protagonist, driven by ambition and a desire to carve out a name-and fortune-for himself in the exotic and mysterious world of 19th-century China. As he navigates the treacherous waters of international commerce and diplomacy, Russell encounters a cast of vividly drawn characters, from friends and allies to enemies and adversaries, each with their own motivations and agendas. What sets Merchants of Deceit apart is its meticulous attention to historical detail and authenticity. Drawing on original logs and records of the day, the author paints a vivid portrait of the West's Thirteen Factories and the bustling waterfront of Canton, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of this vibrant era in early industrial age global expansion.
Download or read book Merchants of Hate written by Jack Jardel and published by . This book was released on 2020-10-28 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Merchants of Hate is set in a repressive world where fake news has become government policy. Reality is shaped by Britain's Alternative Facts Bureau. The disinformation hides an unprecedented natural disaster. America's unstable new president doesn't even believe the warnings, he thinks it's another science-based conspiracy. Elise Evans is one of the few journalists still able to tell the truth, it's on her to alert the public before it's too late. Lives will change irrevocably; nations face collapse. Who will survive the Crash? Merchants of Hate is the debut novel from Jack Jardel. It's a bold and powerful piece of speculative fiction, transporting us to the thrilling chaos of a dystopian world in crisis, whilst exposing the frailty of the one we currently inhabit.
Download or read book Merchants of Deceit Opium American Fortune and the China Trade written by Richard Friswell and published by Bookbaby. This book was released on 2022-01-06 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work of historical fiction follows the life and times of 19th century Connecticut cotton goods agent, young, Samuel Russell, as he travels to far-away Canton, China to open new markets. He soon discovers the true key to wealth and success is in the opium trade. The reader is taken inside the lush and secretive settings of the Chinese emperor's imperial palaces, and into the gritty streets and busy waterways of ancient Canton and the exotic Pearl River. Chinese culture, based on ancient ways and traditions, comes to life, as does the drama and danger associated with the opium trade--revealing a little-known chapter in American history--as Russell and others pursue their ambitions under the nose and over the objections of the Qing-era emperors. Violent confrontations and betrayal, temptation and intrigue confront Russell at every turn as he builds his fortune while navigating the cut throat world of the opium dealer.
Download or read book Seductive Poison written by Deborah Layton and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2010-08-18 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this haunting and riveting firsthand account, a survivor of Jim Jones's Peoples Temple opens up the shadowy world of cults and shows how anyone can fall under their spell. "A suspenseful tale of escape that reads like a satisfying thriller.... The most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy." —Chicago Tribune A high-level member of Jim Jones's Peoples Temple for seven years, Deborah Layton escaped his infamous commune in the Guyanese jungle, leaving behind her mother, her older brother, and many friends. She returned to the United States with warnings of impending disaster, but her pleas for help fell on skeptical ears, and shortly thereafter, in November 1978, the Jonestown massacre shocked the world. Seductive Poison is both an unflinching historical document and a suspenseful story of intrigue, power, and murder.
Download or read book The Law of Newspapers written by William Reed Arthur and published by . This book was released on 1928 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Calling Bullshit written by Carl T. Bergstrom and published by Random House Trade Paperbacks. This book was released on 2021-04-20 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bullshit isn’t what it used to be. Now, two science professors give us the tools to dismantle misinformation and think clearly in a world of fake news and bad data. “A modern classic . . . a straight-talking survival guide to the mean streets of a dying democracy and a global pandemic.”—Wired Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news abound and it’s increasingly difficult to know what’s true. Our media environment has become hyperpartisan. Science is conducted by press release. Startup culture elevates bullshit to high art. We are fairly well equipped to spot the sort of old-school bullshit that is based in fancy rhetoric and weasel words, but most of us don’t feel qualified to challenge the avalanche of new-school bullshit presented in the language of math, science, or statistics. In Calling Bullshit, Professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West give us a set of powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data. You don’t need a lot of technical expertise to call out problems with data. Are the numbers or results too good or too dramatic to be true? Is the claim comparing like with like? Is it confirming your personal bias? Drawing on a deep well of expertise in statistics and computational biology, Bergstrom and West exuberantly unpack examples of selection bias and muddled data visualization, distinguish between correlation and causation, and examine the susceptibility of science to modern bullshit. We have always needed people who call bullshit when necessary, whether within a circle of friends, a community of scholars, or the citizenry of a nation. Now that bullshit has evolved, we need to relearn the art of skepticism.
Download or read book Web of Deceit written by Barry Lando and published by Anchor Canada. This book was released on 2010-08-27 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An investigative history of Western complicity in Saddam Hussein’s crimes reveals the story his trial never will. In February 1991, the Shia of southern Iraq rose against Saddam Hussein. Barry M. Lando, a former investigative producer for 60 Minutes, argues compellingly that this ill-fated uprising represents one instance among many of Western complicity in Saddam Hussein’s crimes against humanity. The Shia were responding to the call for rebellion from President George H.W. Bush that was broadcast repeatedly across Iraq by clandestine CIA stations. But, just as the revolution was on the brink of success, the United States and its allies turned their backs. In the end, tens of thousands were massacred. Because of restrictions imposed by the Special Tribunal prosecuting Saddam Hussein, the extensive role of the U.S. and its allies in his crimes will never be explored at his trial. But as Web of Deceit demonstrates, the nations that now denounce Saddam most prominently secretly backed the dictator from his rise to power in the 1960s and ‘70s to his offensives in Iran and, despite warnings, took no action to stop his invasion of Kuwait. They also turned their backs when he used chemical weapons against the Iraqi people and persisted in international sanctions long after they had proved ineffective and, for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, lethal. Web of Deceit draws on a wide range of journalism and scholarship to present a complete picture of what really happened in Iraq under Saddam, detailing – for the first time – the complicity of the West in its full and alarming extent.
Download or read book View of the Merchants House of Glasgow Containing Historical Notices of Its Origin Constitution and Property and of the Charitable Foundations which it Administers Etc written by Merchants House of Glasgow and published by . This book was released on 1866 with total page 718 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Professor and the Parson written by Adam Sisman and published by Catapult. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This “amusing and elegantly written” romp takes readers on a wild ride through the life of Robert Parkin Peters (The New York Times Book Review)—a liar, bigamist, and fraudulent priest who tricked some of the brightest minds of his generation. One day in November 1958, the celebrated historian Hugh Trevor–Roper received a curious letter. It was an appeal for help, written on behalf of a student at Magdalen College, with the unlikely claim that he was being persecuted by the Bishop of Oxford. Curiosity piqued, Trevor–Roper agreed to a meeting. It was to be his first encounter with Robert Parkin Peters: plagiarist, bigamist, fraudulent priest, and imposter extraordinaire. The Professor and the Parson is a witty and charming portrait of eccentricity, extraordinary narcissism, and a life as wild and unlikely as any in fiction. Motivated not by money but by a desire for prestige, Peters lied, stole, and cheated his way to academic positions and religious posts from Cambridge to New York. Frequently deported, and even more frequently discovered, he left a trail of destruction including seven marriages (three of which were bigamous) and an investigation by the FBI. "I was captivated from start to finish by this utterly mad, and wholly delightful story of chicanery and fantasy, and which involves a man who relentlessly duped our most cherished institutions of godly pursuit and higher learning. Plus I learned how to defrock a priest, always good to have on hand in these troubling times." —Simon Winchester, author of The Perfectionists
Download or read book A Social History of Truth written by Steven Shapin and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2011-11-18 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do we come to trust our knowledge of the world? What are the means by which we distinguish true from false accounts? Why do we credit one observational statement over another? In A Social History of Truth, Shapin engages these universal questions through an elegant recreation of a crucial period in the history of early modern science: the social world of gentlemen-philosophers in seventeenth-century England. Steven Shapin paints a vivid picture of the relations between gentlemanly culture and scientific practice. He argues that problems of credibility in science were practically solved through the codes and conventions of genteel conduct: trust, civility, honor, and integrity. These codes formed, and arguably still form, an important basis for securing reliable knowledge about the natural world. Shapin uses detailed historical narrative to argue about the establishment of factual knowledge both in science and in everyday practice. Accounts of the mores and manners of gentlemen-philosophers are used to illustrate Shapin's broad claim that trust is imperative for constituting every kind of knowledge. Knowledge-making is always a collective enterprise: people have to know whom to trust in order to know something about the natural world.
Download or read book The Statutes at Large written by Great Britain and published by . This book was released on 1762 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Culture of Cloth in Early Modern England written by Dr Roze Hentschell and published by Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. This book was released on 2013-04-28 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through its exploration of the intersections between the culture of the wool broadcloth industry and the literature of the early modern period, this study contributes to the expanding field of material studies in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England. The author argues that it is impossible to comprehend the development of emerging English nationalism during that time period, without considering the culture of the cloth industry. She shows that, reaching far beyond its status as a commodity of production and exchange, that industry was also a locus for organizing sentiments of national solidarity across social and economic divisions. Hentschell looks to textual productions-both imaginative and non-fiction works that often treat the cloth industry with mythic importance-to help explain how cloth came to be a catalyst for nationalism. Each chapter ties a particular mode, such as pastoral, prose romance, travel propaganda, satire, and drama, with a specific issue of the cloth industry, demonstrating the distinct work different literary genres contributed to what the author terms the 'culture of cloth'.
Download or read book The Heartless Stone written by Tom Zoellner and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2007-06-12 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An American Library Association Notable Book When he proposed to his girlfriend, Tom Zoellner gave what is expected of every American man--a diamond engagement ring. But when the relationship broke apart, he was left with a used diamond that began to haunt him. His obsession carried him around the globe; from the "blood diamond" rings of Africa; to the sweltering polishing factories of India; to mines above the Arctic Circle; to illegal diggings in Brazil; to the London headquarters of De Beers, the secretive global colossus that has dominated the industry for more than a century and permanently carved the phrase "A diamond is forever" on the psyche. An adventure story in the tradition of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, The Heartless Stone is a voyage into the cold heart of the world's most unyielding gem.
Download or read book The Merchants Magazine and Commercial Review written by and published by . This book was released on 1847 with total page 660 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: