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Pseudoscience and Deception is a compilation of some of the most eye-opening skeptical articles pertaining to extraordinary claims and pseudoscience. The articles explore paranormal, extraordinary, or fringe-science claims and reveal logical explanations or outline the deceptive tactics involved in convincing the vulnerable.
List of contents
Foreword, by Michael Shermer
Preface
Acknowledgements
CRITICAL THOUGHT ABOUT STRANGE THINGS
1. Why Smart People Believe Weird Things
2. How to Argue
PSYCHIC PHENOMENA & FORTUNE-TELLING
3. Cold Reading: How to Convince Strangers That You Know All About Them
4. Long Island Chicanery
SCIENCE/HEALTH CLAIMS
5. Why Bogus Therapies Often Seem to Work
6. Power Balance Products: A Skeptical Look
7. Consensus on Climate Change
8. Why Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis is Worthless
OUT OF THIS WORLD
9. The Case For and Against Astrology
10. Looking Up to Logic
11. The Lunar Effect and Confirmation Bias
RELIGION & FAITH HEALING
12. Prayer and Healing: The Verdict Is In and the Results Are Null
13. Confessions of a Skeptic
PSYCHOTHERAPY
14. Pseudoscience in Contemporary Clinical Psychology: What it is and what we can do about it
NUMERICAL ANOMALIES
15. Number Manipulation: The Not "So Spooky" Tim McVeigh
AFTERLIFE AND RELATED PHE
About the author
Bryan Farha is professor of behavioral studies in education at Oklahoma City University. He received a doctor of education degree in counseling psychology from the University of Tulsa. A scientific and technical consultant to the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), his work in combating deception has been recognized by CNN, TIME.com, The National Geographic Channel, andA&E. Dr. Farha is founder of the creative website, PARANORMALinquest.net.
Summary
Pseudoscience and Deception is a compilation of some of the most eye-opening skeptical articles pertaining to extraordinary claims and pseudoscience. The articles explore paranormal, extraordinary, or fringe-science claims and reveal logical explanations or outline the deceptive tactics involved in convincing the vulnerable.
