So disappointed - I can't read the ARC, there are missing letters at random intervals and some letters are actually replaced with symbols/different language letters. This happens rarely, but when it does, it always frustrates. I'd still really like to read/review it - I was intrigued by the opening bits (what I could make out, that is), but it's too difficult to read as it is, and I wouldn't want my review to reflect that frustration...

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

<b><u>REQUIRED READING!</u></b> This book, which was brilliantly written by Daniel J. Levitin in 2016 and published by Dutton in 2017, should be required reading for all Americans. It is subtitled <i>How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era.</i> The Introduction is a great overview of the importance of being able to think critically. In addition to the usual Acknowledgements at the end of the narrative, the book also has an Appendix, a Glossary, an Index, and a comprehensive set of Notes that supplement the text. The book is divided into an Introduction, three major parts, and a Conclusion. The author has included many graphics, including diagrams, charts, graphs, tables and other useful aids that supplement the text and make his points easier to understand. Anybody should be able to comprehend everything in this book because of the very clear way in which it is presented.

In his Introduction, Levitin immediately grabs our attention with the words: “I’m going to start by saying two things that will surely make some people very mad. First, the language we use has begun to obscure the relationship between facts and fantasy. Second, this is a dangerous by-product of a lack of education in our country that has now affected an entire generation of citizens. These two facts have made lies proliferate in our culture to an unprecedented degree. It has made possible the weaponizing of lies so that they can all the more sneakily undermine our ability to make good decisions for ourselves and our fellow citizens.” More insightful words have never been written! He goes on to add: “Critical thinking doesn’t mean we disparage everything; it means that we try to distinguish between claims with evidence and those without.” This sets the stage for what follows in the book: how to “look under the hood” at statistics, graphs, arguments and persuasions to see how they work, and to spot the misinformation, “counter-knowledge,” and falsehoods (lies) that are pressure-fed to us daily.

Part One is titled “Evaluating Numbers.” It shows us how to spot phony statistics, and false charts and graphs. It discusses the differences between average numbers, medians, and the mode, and how those who wish to convince us of false information use them interchangeably, even though there are significant differences between them. The author shows us (with real examples) how such notable news sources as <i>Fox News Channel</i> and <i>The New York Times,</i> as well as respected magazines like <i>Time</i> have used such distorted data in order to mislead viewers and readers. Levitin demonstrates how changing the axes on graphs can significantly alter their perception by most people when presented with data such as financial results, and he uses Apple Computer’s Tim Cook as one example.

The words that struck me most in the first chapter were: “Statistics are not facts. They are interpretations. And your interpretation may be just as good as, or better than, that of the person reporting them to you.” How many Americans do you suppose really understand that? Has our news media done anything to disabuse Americans of the delusion that statistics are equivalent to facts? Have those who would like us to believe that the reporting of poll results is a perfectly acceptable substitute for honest journalistic reporting done anything at all to promote critical thinking on the part of the citizenry? It doesn’t appear so, and the news sources certainly aren’t doing any critical thinking for us, so we’d better learn to do it for ourselves.

The author goes on to describe the different types of errors in polling: the lifeblood of today’s politics and the currently-popular replacement for traditional journalism. He also introduces us to Probability in this segment of the book, and it is very enlightening. It is also troubling — especially when the consequences of the misapplication of probabilities can be devastating to people. He describes how lives can be lost by unneeded surgeries, and be destroyed by unjustified criminal prosecutions and imprisonment, just because statistics and probability are often misapplied by people with a great deal of authority, such as surgeons and prosecutors. It behooves all of us to be able to protect our own interests by becoming aware of how falsehoods (lies) can be turned into weapons that can destroy our lives.

In Part Two, the author shifts from numbers to words in his narrative about how we are influenced by lies. He describes the importance of word choice when telling us how we can be deceived by the use of an incorrect definition, or of an assignment of the label of “expert” to somebody who does not merit that honor. He tells us how easy it is to make us believe something if we are already predisposed to believe it, even if there is no real evidence for it. He provides us with a brief description of some of the false argument forms of logic, and how convincing most people find them to be.

Part Three of the book is titled: “Evaluating the World.” In this section, the author dives into greater depths in describing to us how science really works, and how it differs from other methods of persuasion. He goes into greater detail about the different types of logical fallacies, and he provides us with a few case studies.

The author tells us about the importance of Internet “Domain Names,” and how the unscrupulous set up phony Web sites to deceive the unwary. He explains the Internet domain name system, and he provides tips for spotting these kinds of liars on the Internet. He gives us some real-world examples (He names names.) of politicians setting up phony Web sites in the names of their opponents in order to divert campaign donations away from their intended recipients and into the coffers of crooked political candidates. He relates an anecdote about how a White Supremacy group has hijacked the domain name made to sound like a Martin Luther King fan organization in order to mislead visitors into reading the many anti-semitic and out-of-context quotes to be found there.

Levitin also goes into some detail about the false correlation between childhood autism and the use of vaccines first reported by (former) Dr. Andrew Wakefield. Never mind that Wakefield has been thoroughly discredited, and never mind that he was a surgeon with no expertise in immunology or neurology, and never mind that he has lost his license to practice medicine — millions of people all over the world still believe that there is a correlation between vaccination and autism. Children are now at risk from preventable disease because a lie was used as a weapon against their parents.

In the four presented case studies, the author first describes a situation with his family dog, Shadow, who might have had bladder cancer. He describes how his family, by using critical thinking techniques, found the best course of the available treatments for the beloved dog, and how Shadow was able to live a longer, happier life because of it. Levitin then describes the false accusations that the moon landing by astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong was a hoax perpetrated by NASA and the US government. He is able to debunk the hoax myth with some simple facts and logic. He goes on to describe charlatans in the fields of magic and ESP. He makes a convincing case for the fact that magicians like David Blaine might use trickery, and not superhuman powers, to accomplish his feats. His final case study involves the search for subatomic particles, such as the long-sought-after “Higgs boson.”

The author sums up his book with a brief conclusion. In it, he asserts that “An anti-science bias has entered public discourse and the Web. A lot of things that should be scientific or technical problems . . . are political.” He goes on to add that “The scientific method is the ground from which all the best critical thinking rises.” And that sums it up neatly. He has done an outstanding job of informing us about how lies have become weaponized in order to make us behave in a manner that benefits others, including at the shopping mall, and in the voting booth. He has done an enormous service for Americans. This is a great book, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any thinking adult.

Who knew a book about numbers could be so entertaining? Weaponized Lies is written for the average person, those of us who aren't statisticians or scientists. It introduces fundamental critical thinking skills that will assist the reader in making logical decisions and analyzing claims made in the news. The spread of misinformation is not a new problem, but the internet has made it more pervasive. Some people and publications are more likely to be right than others, but no one is infallible. Bad information can be spread by people with an agenda or people who don't know any better. Regardless of motive, it's our job to think critically about information before we spread it or form opinions. By knowing what questions to ask, we can better assess the validity of claims. Levitin reminds us to be critical of information that confirms our biases too. I liked his method of asking the reader to question a previous statement in the book. It reminded me to remain alert and critical, even of Levitin's claims.

This edition is a repackaging of A Field Guide to Lies (pub. 9/6/16). The biggest (only?) difference is the introduction. In the updated introduction, Levitin argues that euphemisms, such as "fake news" or "extreme views," are doing a disservice to us all. It makes falsehoods sound less insidious than they are. False statements should be called what they actually are--lies.

EVALUATING NUMBERS

Numbers seem so objective and definitive, but they shouldn't be taken at face value. Statistics and infographics can be manipulated to lead you to a conclusion that doesn't hold up upon closer look. Sometimes our basic knowledge of the world can weed out the bad information immediately, but other times the deception is more obscured. We should always question how the numbers were collected and interpreted. Visual representations of statistics make a powerful impact and most people only give them a passing glance. Levitin explains the methods used to deceive with infographics. He uses real-world examples to reinforce the points. One example shown is the misleading chart shown at the Planned Parenthood hearing in 2015.

What is the likelihood of something occurring or being true? Probability gives us a much broader view than anecdotes and helps us make better decisions. Make sure you understand the "Probabilities" chapter, especially Bayesian probability, because it comes up in other chapters!  I was especially interested in probability in the medical industry, because understanding how probability works can make you a more empowered patient. If you get a positive result on a mammogram, what is the actual chance of having breast cancer? Under 10%, because the disease is relatively rare and the test is not perfect. There are also times when doctors have recommended unnecessary, intrusive operations based on faulty understanding of probability.

EVALUATING WORDS

This section includes tools to evaluate the information we encounter every day. We depend on experts to provide information, but does everything they say hold the same weight? No! For example, just because someone is world-renowned neurosurgeon* doesn't make them an expert in other fields, even other medical fields. Sometimes experts engage in speculation like the rest of us and it's important to be able to differentiate between opinions and evidenced-based claims. Levitin also lists the telltale signs of bias or deception. He explains different techniques used to deceive people, such as burying fallacious arguments in a cluster of facts. Does a website's claims to reveal "truth" actually indicate the opposite? Before we blindly accept a claim, we should also ask if there are any alternative explanations that weren't considered or revealed.

EVALUATING THE WORLD

The inner workings of the scientific community are a mystery to many and charlatans take advantage of this. In this section, Levitin explains the scientific method and the rigorous process through which scientists come to a consensus. He addresses the myths about science: (1) scientists never disagree and (2) a single experiment tells us all we need to know. He also explains common logical fallacies, so that we can better evaluate scientific claims. The autism/vaccines controversy is used to illustrate four logical fallacies in action.

The information presented in this book is not just helpful for evaluating the news. Bayesian thinking can help with a legal defense, making an important medical decision, or even evaluating salesperson's claims. The last chapter includes four case studies that apply the previous lessons in critical thinking to the real world. My favorite of the four was Levitin's personal story about his dog's illness. He and his wife were able to logically think through every option and choose the path that was best for their dog. They were able to be a peace knowing they had done everything they could for their dog, while also causing the least harm.

My only complaint is the "Numbers" chapter felt more fleshed out than the "Words" and "World" chapters. The last two sections went so fast and I was so disappointed when the content ended 2/3s of the way through. I wasn't ready for it to end yet! Maybe that's more of a compliment than a complaint! The remainder of the pages are filled with a glossary, supporting documentation, and an index.

Weaponized Lies is about understanding the limits of our knowledge and not being ashamed to admit that we don't know everything. This book encourages people to think scientifically and suppress the temptation to automatically discount dissenting evidence. It's easy to submit to lazy thinking when we're bombarded with so much information and we're so busy with our everyday lives. None of us are logically perfect human beings, so it's important to be aware of our flaws.  This book is an excellent refresher course in thinking critically. It's helped me better articulate why I find some information manipulative or misleading. The best part of the book is that it gave me an upper hand in an ongoing argument with my husband (he was essentially "truncating the y-axis" to make a misleading point). Thanks, Daniel Levitin! ;D

NOTES:
* I used a neurosurgeon as an example because of Ben Carson's recent claims about memory: Washington Post, Wired.
* I read this book around the same time I watched Denial, a movie about a woman who was sued by a Holocaust denier for libel (a real-life case: Irving v Penguin Books). In the movie, the woman is frustrated with the defense's refusal to allow witness testimony and the lawyer's heartless questions. The defense maintains that they need to prove the case more objectively if they're going to win in a definitive way. Richard Rampton:"They're a strange thing, consciences. Trouble is, what feels best isn't necessarily what works best."
* Purple America Has All But Disappeared: This article on FiveThirtyEight terrified me more than anything else I've read recently: "In an increasing number of communities .... an entire generation of youth will grow up without much exposure to alternative political points of view. If you think our political climate is toxic now, think for a moment about how nasty politics could be 20 or 30 years from now."
* "The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know...Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough.” - John Adams
*Popular comic about the science news cycle.

Another great piece on a very important subject, especially in this day and age.