Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science

<p>Although we are amused we may also be embarrassed to find our friends or even ourselves among the gullible advocates of plausible-sounding doubletalk. -- <i>Saturday Review</i><br>A very able and even-tempered presentation. -- <i>New Yorker<br></i>This witty and engaging book examines the various fads fallacies strange cults and curious panaceas which at one time or another have masqueraded as science. Not just a collection of anecdotes but a fair reasoned appraisal of eccentric theory it is unique in recognizing the scientific philosophic and sociological-psychological implications of the wave of pseudoscientific theories which periodically besets the world.<br>To this second revised edition of a work formerly titled <i>In the Name of Science</i> Martin Gardner has added new up-to-date material to an already impressive account of hundreds of systematized vagaries. Here you will find discussions of hollow-earth fanatics like Symmes; Velikovsky and wandering planets; Hörbiger Bellamy and the theory of multiple moons; Charles Fort and the Fortean Society; dowsing and the other strange methods for finding water ores and oil. Also covered are such topics as naturopathy iridiagnosis zone therapy food fads; Wilhelm Reich and orgone sex energy; L. Ron Hubbard and Dianetics; A. Korzybski and General Semantics. A new examination of Bridey Murphy is included in this edition along with a new section on bibliographic reference material.</p><p></p>