Prove It

<h3><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>A compelling journey through science's big breakthroughs by an award-winning Australian science writer</span></h3><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Humans developed the scientific method over centuries. Its departure from what came before was that theories should be fuelled by data not opinion. Today the institutions that underpin democracy - the law academia government journalism - all rely on its central idea: seeking facts and interrogating them through robust discussion and real-world testing. Yet in the post-truth era public conversations can feel far from scientific.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>In </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Prove It</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> Elizabeth Finkel describes how the scientific method plays out in a series of controversies from proving the existence of Einstein's gravitational waves to identifying the origins of Covid-19 from understanding human origins to defining consciousness. Through these tales of dispute and discovery she breaks down the key elements of scientific thinking.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Full of politics prejudice obsession heroism and eccentricity </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Prove It</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> captures the drama and excitement of scientific discovery and debate and argues compellingly that its lessons are more crucial now than ever.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>'From DNA to consciousness blackholes to randomised trials Elizabeth Finkel brings science to life. Brimming with insights this book is a rallying cry for reason. Evidence and data have shaped our world for the better and we ignore them at our peril.' - </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Andrew Leigh member of Australian Parliament and author of T<em>he Shortest History of Economics</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>'An immensely powerful read </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Prove It</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> reminds us that human progress is anchored in frank and fearless debate in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. This book is for anyone who believes in an evidence-based expert-informed approach to life.' - </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Professor Katie Allen University of Melbourne</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>'</span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Prove It</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> is brilliantly argued vivaciously written and deeply thought through. If you want to know how science works what philosophers say about how science works and what the two have to do with each other this book is for you.' - </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Michael Strevens author of <em>The Knowledge Machine</em></strong></p><p></p>