These days, everybody wants to be us. We have the most exciting films, the coolest toys, and, somewhat ironically, we invented social media. Whilst this shift is more than welcome, it appears to be rooted in culture and media.
Politics and the running of the country are particularly impervious to the rise of the geek. Education, economics, and the environment all require a more dispassionate body of evidence behind them.
Yet politicians often fail to ask those who could help compile it, or worse, they ask but then ignore the findings. Great sections of the government need evidence-based policy, rather than policy-based evidence.
As Henderson is a British-based scientist, many of the cases he outlines are based in the UK, but The Geek Manifesto does take in examples from the US and the rest of the world.
The short-term view of politics against the long-range perspective of science make them incompatible bedfellows. Differing attitudes to mistakes also have a major part to play. In science, a mistake is valued.
Frustrating, maybe, but discovery that a methodology is a failure adds to the knowledge base. In politics, failure is tantamount to career suicide. Large portions of the book are dedicated to analyzing where and how science could help politics. All things politicians highly desire, yet they reject trying ideas that have been shown to work in favor of rhetoric and hyperbole that conforms to the party line. Henderson discusses ways and means of mobilizing the geek army to challenge unscientific thinking.
Only by speaking up will we get ourselves heard. He shows how public-relations savvy pressure groups, such as Greenpeace, and anti-vaccine lobbies are very good at capturing both news time and the ears of politicians.
Henderson outlines ways in which geeks can do the same. Politicians and the media tend to ignore quiet scientists, and we let them. There are chapters on the media and economics. When you see a claim that a treatment or intervention has no effect, it is important to examine the evidence as this may be a misleading statement. This article explores circadian rhythm, the prevalence of its disruption in modern society, and its affects on cancer. This month the media ran several stories about a study exploring the relationship between health and work-life balance.
Are we working ourselves towards ill health? What are the key steps in EBM? Who are S4BE? David Tredinnik ebm evidence Geek Manifesto government health policy implementing implementing evidence-based medicine Mark Henderson Politics science is vital Sense About Science the campaign for science and engineering.
Sean Davidson I'm a medical student at Newcastle University interested in neurology, psychiatry and all things 'medically unexplained'. View more posts from Sean. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Luis Gabriel Cuervo I found the video cynical and unhelpful. Subscribe to our newsletter You will receive our monthly newsletter and free access to Trip Premium. Many Greens appear to be disingenuously unaware of the climate change control benefits of the low-carbon option that nuclear power presents, or of the many huge potential benefits of GM including environmental benefits.
Global warming is a planetary emergency, and we need all weapons in our arsenal - including nuclear, GM and other technologies - to really address it. For varied reasons, other potentially hugely beneficial scientific research in areas such as stem cell research, genome editing etc. The scaremongering on the vaccination issue verges on the pathetic.
This book is a call to arms directed to all rational thinkers to promote in every way possible through voting, political participation, consumer choice etc. But the message itself deserves a full 5-star rating. View all 37 comments. I am nearly finished, and struggling to finish. Not that I don't agree with most of what Henderson says, just that he uses so many words to say it. I guess I am what you call the choir he is preaching to, and I have lived in the world of science geeks for a lot of my adult life.
Most of what I read, has been painfully obvious to me every day so I guess I'm not the best person to review it. I still think that most of the arguments could have been a bit more concise. May 29, Brian Clegg rated it really liked it.
But the problem is more than that and it sits at the heart of the issue that Mark Henderson is addressing. Talking about the politics of science can be rather boring. That said, this genuinely is a very important topic, and Henderson covers many aspects of it well.
There were times when he was talking about homeopathy, say, or the lack of science education amongst our politicians I got highly involved. And even when it was a little more dull, it was indubitably worthy and necessary. I guess what it comes down to is that this is, yes, an important book and you genuinely ought to read it. Review originally published on www. Aug 06, Simon Clare rated it it was ok.
I'd only have given it 2 stars until I got to the "Geeks and Greens" chapter, which was the only part I thought that actually contributed anything to the world. While I generally agree with Henderson's views, there is nothing new here at all. I was expecting so much more considering the gushing reviews given by skeptics. I can't see this book changing the minds of anyone who didn't already value science.
It's kind of a summary of the things that are already happening with a wish for more of the I'd only have given it 2 stars until I got to the "Geeks and Greens" chapter, which was the only part I thought that actually contributed anything to the world. It's kind of a summary of the things that are already happening with a wish for more of the same. Oh and did you know that political engagement is a good idea? There was an over-reliance on topicality which I think will make this book seem very dated in just a few years time.
The main thing this book exposes for me is geeks' susceptibility to confirmation bias. The fact that so many were recommending this book before they'd even read it was frankly embarrassing. Apr 29, Alex Murphy rated it liked it Shelves: politics-or-something.
This book raised some interesting points, which definitely need to be addressed by politicians and policy groups, about the abuse of scientific evidence and ignoring by mistake or design hard science proved facts. However the first third of the book did seem a bit of a slog, where the author went through how to apply scientific methods to politics and to get more scientists and science enthusiast involved in politics and campaigning.
While important this part did seem a bit too long. The rest of This book raised some interesting points, which definitely need to be addressed by politicians and policy groups, about the abuse of scientific evidence and ignoring by mistake or design hard science proved facts. The rest of the book was much more enjoyable, as the author explained how things such as homeopathy, vaccine scares, GM food etc stood in scientific circles, the evidence behind them and how this has been misrepresented by the media, politicians, corporations, activists and charity groups to suit there own agendas for a variety of reasons.
Using bad evidence as proof or ignoring it, like in some cases to make your case is the issue. May 24, Bob Drake rated it really liked it. Henderson's premise is simple; the world needs more rational thinking, in politics, economics, government etc, but the very people who embody rational thought, the Geeks, are under-represented in these areas.
The Geek Manifesto is a call to arms for rational thinkers to take back the ground lost to the pseudo-scientists, the religious zealots and policy-makers that believe that simply using "science-speak" makes their claims robust. The Geek Manifesto is an excellent resource for thinking people who feel that their views are under-represented. There are people and organisations that feel the same and, hopefully, the Geek Manifesto will beome a standard around which these islands of rationality can coalesce.
I have an issue with how to rate this book. It is important that every voter pays attention to the information imparted here, but they probably won't get it from this book.
Mark Henderson, for everything he's got right in this book, has failed to inspire enthusiasm in his writing. I myself am one of the geeks that this book claims to be a manifesto for - I get excited whe I have an issue with how to rate this book. I myself am one of the geeks that this book claims to be a manifesto for - I get excited when I so much as think about the wonders of the scientific method, and the advances I have seen in just my lifetime, let alone the past 30, 40, 50 or years.
And somehow this book failed to inspire enthusiasm in me - an already avid lover and often outspoken proponent of science. And if he can't inspire enthusiasm in me, how will this book fare with those less excited by science than me?
This book is worth reading in order that we, the geeks, can infuse Henderson's narrative with our own enthusiasm, in the hope that we can make a difference. For geeks, the book is worth much more than it can be for those less enthusiastic about science, and I guess the way it has to go is that we'll read it, and pass the message on as best we can.
Henderson primarily addresses the misuse of science for political reasons. Themes within the media, justice, education and health are given as examples to explain the lack of knowledge about the scientific method and science-based evidence, and the distortion that is often made in the name of a "higher polical cause.
However, I consider that it may be fairly uninteresting to anyone who is a layman in science reading. It is undoubtedly a book aimed at people who have knowledge about science.
Jun 03, Bastian Greshake Tzovaras rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction. A call for action for scientists and geeks alike. A great book on why it's important that geeks get involved with politics, why science is important for politics and what actions can be of help to make science matter for politicians. While the book has its focus strongly on the UK most examples which are given are from there. I think because Henderson is UK-based and works as Head of Communications for the Wellcome Trust most ideas are equally suited for other countries.
Worth reading for all A call for action for scientists and geeks alike. Worth reading for all who are interested in science. Dec 27, Ben rated it liked it Shelves: unfinished. I liked the basic premise of the book. But I didn't actually finish it as I found it just kept making the same points over and over again.
Feb 27, Hayley Fletcher rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. A must read. It's a sad state of affairs that such a book is needed. The unwillingness to assess policies and do what works is a pitiful failure.
The section on education contains some crucial observations about the curriculum it would be nice to know were being seriously considered. Perhaps I am one of the converted and I've read many books on this topic, but it wasn't totally engaging throughout. There were one or two factual errors and a little bit of self-indulgence in parts that didn't sit t A must read. There were one or two factual errors and a little bit of self-indulgence in parts that didn't sit too well with me but nonetheless a worthwhile read.
I hope that political parties take heed of the warnings, economic if nothing else, and consider selecting candidates with a broader range of backgrounds. Jul 10, Julia rated it it was amazing Shelves: enjoyable-non-fiction. Important reading for those who care about science, but even more so for those who care how society functions and whether decisions are made based on evidence or dogma. The need for evidence touches every area of life, from how we educate children to which health services we provide.
Mark Henderson explores how science and evidence interact with politics, education, the media, healthcare and the environment. A very knowledgeable insight in some of the major decisions taken in the UK and whether Important reading for those who care about science, but even more so for those who care how society functions and whether decisions are made based on evidence or dogma.
A very knowledgeable insight in some of the major decisions taken in the UK and whether the evidence supported the claims or was manipulated by one party or their opposition. Jul 06, Solange rated it it was amazing. Covers a terrific variety of the applications of science to society, education, politics and more; somewhat narrowed by the focus on the UK context. Mar 11, Mark Gowan rated it liked it.
Mark Henderson is a science journalist based in England and seems to be well-versed in the scientific method and its importance to the progress of society. The basic argument of the book is that scientists should be included in all aspects of decision-making within those societies in order to regulate and assure that true science is taken into consideration when making decisions on important issues that impact us all.
True science is that science based upon warranted evidence together with clear Mark Henderson is a science journalist based in England and seems to be well-versed in the scientific method and its importance to the progress of society. True science is that science based upon warranted evidence together with clear correlation to a consequence that is not preconceived or implied beforehand, and that is open to the public and peer-review and follows the scientific method as it is traditionally defined.
The book uses ample examples of abuse by politicians, educators and environmentalists as well as the usual crew of criminals against science for economic reasons. Henderson does a good job of pointing out counterarguments and how they fail, and using statistical data to back up his claims. Where I believe Henderson misses the mark is his narrowness in defining useful knowledge, and his claims concerning the boundaries of science. First, Henderson seems to dismiss liberal educations as being useful but not useful to truth-finding, relegated only to the arts and creative processes, processes he seems to claim that are outside of the scientific realm.
However, he also claims that to "throw out too much curiosity-led science in favor of applied work and you risk being left with nothing to apply. This all sounds as if the liberal arts he down plays in one part of the book is given heightened importance in another part of the book.
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