By intelligence officials for intelligent people

How biases, the desire for a good narrative, reliance on citation metrics, and other problems undermine confidence in modern science. Modern science is built on experimental evidence, yet scientists are often very selective in deciding what evidence to use and tend to disagree about how to interpret it. In The Matter of Facts, Gareth and Rhodri Leng explore how scientists produce and use evidence. They do so to contextualize an array of problems confronting modern science that have raised concerns about its reliability: the widespread use of inappropriate statistical tests, a shortage of replication studies, and a bias in both publishing and citing “positive” results. Before these problems can be addressed meaningfully, the authors argue, we must understand what makes science work and what leads it astray. The myth of science is that scientists constantly challenge their own thinking. But in reality, all scientists are in the business of persuading other scientists of the importance of their own ideas, and they do so by combining reason with rhetoric. Often, they look for evidence that will support their ideas, not for evidence that might contradict them; often, they present evidence in a way that makes it appear to be supportive; and often, they ignore inconvenient evidence. In a series of essays focusing on controversies, disputes, and discoveries, the authors vividly portray science as a human activity, driven by passion as well as by reason. By analyzing the fluidity of scientific concepts and the dynamic and unpredictable development of scientific fields, the authors paint a picture of modern science and the pressures it faces.

Hundreds of lists--thousands of facts! This is a book of best-ever lists, covering topics from science and technology to history and pop culture. The in-depth research and expert writing mean that the book is filled with the most important, most engaging, most up-to-the-minute facts. This is reference reinvented, with supermodern lists, and a supermodern visual presentation to match.

This book presents three thousand unusual, fantastic, and amazing bits of information, presented in almost one hundred different categories, ranging all the way from astronomy to show business, from the ancients to the moderns, and from history to animal life.

This gargantuan, 704-page hardcover book is chock-full of that information and more, covering pop culture, nature, technology, food, sports, art, history, religion, crime, and tales of the just plain weird. Prepared to get lost perusing page after page of unusual facts, enthralling stories, and amusing anecdotes because The Book of Extraordinary Facts will keep you busy for hours Learn about the strange collaboration between surrealist painter Salvador Dal and comedy icon Harpo Marx. Read about what it was like to live during the London Blitz, and debunk popular urban legends. Get lassoed into facts about fascinating wedding customs around the world, and discover the reason behind one of the deadliest fires in American history. What Hollywood star used her twin sister as her body double in a film? How do card sharks mark a deck? Where in California can you find the world s oldest living tree? Which U.S. president spent some pre-politics time as a male model?

"The information here is fabulous and so appealing because of the 'I bet you didn't know' spirit in all of us who like to stump our friends and savor the interesting information for ourselves" --Constance Lloyd, General Manager, CBS Radio News