The ability to discern credible information from misleading data is crucial. "Calling Bullshit" by Bergstrom and West

Title: Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World

Author: Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West

Reviewer: Richard Sesek (educator, wantrepreneur)

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Topic/Intent of book: This book addresses the pervasive issue of misinformation in today's data-saturated society. The authors aim to equip readers with the critical thinking skills necessary to identify and challenge misleading information, particularly that which is presented under the guise of data, statistics, and scientific authority. The book emphasizes the importance of skepticism and provides tools to navigate and debunk the "bullshit" that often masquerades as credible information.

I selected this book because: The ability to discern credible information from misleading data is crucial and I was looking for a book like this to share with students regarding this topic. This book offers practical guidance on developing skepticism and analytical skills, which are essential for making informed decisions in both educational and business contexts.

Recommendation: Yes! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in enhancing their critical thinking abilities, especially in relation to data interpretation. The book is particularly valuable for students, professionals, and individuals who regularly engage with data-driven information and wish to develop a more discerning perspective.

Major lessons from this book: Misinformation can be cloaked in complex data and scientific language, making it challenging to detect. People need to question the credibility of information, regardless of its presentation. The book provides practical tools and frameworks for analyzing data and identifying common tactics used to mislead, such as selection bias, misleading visualizations, and the conflation of correlation with causation.

They highlight the value of maintaining a healthy skepticism toward information and encourage readers to question and verify data. By understanding the common methods used to distort information, readers are empowered to challenge, call "bullshit," and promote more truthful discourse.

Book Inspirations: Science has a replication problem and the media has a BS problem. Among the biggest problems I see are extrapolation of small effect sizes (e.g., eating X food doubles your infinitesimally small risk of harm), the discounting of data when there is a lack of 100% consensus (especially when there are unethical “pay-to-play” “think tanks” with intentionally misleading data from studies that were designed to bias results), the repetition of clearly rejected, disproven studies (e.g., vaccines and autism), and sometimes perverse incentives to only publish certain results (e.g., not publishing “non-results” where no relationship between X and Y is observed).

This book reinforces the necessity of skepticism in an era where data can be easily manipulated to mislead (particularly with AI), underscoring the value of critical thinking in both personal and professional decision-making.