2009-07-08 Unscientific America

2009-07-08 PZ Myers Pharyngula \Unscientific America\active atheism\narrative vs. rationality\book reviews http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/07/unscientific_america_how_scien.php Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future Unscientific America  They sent me a copy of their new book, ''Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future]], with a strange request: "We hope that like Dr. Coyne, you will suspend judgment until reading the book, at which point we'll be interested to hear what you think." I was a bit offended; of course I was going to read it with an open mind. Why would they think it necessary to ask me to do so?

That was before I got to chapters 8 and 9, however, which open with very direct and personal attacks on me and on Pharyngula, atheists in general, and anyone who fails to offer religion its proper modicum of respect. "Oh, that's why they warned me," I realized, "it's like asking the victim of a hatchet job to hold still for a moment so they can get in a good whack." They definitely did need to request my forbearance, so I wouldn't just toss their hypocritical and ignorant paean to mealy-mouthedness in the trash right away, which was one perceptive moment on their part. And yes, I freely admit that my opinion of the book is colored by the palpable contempt they hold for me.

But I get ahead of myself. As I said, the discombobulating assault didn't begin until chapter 8, but the problems I had with the book started much earlier.

In chapter one.

&ldquo;They definitely did need to request my forbearance, so I wouldn't just toss their hypocritical and ignorant paean to mealy-mouthedness in the trash right away, which was one perceptive moment on their part. And yes, I freely admit that my opinion of the book is colored by the palpable contempt they hold for me.&rdquo;   