A Spark of Reason: Truth in Science: Myths, Stories, Examples, and Anecdotes

This unconventional exploration of science and critical thinking focuses on several themes, including the pursuit of truth, modern communication challenges, and the scope of scientific thought. It presents a skeptical perspective and takes a contrarian look at myths embraced by both the general public and scientific community. The text is dense with numerous examples, ranging from familiar to obscure, such as homeopathic medicine, Railway Spine, Bayes' Theorem, the Manhattan Project, informal fallacies, Simpson’s Paradox, Alcock’s Belief Engine, Snow’s Ghost Map, and many more. Additionally, it covers several uncommon topics, including the role of science in education and learning, belief creation and evaluation, effective communication of scientific ideas, and the replication crisis. Ethical and religious subjects like the development of the Levine Chair for heart attack victims, Pielke's Honest Broker philosophy, scientism, and surveillance capitalism in social media are also examined. The book's unique features make it suitable for widespread popular reading and classroom use. It offers over a hundred clickable links to source material and enrichment resources in the digital version, with a clickable-link document provided upon request for paper-copy purchasers. Each chapter includes at least one activity designed to engage both traditional students and general readers. Some endorsements from students: “These lessons will help you in your career and as an independent thinker. Read this book!” “I have already found myself using this information in discussions with my family and friends and I know I will continue to use it professionally.” “This book was very fun and my favorite science book that I have ever read.” “It gave me tools that I will use for the rest of my life.” Scientists and educators who have read A Spark of Reason have praised it for its accessibility, humor, and engaging style. A physicist wrote, “I knew about a number of the anecdotes Coe used as examples, but there were literally dozens of new stories and ideas to me. It is a treasure trove of scientific myth and legend! It’s packed with ideas that I was curious about, or that I became curious about.”