An enjoyable stroll through confirmation bias as Republican lies about science are exposed. Levitan has the lies categorized for future reference. It is probably good that this book came out before the Trump administration because I don’t think it would have been able to keep up.

I hesitated to review this book as I was not a fan. My background as a scientist with a specialty in environmental public health may have skewed my opinion. This was a DNF at 40% book, which is unusual for me. Most of the anecdotes politicians making decisions based on gut feelings rather than scientific evidence were already known to me in my graduate research in environmental justice, and it felt a bit as though the author was showing off how much research he had done for the book. I applaud the amount of effort put into the collective arguments for how tragically our supposed leaders have misrepresented facts and led to the public's distrust. I think this would be an interesting book for the emerging social justice warrior who needs a primer in EPA history and the laws and regulations governing clean air, water, soil, and human health. The book mostly centered on one side of the political spectrum, which in all fairness, is largely to blame, but it is my opinion that if the intent of the book was to show people on the right how they've been misled, the author is going to lose them in the beginning of the book. This review is not posted on Goodreads, as I feel anyone who picks it up and learns even just a little bit will benefit, and I don't want my opinion to discourage anyone from picking it up.

The publication timing of this book is extremely appropriate. Not just because of our current political climate, but also literally -- debuting in April, it's something that I would want to assign as summer reading for high school and college students. While the political overtones may make it a difficult sell in that context (though it can't be denied that the bulk of scientific misinformation in media is heavily weighted towards one side of the aisle), nonetheless this is a fast, accessible read with practical applications to developing critical thinking while consuming today's news media. Chapters are divided to address the different techniques (from "Oversimplification" to "Blame the Blogger" and "The Certain Uncertainty") used both intentionally and inadvertently by politicians using specific examples and quotes from the Reagan years to the present. It concludes with the "Conspicuous Silence", illustrating that silence on an issue (such as in the case of Reagan and the AIDS crisis) can be nearly as damaging as misinformation, and that "normalizing science and discussion of science" are imperative to the science literacy of the general public. In a sea of misinformation, we could all use all use a refresher. Highly recommended for everyone.

A great read of actual occurrences - funny, head-shaking, and makes you want to go-to-the-source and fact-check everything that comes out of a talking head on any electronic device. A Solid 3.5 stars.

I liked the way in which the author approaches the topic and repeatedly emphasizes the importance of equipping ourselves with the proper information. A timely reminder in 2017. Issues discussed in the book include: climate change, global warming, vaccinations, epidemics, and abortion. If you're like me and reading non-fiction isn't your thing, this book flows smoothly without sounding condescending.

Science can be complicated and difficult to explain and understand. And the very nature of science - in how it continues to progress and conclusions updates as new data becomes available - lends itself to being misunderstood and misused by politicians.

<i>Not a Scientist</i> is a timely and needed book to help the public wade through political rhetoric and hold politicians accountable to honest and appropriate use of science. In its twelve chapters and a bonus thirteenth, Dave Levitan provides thirteen ways in which politicians mangle science, through ignorance, misunderstandings, or to deliberately manipulate the evidence and the public.

For every type of misuse of science, multiple examples are provided in which recent (usually within the last decade) politicians have committed these scientific crimes. Where appropriate, older examples are also given to show that misuse of science has a long history. Examples cited include climate change, vaccines, healthcare and disease, and environmental protection.

The strength of this book is that it takes more generic formal and informal logical fallacies and offers applications that are concrete and specific to the intersection of science and politics. It offers concrete ways in which the public can become more educated and aware at spotting political maneuvers that misuse science, deliberately or not.

Some advice is offered on how the informed public can go about combating these errors and confronting the politicians who make them. That seemed to me the weakest aspect. This book was authored before the results of the 2016 U.S. elections became known, and perhaps if the Dave Levitan could see how alt-facts and dismissal of science agencies have become the norm in the new administration in 2017, he would have offered stronger words on resisting and combating these deliberate anti-science and anti-fact moves.

Nevertheless, I believe this book offers important information to many of us who want and need education on the many ways in which politicians use and misuse science for their own ends. Even though the book speaks often against Republican use of science (for which there is plenty of reason given, backed by research) the material applies to the entire political spectrum -- all can be tempted to manipulate and misuse science for their own ends.

In the current trashfire political climate, when the entire nation is working to figure out what counts as 'real news' or 'alternative facts', when staff at the EPA is being forbidden from sharing information, this book was a fascinating, important, difficult read.

This books explains how to read between the lines and seek truth, how to be a discriminating citizen.

A very important book, especially considering the times that we're living in.