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Praise for 50 Popular Beliefs That People Think are True
“What would it take to create a world in which fantasy is not confused for fact and public policy is based on objective reality? I don't know for sure. But a good place to start would be for everyone on Earth to read this book.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History
"Being a skeptic can be hard work, but Harrison makes it a lot easier. This is the book I wish I had written.” –Phil Plait, astronomer, author of Bad Astronomy and Death From the Skies
“. . . a book that deserves to be shelved alongside the works of such giants of the field as Randi, Shermer, Kurtz, and Nickell. With a combination of lively prose and keen analytical reasoning, the author examines some of contemporary culture’s most commonly held beliefs… A valuable, not to mention very entertainingly written, addition to the literature of skepticism.” –Booklist, November 15, 2011, starred review
"Guy Harrison's 50 Popular Beliefs That People Think are True is the perfect book for skeptics to carry with them whenever they venture into the dark and mysterious realms where myths, monsters, and magic lurk as pretenders to truth, and where pseudoscience and superstition rule the day. Harrison has added to the growing body of skeptical literature a contribution that will continue to move our culture toward one that openly embraces reason, science, and logic." –Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, columnist for Scientific American, author of The Believing Brain and Why People Believe Weird Things
"Harrison’s book comes just in time, I hope, to save some vestiges of rational thought. . . . ‘50 Popular Beliefs People Think Are True’ is a force for good." –Cameron M. Smith, author of Anthropology for Dummies and The Fact of Evolution
“A much needed tour through common delusions about reality. Harrison writes clearly and succinctly about beliefs that are not supported by science or logic. However, he does so with sympathy and understanding for the reasons so many people find comfort in the irrational.” –Victor J. Stenger, author of the NY Times bestseller God: The Failed Hypothesis and The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning
"Extremely well-written, with a generous helping of good-natured humor, Harrison’s book is the perfect antidote to magical thinking. . . . It’s a fun read and should be on the bookshelves, not just of every skeptic, but of every believer in things that go bump in the night.” –Dr. Kenneth Feder, professor of anthropology at Central Connecticut State University and the author of Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology
"Drawing from many sources including his own personal experiences as a journalist, traveler, photographer, and parent, Harrison examines an impressive array of mysterious subjects, from homeopathy to intelligent design, psychics to faith healers, Bigfoot to UFOs. He explains what many people think about these topics—and, more importantly, why their thinking goes wrong. The tone is neither dismissive nor debunking; it is open-minded, informed skeptical analysis of the first rate. Written with humor, wit, and personal insight, 50 Popular Beliefs People Think are True is a fine primer for those new to skepticism, and a fun refresher for veteran skeptics." –Benjamin Radford, research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, managing editor of Skeptical Inquirer
"This book exactly nails the points science communicators have been trying to make for years." –Brian Dunning, author and host of the award-winning Skeptoid podcast
Praise for Race and Reality: What Everyone Should Know about Our Biological Diversity
“This is a very important, profound, enjoyable, and enlightening book. It should go a long way in helping disprove man’s most dangerous myth.” —Robert W. Sussman, professor of anthropology, Washington University, editor of Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, and editor emeritus of American Anthropologist
“A tour de force that conveys the current science on racial classification in a rigorous yet readable way. A book so clearly written, so elegantly crafted, so packed with nuggets that even those who think they know it all about race and racial classification will come away changed.” —David B. Grusky, professor of sociology, Stanford University
“Guy P. Harrison’s well-written and passionate plea for eliminating the idea and ideology of race should be widely read. He has shown that the idea of race not only is contradicted by science but [also] is a social anachronism that should not be tolerated by society in the twenty-first century.” —Audrey Smedley, professor emerita, Anthropology and African American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
Praise for 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God
"Engaging and enlightening. . . . Read this book to explore the many and diverse reasons for belief.” –Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, columnist for Scientific American, author of The Believing Brain and Why People Believe Weird Things
"Deep wisdom and patient explanations fill this excellent book.” —James A. Haught, editor of West Virginia’s largest newspaper, Charleston Gazette
“A persuasive and frequently humorous book about an important topic. . . . [S]hould be read by religious practitioners, political leaders, and the general public.” —Nick Wynne, PhD, executive director of the Florida Historical Society
“[D]oesn’t bully or condescend. Reading Harrison’s book is like having an amiable chat with a wise old friend.” —Cameron M. Smith and Charles Sullivan, authors of The Top 10 Myths about Evolution
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