Debunk It! Fake News Edition

June 7, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Written in a humorous, conversational tone, this revised and updated edition of what the author describes as the "Young Person's Guide to [B.S.]" attempts to explain how and why misinformation spreads in our society. Grant, who has written many books about the manipulation of scientific information, covers anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, and other conspiracy theorists, using scientific facts to disprove these groups' ideas. He also defines key terms like tribalism, quote mining, and cherry-picking while remaining politically neutral. If anyone questions the necessity of this book, consider that according to some studies "between 6 percent and an astonishing 20 percent of the US public" believes that NASA faked the 1969-72 moon landings or that "12 percent [of American adults] think Joan of Arc was Noah's wife." Although Grant's endorsement of Wikipedia as a helpful place to check a news source's legitimacy might shock some readers, he discourages folks from trusting the accuracy of specific articles on the site. Educators will appreciate his emphasis on using the scientific method to detect false information. This updated edition includes a new chapter on fake news as well as a handy list of fact-checking websites, a lengthy bibliography, and an exhaustive index. VERDICT Adults as well as teens will gain perspective on the barrage of dubious Internet posts that we attempt to sift through every day. Highly recommended for school libraries that discuss fake news with students and anyone interested in the topic.-Amy Duffy, Chicago Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019
A helpful and humorous tool to help teens understand and unpack the proliferation of unethical nonsense. Grant's (Eureka!: 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History, 2016, etc.) authorial voice--sometimes clever, sometimes corny--helps readers understand the spread of misinformation in the media and ways to detect such falsifications. Grant unpacks the rhetorical strategies by which liars and spin doctors operate, allowing readers to better distinguish and analyze quote mining, cherry-picking, intimidation, false anomalies, and other deceptive traps. Although Grant overuses the word "bullshit," the message is clear: We live in a world where facts frequently go unchecked and misinformation spreads instantaneously. Thoughtfully and methodically examining case studies such as climate-change deniers and anti-vaxxers, Grant guides readers in a clearheaded yet entertaining approach to distinguishing falsehoods from facts. The value of this volume goes far beyond the news, as the author explains psychological traps such as confirmation bias and stereotyping and the tragedy of the prejudice that led to a slow response to the AIDS crisis, among other examples. Originally published in 2015, this revised and updated edition includes an additional section on fake news and even addresses how that term is misappropriated. This introduction to the importance of critical thinking in the age of misinformation is both well researched and academic as well as teen friendly. In an era of fake news, click-bait, and viral media, this book demands to be read. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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