Worried?

Starred review from July 1, 2019

Instead of leveraging panic, Johnson (physician assistant studies, Rocky Vista Univ., Parker, CO) and Chudler (neuroscience, Univ. of Washington, Seattle) examine common worries with scientific rigor. The authors rate concerns on three different axes: how likely a worry is to come to pass, how well actions can be taken to avoid it, and how severe the consequences of it actually happening would be. These ratings are backed up with solid explanations, scientific statistics, and honesty about the unknowns. GMOs, shark attacks, plastic additives, and Lyme disease are just a sampling of the wide variety of topics covered. Reader Sarah Mollo-Christensen has a pleasant, calming voice, perfect for topics that might raise listeners' blood pressure but with sufficient authority to not be taken too lightly. Verdict A useful book for an uneasy world, this does an admirable job prompting listeners to focus on useful strategies rather than endless tension. Highly recommended for lovers of popular science and any frazzled and tense listeners.--Tristan Boyd, Austin, TX

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