Book Club

Current reads and discussions on topics relevant to our lives as research and scholarly writers.

CSU Writes Book Club is:

SPRING 2023

April 11 3-4:30 PM MST LSC 322

Lee McIntyre, HOW TO TALK TO A SCIENCE DENIER: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason (2022)

Can we change the minds of science deniers? Encounters with flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, coronavirus truthers, and others.

“Climate change is a hoax—and so is coronavirus.” “Vaccines are bad for you.” These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology to facts. They are not merely uninformed—they are misinformed. They cite cherry-picked evidence, rely on fake experts, and believe conspiracy theories. How can we convince such people otherwise? How can we get them to change their minds and accept the facts when they don’t believe in facts? In this book, Lee McIntyre shows that anyone can fight back against science deniers, and argues that it’s important to do so. Science denial can kill.

Drawing on his own experience—including a visit to a Flat Earth convention—as well as academic research, McIntyre outlines the common themes of science denialism, present in misinformation campaigns ranging from tobacco companies’ denial in the 1950s that smoking causes lung cancer to today’s anti-vaxxers. He describes attempts to use his persuasive powers as a philosopher to convert Flat Earthers; surprising discussions with coal miners; and conversations with a scientist friend about genetically modified organisms in food. McIntyre offers tools and techniques for communicating the truth and values of science, emphasizing that the most important way to reach science deniers is to talk to them calmly and respectfully—to put ourselves out there, and meet them face to face.

from MIT PRESS promo webpage

SPRING 2022

Oliver Burkeman, FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS: Time Management for Mortals (2021)

Four Thousand Weeks: TimeManagement for Mortals is the most important (anti)productivity book published since COVID. Oliver Burkeman takes a holistic and healthful approach to productivity. All at CSU are welcome. 

We selected Four Thousand Weeks for this semester’s CSU Writes’ book club because we know that sustainable writing and healthful productivity contribute to a meaningful career and to our wellbeing. Let’s get together to talk about embracing realistic limits and “getting meaningful things done, here and now, in our work and our lives together,”  to quote Oliver Burkeman

Register via the link below. 

CSU Writes has 10 books to sponsor readers who wish to participate and who need a copy of the book. If you wish to receive a copy of the book, please let us know when you register for the book club.

MARCH 1, 5-6:30pm, LSC 322

PRIOR BOOK CLUBS

FALL 2021

Stuart Ritchie, SCIENCE FICTIONS: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth (2020)

ALL at CSU who are interested in topics of scientific writing, funding, and ethics are welcome to join this book club and conversation. 

Register via the link below. 

CSU Writes has 10 books to sponsor readers who wish to participate and who need a copy of the book. If you wish to receive a copy of the book, please let us know when you register for the book club.

The CSU Morgan Library has both electronic and hard copies of the book.

DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

Sept 13, 5-5:50 (Part 1)

OCT 4, 5-5:50 (Part 2)

NOV 1, 5-5:50 (Part 3)

HELD ON ZOOM