| This is a book describing what Dewdney regards as several scientific
fiascos, or examples of pseudo-science. These are N-rays, IQ, Freud, SETI, AI
(in particular, neural networks), cold fusion, Biosphere 2 and the Bell Curve.
The theme is the Sorcerer's Apprentice, i.e. someone who has a smattering of
science but lets it get out of hand. Unfortunately Dewdney is least well
informed on cold fusion and that chapter abounds with errors. His reference
material on CNF seems to have a cutoff at 1993 (even though this book is from
1997). His message on cold fusion is that F&P did not act scientifically,
despite being real and capable scientists. This is of course an overstatement
and due to the author's misunderstanding of what F&P did (and did not do). He
does make a valid point with F&P's use of the phrase "aneutronic nuclear
process", this being an evasion, not a scientific explanation. The book seems
to be more solid in the other chapters - as far as this reviewer can tell. |
