How to Fake a Moon Landing Exposing the Myths of Science Denial by Darryl Cunningham

​This is my third book by the author. So, yes, I enjoy his writing. Normally, I prefer my graphic novels fictional, but he just does nonfiction so well. And so, lo and behold, another educated and educational work of investigative journalism told in cutely basic cartoons.
This time Cunningham tackles his probably most challenging subject, the science deniers. A subject one might find untackle-able, because stupidity tends to thrive on itself and wish for no outside perspectives. And yet, there he goes, a brave man, chapter after chapter taking on and ripping apart the most popularly held misconceptions about things like moon landing and climate change and closing n with the science of science denial itself.
I’d imagine this must be very frustrating, just the sheer anticipation of all the deaf ears this is going to fall on. People have only gotten dumber and surer of their wrongly held ideas since the book was published. We live in the dangerously stupid times, literally. We live in the times where stupidity literally kills, and it still doesn’t seem like enough of a deterrent.
So, what chance does this book have? What chance does any book have? Well, not much. People who already know all or most of it will nod in agreement and remain an informed minority. People who don’t know what Cunningham is talking about or, more likely, who believe in the complete opposite of it, will probably chafe at the pedantic patronizing tone of the scientific elite and burn it.
To be fair, this book does have something of a patronizing tone, one I imagine born out of frustration with the fact that this these things need to be said in the first place. But nevertheless, it’s erudite and informative. It means well. It really does.
The people who might get the most out of this book are probably those who understand that’s science is real and want to know more about it, more details, so that they can make more coherent arguments when arguing with the idiots around them.
Personally, I like Cunningham’s books, I always learn something new even when I’m familiar with the subjects, so it’s always worth a read. And the last chapter is SO tragically right and makes such an excellent statement…the media in its misguided attempt to provide even and unbiases coverage by showcasing every single perspective has done terrible things to the public mentality by giving equal coverage to facts and opinions. In fact, by making the two indistinguishable and thus somehow equally important. And science isn’t an opinion. Though so long as it is considered as such, the idiocracy will continue its ascendance.
Read this book if only in your own small way of protest against the prevalent mentality of the age. Be as smart as you wish the world to be. Recommended.