the official site of Michael Shermer

Cultivate Your Garden

How a lack of control leads to superstition and what can be done about it Imagine a time in your life when you felt out of control—anything from ... (February 1st, 2010)

Kool-Aid Psychology

How optimism trumped realism in the positive-psychology movement I am, by nature, an optimist. I almost always think things will turn out well, and ... (January 1st, 2010)

Political Science

Psychological research reveals how and why liberals and conservatives differ Humans are, by nature, tribal and never more so than in politics. In ... (December 1st, 2009)

Faith Healing

A torrid tale of quackbusting in 1920s America sheds light on modern medical scares A review of Pope Brock’s Charlatan. America’s Most ... (February 1st, 2008)

Deities for Atheists

A review of George Basalla’s Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials. On February 8, 2000, the New York Times ... (March 3rd, 2006)

You Can Judge This Book by its Cover

A review of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. Anyone who does a lot of public speaking knows there are certain ... (February 2nd, 2005)

The Tarot Card Reading

Michael Shermer fakes a psychic/tarot/astrology reading in this episode of Bill Nye’s show The Eyes of Nye. (January 21st, 2010)

Mr. Deity and the Skeptic

Skeptic Michael Shermer pleads his case before Jesus and Mr. Deity. Watch all Mr. Deity episodes at MrDeity.com. (September 15th, 2009)

On the Modern History of Skepticism

In this interview with Reason Editor in Chief Matt Welch, shot at The Amazing Meeting in Las Vegas, Shermer talks about the history of modern ... (August 11th, 2009)

Faces of Skepticism

Recently, we launched a new, wider-format version of Skeptic.com. Designed here in the Junior Skeptic studio by webmaster William Bull, this format ... (March 16th, 2010)

The Texas Textbook Hubbub

Texas is becoming a recurring spectacle of the triumph of anti-intellectualism and ignorance over science and reason. The substance of this spectacle ... (March 15th, 2010)

I Was a Skeptic Too Until I Tried…

We’ve all heard the infamous anecdote used in a multitude of advertisements for various flavors of woo, “I was a skeptic too until I ... (March 11th, 2010)

Anti-science propaganda: how Ben Stein’s new ‘documentary’ film entitled Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed equates evolution with Nazism. Was anyone really fired for their belief in Intelligent Design? Read these four articles and listen to the Skepticality podcast to find out!

1. Ben Stein’s Blunder
2. The Richard Sternberg Affair
3. The Expelled Case
   of Caroline Crocker
4. Was Guillermo Gonzalez Expelled?
5. READ Dawkin’s open letter to a victim of Ben Stein’s propaganda
6. WATCH a parody of the film
   on RichardDawkins.net: Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Listen to the following Skepticality episodes that deal with the subject.

• episode 74
• episode 76
• episode 77

Does Belief Help Us to Survive?

I don’t think religious beliefs are different from any other kind of beliefs: political attitudes, commitments to political parties, or economic ... (August 10th, 2009)

Confessions of a Former Environmental Skeptic

In his 1964 Republican presidential nomination acceptance speech Barry Goldwater gave voice to one of the most memorable one-liners in political ... (April 15th, 2008)

Scientology, Anonymous

Imagine reading the following press release: Hello, Jews. We are anonymous. Over the years, we have been watching you. Your campaigns of ... (February 18th, 2008)