Ruby Sisson Library

"An accessible, compelling introduction to today's major policy issues from columnist, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman. There is no better guide than Paul Krugman to basic economics, the ideas that animate much of our public policy. Likewise, there is no better foe of zombie economics, the misunderstandings that just won't die. This delightful new book finds Krugman at his best, turning readers into intelligent consumers of the daily...

"From historian and author of the popular daily newsletter LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN, a vital narrative that explains how America, once a beacon of democracy, now teeters on the brink of autocracy--and how we can turn back. In the midst of the impeachment crisis of 2019, Heather Cox Richardson launched a daily Facebook essay providing the historical background of the daily torrent of news. The essays soon turned into a newsletter and, spread by word...

Explores more than one hundred tall tales, suspicious stories, and urban myths, revealing how each has been disproven, with facts about myth origins, historical significance, and how they were investigated by scientific debunkers.

Uses modern headline examples to explain how to identify bad evidence and poor arguments, summarizing the rhetorical tricks people use to sway public opinion in a range of fields.

"The president is not the Messiah, the Constitution is not the Bible, and the United States is not a city on a hill or the hope for the world. Jonathan Walton exposes the cultural myths and misconceptions about America's identity, showing how our notions of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are at odds with the call to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Discover how the kingdom of God offers true freedom and justice for all."--ipage.ingramcontent.com....

What would it take to create a world in which fantasy is not confused for fact and public policy is based on objective reality? asks Neil deGrasse Tyson, science popularizer and author of “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry". “I don't know for sure. Buta good place to start would be for everyone on earth to read this book." Maybe you know someone who swears by the reliability of psychics or who is in regular contact with angels. Or perhaps you're...

"Ever decide to avoid a restaurant because of one bad meal? Choose a product because a celebrity endorsed it? Or ignore what a politician says because she's not a member of your party? For as long as people have been discussing, conversing, persuading, advocating, proselytizing, pontificating, or otherwise stating their case, arguments have been vulnerable to false assumptions and faulty reasoning. Drawing upon a long history of logical falsehoods...

Two media experts offer a witty, warm, and relatable take on how information pollution affects our online networks—and our well-being—and how to maximize a positive impact. We know that pollution damages our physical environments—but what about the digital landscape? Touching on everything from goat memes gone wrong to conflict in group chats to the sometimes unexpected side effects of online activism, this lively guide to media literacy draws...