Merchants of Doubt: How Science Can Be Corrupted by Money and Politics

Merchants of Doubt, written by Naomi Oreskes and Eric Conway, explores the tactics used by a handful of scientists to obscure the truth on various issues, from tobacco smoke to global warming. These scientists, who were well-connected and had ties to the federal government, used their influence to shape public perception of science according to their political philosophy, which revered free market capitalism. They partnered with think tanks and corporations to challenge scientific evidence and create doubt, receiving funding from industries like tobacco and fossil fuels. Their strategy was to leverage uncertainties in the science, to present a false sense of controversy, and hinder policy action. This science denialism began with the tobacco industry to resist regulations on smoking and continued with acid rain, the ozone hole, and climate change. The book showcases that these campaigns were not scientific debates but rather misinformation intended to protect industry interests.