The Irrational Ape: Why Flawed Logic Puts us all at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World
Language: English
Published by Simon & Schuster UK, 2019
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United KingdomWeBuyBooks
AbeBooks seller since November 14, 2005
Condition: Used - Good
£ 4.39
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Seller Inventory # rev1791263881
- Title
- The Irrational Ape: Why Flawed Logic Puts us all at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World
- Author
- Grimes, David Robert
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster UK
- Publication year
- 2019
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1471178250
- ISBN 13
- 9781471178252
- Item weight
- 580 grams
'An unstoppable page-turner. If our leaders were forced to read this book, the world would be a safer place' Richard Dawkins
'A beautifully reasoned book about our own unreasonableness' Robin Ince
Why did revolutionary China consider the sparrow an 'animal of capitalism' - and what happened when they tried to wipe them out? With a cast of murderous popes, snake-oil salesmen and superstitious pigeons, find out why flawed logic puts us all at risk, and how critical thinking can save the world.
It may seem a big claim, but knowing how to think clearly and critically has literally helped save the world. In September 1983, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union's early warning system showed five US missiles heading towards the country. Stanislaw Petrov knew his duty: he was to inform Moscow that nuclear war had begun, so that they could launch an immediate and devastating response. Instead, he made a call to say the system was faulty. He'd assessed the situation and reasoned that an error was more likely than such a limited attack.
We may not have to save the planet from nuclear annihilation, of course, but our ability to think critically has never been more important. In a world where fake news, mistrust of experts, prejudice and ignorance all too often hold sway, we can all too easily be misled over issues such as vaccinations, climate change or conspiracy theories. We live in an era where access to all the knowledge in the world is at our fingertips, yet that also means misinformation and falsehoods can spread further and faster than ever before.
In The Irrational Ape, David Robert Grimes shows how we can be lured into making critical mistakes or drawing false conclusions, and how to avoid such errors. Given the power of modern science and the way that movements can unite to protest a cause via social media, we are in dangerous times. But fortunately, we can learn from our mistakes, and by critical thinking and scientific method we can discover how to apply these techniques to everything from deciding what insurance to buy to averting global disaster. This book, packed with fascinating case studies and examples, helps ensure we are ready for the modern world.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
WeBuyBooks
Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since November 14, 2005
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 10 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 7.48 | £ 7.48 |
Payment methods
Specialty
General Secondhand BooksSeller's business information
Revival Books Ltd
Unit 11 Hugh Business Park, Bacup Road, Waterfoot
Rossendale, United Kingdom BB4 7BT
Terms of sale
WeBuyBooks
Hall Carr Mill
Fallbarn Road
Rawtenstall
Lancashire BB4 7NX
Email: Sales@webuybooks.co.uk
Tel: 01706 227207
Company Reg. No. 07693718
VAT Number 901 5786 27
Authorised Representatives: Michael Lane and Damian Carr
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom, +44 01706227207, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.