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Weird Earth
- Debunking Strange Ideas about Our Planet
- Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
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Publisher's summary
Aliens. Ley lines. Water dowsing. Conspiracies and myths captivate imaginations and promise mystery and magic. Whether it's arguing about the moon landing hoax or a Frisbee-like Earth drifting through space, when held up to science and critical thinking, these ideas fall flat.
In Weird Earth: Debunking Strange Ideas About Our Planet, Donald R. Prothero demystifies these conspiracies and offers answers to some of humanity's most outlandish questions. Applying his extensive scientific knowledge, Prothero corrects misinformation that con artists and quacks use to hoodwink others about geology - hollow earth, expanding earth, and bizarre earthquakes-and mystical and paranormal happenings - healing crystals, alien landings, and the gates of hell. By deconstructing wild claims such as prophesies of imminent natural disasters, Prothero provides a way for everyone to recognize dubious assertions. Prothero answers these claims with facts, offering historical and scientific context in a lighthearted manner that is accessible to everyone, no matter their background.
With a careful layering of evidence in geology, archaeology, and biblical and historical records, Prothero's Weird Earth examines each conspiracy and myth and leaves no question unanswered.
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This book was banned in early 50’s
- By Amanda on 02-16-23
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Deep Truth
- Igniting the Memory of Our Origin, History, Destiny, and Fate
- By: Gregg Braden
- Narrated by: Gregg Braden
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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A new world is emerging before our eyes, while the unsustainable world of the past struggles to continue. Both worlds reflect the beliefs of our past. Both exist - but only for now. Which world do you choose? Best-selling author and visionary scientist Gregg Braden suggests that the hottest issues that divide us as families, nations, and civilizations-seemingly separate concerns such as war, terror, abortion, suicide, genocide, the death penalty, poverty, economic collapse, and nuclear war - are actually related.
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Good Information
- By David on 08-13-12
By: Gregg Braden
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Twilight of the Gods
- The Mayan Calendar and the Return of the Extraterrestrials
- By: Erich von Däniken
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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"Something here really stinks to high heaven," writes Erich von Däniken. "In Twilight of the Gods," says von Däniken, "I document precisely what it was that left the first visitors breathless as they stood before the mighty stone blocks some 400 years ago. I will show you what archeologists discovered hundreds of years ago and demonstrate how much has been destroyed over the centuries. Intentionally.
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So very logical it makes me shiver!
- By Chuck on 06-10-11
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When the Earth Had Two Moons
- Cannibal Planets, Icy Giants, Dirty Comets, Dreadful Orbits, and the Origins of the Night Sky
- By: Erik Asphaug
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 3 took the first photos of the far side of the Moon. Even in their poor resolution, the images stunned scientists: The far side is an enormous mountainous expanse, not the vast lava plains seen from Earth. Subsequent missions have confirmed this in much greater detail. How could this be, and what might it tell us about our own place in the universe? As it turns out, quite a lot. When the Earth Had Two Moons is an astonishing exploration of planet formation and the origins of life by one of the world’s most innovative planetary geologists.
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Poorly written, poorly narrated
- By RickyF on 05-11-23
By: Erik Asphaug
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Richard Matthews
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Bill Bryson has been an enormously popular author both for his travel books and for his books on the English language. Now, this beloved comic genius turns his attention to science. Although he doesn't know anything about the subject (at first), he is eager to learn, and takes information that he gets from the world's leading experts and explains it to us in a way that makes it exciting and relevant.
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The Only Book I reread imediatley after reading
- By Andrew on 11-09-09
By: Bill Bryson
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Five Billion Years of Solitude
- The Search for Life Among the Stars
- By: Lee Billings
- Narrated by: Lee Billings
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Since its formation nearly five billion years ago, our planet has been the sole living world in a vast and silent universe. Now, Earth's isolation is coming to an end. Over the past two decades, astronomers have discovered thousands of "exoplanets" orbiting other stars, including some that could be similar to our own world. Studying those distant planets for signs of life will be crucial to understanding life's intricate mysteries right here on Earth. In a firsthand account of this unfolding revolution, Lee Billings draws on interviews with top researchers.
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Bloated
- By Dr A on 01-09-14
By: Lee Billings
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America Before
- The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization
- By: Graham Hancock
- Narrated by: Graham Hancock
- Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Stunning new archaeological discoveries in North America together with new genetic evidence have launched a revolution in our understanding of the remote past of our species and of the origins of civilization. Graham Hancock, the internationally best-selling author has been overwhelmingly vindicated by recent discoveries. America Before: The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization is a mind-dilating exploration of the mystery of ancient civilizations, amazing archaeological discoveries, and profound implications for how we lead our lives today.
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Fun to Think About
- By Amazon Customer on 04-26-19
By: Graham Hancock
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50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True
- By: Guy P. Harrison
- Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
- Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Maybe you know someone who swears by the reliability of psychics or who is in regular contact with angels. Or perhaps you're trying to find a nice way of dissuading someone from wasting money on a homeopathy cure. How do you find a gently persuasive way of steering people away from unfounded beliefs, bogus cures, conspiracy theories, and the like? Longtime skeptic Guy P. Harrison shows you how in this down-to-earth, entertaining exploration of commonly held extraordinary claims.
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Skepticism, so Dull & Condescending
- By Mr Conway on 03-11-13
By: Guy P. Harrison
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Space Chronicles
- Facing the Ultimate Frontier
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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With his signature wit and thought-provoking insights, Neil deGrasse Tyson - one of our foremost thinkers on all things space - illuminates the past, present, and future of space exploration and brilliantly reminds us why NASA matters now as much as ever. As Tyson reveals, exploring the space frontier can profoundly enrich many aspects of our daily lives, from education systems and the economy to national security and morale.
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The least helpful review of Space Chronicles.
- By Joshua Kring on 06-17-15
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The Upright Thinkers
- The Human Journey From Living in Trees to Understanding the Cosmos
- By: Leonard Mlodinow
- Narrated by: Leonard Mlodinow
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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In this fascinating and illuminating work, Leonard Mlodinow guides us through the critical eras and events in the development of science, all of which, he demonstrates, were propelled forward by humankind's collective struggle to know. From the birth of reasoning and culture to the formation of the studies of physics, chemistry, biology, and modern-day quantum physics, we come to see that much of our progress can be attributed to simple questions - why? how? - bravely asked.
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10/10 Got What I Wanted.
- By Austin on 09-22-15
By: Leonard Mlodinow
What listeners say about Weird Earth
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gaius
- 03-10-24
Decent science, but bogged down by tone
At the get go, it is obvious that the author is a scientist who is fed up with the proliferation of pseudoscience in modern culture. Fair enough - many are. He does quite a good job of explaining the scientific process, noting that science is about questioning, that there is a high degree of verification that goes into the process, and that scientists themselves are experts only in their own field, and those who flaunt their credentials should be viewed with skepticism. This last point is particularly, though ironically, important when listening to the book,
When it comes to geology and related subjects, it is obvious he has a passion for the subject, and that he is very much in his element. But outside of that element, things get a little shakier. Much of the book is devoted to mythbusting, but with more of the angry, cutting tone of a science teacher who has just had enough than with the light-hearted instruction of the popular show he references. This is particularly true when the author discusses conspiracy theories. In these cases he will occasionally make authoritative statements on misrepresented and sometimes flat wrong assertions found in popular media, but which do not stand up to academic scrutiny. In other words, debunking some myths by perpetuating others. This would be more tolerable if he did not have such an open disdain for spirituality, I am personally atheist, yet I do try and consider belief with a certain degree of respect. The author will occasionally make a concession of respect to major world religions, but is openly disdainful of anything not mainstream. An odd distinction. The same is true of politics and government- many of the opinions expressed with a haughty and authoritative air are represented with more weight than they should scientifically carry.
Overall the book is somewhat entertaining, and certainly makes some valid points. But the self-aggrandizement does make the factual errors and overemphasized opinions a little harder to overlook, and tends to undermine the point of the book. Science is indeed important to evaluating extraordinary and frivolous claims. Ego less so.
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- wbiro
- 06-27-22
This Book Needs Defending
From armchair boneheads like the commenter who said the author was careless and not serious, citing several alleged errors that were not errors. None of them. The commenter himself was guilty of his criticism, being categorically wrong (due to laziness) on ALL of his claims (incredible).
So the book exposed the weak mental processes of thexfrauds it covers right here in the comments.
I came away with the feeling that creating and following outrageous claims were, first, recreation, as in "Let's see how twisted our sophism can get" and "Let's see how many followers we can get") (the creators) and "Great, a new and fashionable bandwagon to jump on!") (the followers); and second, an attempt to gain approval from wayward groups (and leaders) by sad individuals desperate for any kind of approval or sense of belonging.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Ronald E. Vigeant
- 09-22-20
important! must read!
detailed warning of a world without critical thinking. excellent! discusses the numerous fallacies empowered by the Internet
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3 people found this helpful
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- David A
- 10-04-20
A Lack of Seriousness
I was somewhat surprised in Chapter One: Science and Critical Thinking. After expounding on the evils of so called experts commenting on issues outside their field the following sentence appeared at the end of the chapter.
“Donald Trump tried to get away with extorting Ukraine for dirt on his opponents but a whistleblower exposed that Conspiracy and Trump was impeached for it.”
So the Author who expertise is in Geology and Paleontology is commenting on current political events. Exactly what he warned against a few pages before - Experts going outside their field of expertise. A whistleblower exposed the “Conspiracy”? Just like the Flat Earthers and 9-11 Truthers are exposing those conspiracies?
Can’t believe I’m defending Trump but I watched most of that ridiculous sideshow in real time as I was recovering from an illness and his guilt was far from established. His impeachment regardless of the facts as presented was decided before the first witness even testified. I think it will take a few decades before we can reasonably talk about the Partisan politics of the last few years with any clarity.
This is supposed to be a book about Science. If you want to smack Trump around stick to the Science based stuff not partisan politics.
As a book on Science expounding on the 1000 ways Flat Earthers are mixed up gets tedious. The Author seems to be belittling the Conspiracy theorists more for his own amusement than is strictly necessary. Understandable I guess but it seems unprofessional for a professor. I’m hoping the second half of the book picks up. If so I will adjust my review.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Theresa DiLibero
- 12-29-23
Good stuff but he won’t make converts with his opinions and hatred of people he doesn’t respect.
I was hoping to recommend this book to someone that might be convinced to change from pseudoscience to real world science. Sadly, the author will have no converts with his obvious vitriol towards Flat Earthers, Christians, New Agers, Heliocentrists, “Right Wingers”, etc. By the end of the book, he dropped any pretense of wanting to change positions of people that don’t agree with him. His anger with those people shone through.
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- Jonathan
- 05-29-23
Excellent listen, although preachy at the end.
The science in this book is spot on. I was really impressed with the depth of the material.
Where I found myself slightly less pluses was some of the social commentary on politics. To be clear - I agree with most of the sentiments in the beginning and end where the decking into politics occurs. However, it felt like it was needlessly added as a way to be spicy.
The resounding theme of this book is trusting science and the methods, over your gut or just basic senses. I think you would win more converts by not attacking areas outside the science.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Tom Clayton, MD
- 06-30-23
Stay away from politics!
I agree with other reviewers that he should stay away from areas outside of his expertise, meaning geology. He falls for the same thing that many other successful people in one area fall for, namely, they become experts in everything. Because this book was part of the Audible subscription, I didn’t have to buy it. Otherwise, I would be looking for a refund.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-03-23
liked idea for book
Author used his illogical though processes way too many times... His biased thinking spoiled a good idea for a book.
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