This Post Has 10 Comments

1. America Diagnosed
   A must read for thinking persons. Clearly, we have found the problem, and the problem is US: we are too ignorant to realize we’re ignorant. And proud of it. Thank you Tom for updating. But now I wonder how the last Chapter “Conclusions” would read if you updated it today (January 25, 2025). I will read your columns on Atlantic to find out.

   Reply

2. Good book, but unclear how much of a change from the first edition.
   I mostly liked the first edition (except for the final proposals for improvement). I decided to try the new second edition, but so far (up to chapter 6 of 7), I haven’t noticed much different. I went online to various book sites, for reviews of the second edition, but they all used the exact same blurb that you can find on Amazon about this book. Arguably, this could be a sort-of proof of poor journalistic communication that Mr. Nichols is concerned about.Update: 13 April 2024: Now that I’ve finished the book, I can see that the big update was mostly about dealing with expertise during Covid. This is certainly an important update that improves the book a lot. Although whether it is an important enough update to buy the second edition, if you already had the first edition is debatable.

   Reply

3. The value of “expertise.”
   Enjoyed the authors intellectual honesty on both the value and pitfalls of expertise in any given discipline or field of study. The author cites times when experts missed the mark, as well as times expertise is much needed. The book does not end on an optimistic note. People think they can become their own experts with Google or remain ING in their own echo chamber or tribe of like minded individuals.

   Reply

4. A Timely and Insightful Examination of Modern Anti-Intellectualism
   Tom Nichols’ *The Death of Expertise* is a powerful and necessary exploration of the growing trend of dismissing experts and intellectuals in favor of personal opinions and misinformation. As someone deeply concerned about the state of public discourse and the consequences of rejecting expert knowledge, I found this book both enlightening and alarming.Nichols argues convincingly that the internet and social media have democratized information, leading to a dangerous belief that everyone’s opinion is equally valid. He illustrates how this has undermined public trust in professionals and experts, contributing to the spread of misinformation and poor decision-making at all levels of society.The book is well-researched and filled with examples that highlight the consequences of this trend in fields ranging from medicine to politics. Nichols’ writing is clear, concise, and engaging, making complex topics accessible without oversimplifying them.One of the book’s strengths is its balanced perspective. While Nichols is critical of the public’s dismissal of expertise, he also acknowledges the failures within expert communities that have contributed to this distrust. He calls for a renewed commitment to education, critical thinking, and a recognition of the value of expertise in an increasingly complex world.*The Death of Expertise* is a must-read for anyone concerned about the erosion of trust in experts and the implications for our society. It’s a wake-up call to the dangers of anti-intellectualism and a plea for a return to valuing informed opinions and knowledge. Highly recommended.

   Reply

5. People believe crazy internet lies because they conform to their world view. It’s narcissism.
   Nichols, a retired War College professor, updates this edition revisiting some of his earlier, I would say naive beliefs about what would pull us out of this death spiral were in of believing YouTube crackpots over actual experts. He had thought a war, a plague, some disaster would wake us up. But Covid happened and now the propensity of people to believe crazy while distrusting real expertise is at a fever pitch. I think now he’s got it right. It’s largely narcissism, or as my librarian mom used to say, “Nobody knows it all like a know nothing.” This is pithy, engaging analysis, which sadly will never be read by anyone who’s part of the problem.

   Reply

6. Thorough but imbalanced
   Yes, we are going through a period of anti-intellectualism. This is not the first time in our history. It would’ve been useful to show how the country has recovered from this problem in the past.

   Reply

7. Honest and important. Please read
   This is an important book that deserves broad readership. Honest discussion of expertise in the frightening era we now find ourselves.

   Reply

8. Apt Diagnosis of the Problem and Feasible Treatment
   In “The Death of Expertise”, Tom Nichols provides a credible and clear explanation of how American anti-intellectualism has exacerbated in the XXI Century, with the internet turbocharging a decades-old problem.Nichols also displays balance when assigning responsibilities for the current state of affairs, but also makes certain that we all understand the buck stops with accountable, intellectually curious and disciplined citizens.As dark as the present period feels, I maintain hope that this book and others (Michael Lewis’ “The Fifth Risk” and “The Premonition”) serve as our guides for a return to sanity.Now, if only I could get my father-in-law to read it instead of pontificating endlessly about things he fails to understand…

   Reply

9. Love this book. Answered so many questions. Also enjoy all his articles in the Atlantic.

   Reply

10. Ich habe das Buch in nur eine Woche gelesen, sehr empfehlenswert.

    Reply