Merchants of Doubt Is a

Merchants of Doubt is a book written and published in 2010 by an American historian called Naomi and a scientist Erik Conway. This book has identified the difference between the earlier issues of smoking tobacco and the debate on climate change. The authors of this book claim that those who opposed the consensus that was reached by scientist kept the controversy alive and spread confusion and doubt.

Naomi and Erik Conway in have explained how several scientists have come together with the private sectors to make changes on the scientific agreement on various contemporary issues (Oreskes, 19). Two subjects who have been extremely critical in this book are the Fred Singer and Marshall Institute. Many reviewers have seen this book be exceedingly favorable. In fact, one of the reviewers has exhaustively documented and researched about this book and has indicated that this is the most vital book of the year 2010.

However, another reviewer has chosen the "Merchants of Doubt" to be one of his best books of science of the year 2010 (Mann, 19). Naomi and Erik Conway claim that many scientists with strong foundation in a certain industry but have participated in opposing the argument about questions of controversy. They have indicated in the book that, this scientist has opposed the scientific agreement regarding the disadvantages of smoking, the side effect of rain that is acidic, the presence of the ozone hole, and the presence of the change in climate.

Further, they argue that all this has resulted into intentional problems that influence policy-making and the public opinion. However, the authors concluded that the global warming in the United States, have not been acted upon due to several reasons. One of the reasons is the confusion that has been brought to the country by Fred Singer, Fred Seitz, and bill Nierenberg (Mann, 33).

The authors of "Merchants of Doubt" argue that all the three named persons are physicians, have a very great negative impact to the people of America, because they are determined, organized those people in power. The book indicates that Singer and Seitz work in the high rank of the institute of science administration. The authors have indicated these two persons have contacts of generals, admirals and even the president.

The authors also indicate that these persons have an experience of the media, which is considerable, thus enabling them to be granted press covering for their ideas. Naomi and Erik Conway indicate that Singer and Seitz presented themselves as authorities using their scientific credential. Moreover, they used their powers not to give credit to any science that they did not like (Conway & Oreskes, 44). In the "Merchants of Doubt," Singer and Seitz were seen to be an obstacle to the debate of tobacco.

The authors indicate that Seitz organized and funded a research program for Reynolds Company to defend tobacco. On the other hand, Singer used his authority to make a report that did not indicate the risk of smoking. The institute of tobacco funded this report, and it strongly opposed the scientific consensus that there were risks of human health in smoking tobacco. Singer's report indicated that this scientific consensus was an agenda of politicians to expand the control of the government over the lives of people (Oreskes, 52).

The "Merchants of Doubt" indicates that Singer and Seitz were the founders and sponsors of several institutions and organizations in the United States of America. However, the authors indicate that these organizations oppose various forms of interventions thus regulating the citizens. The book has listed tactics by Singer and Seitz, which are similar. In each case, the book indicates that they use those tactics to spread false information, confusion, degrade science, and promote doubts (Oreskes, 60). Naomi and Erik Conway wrote that for over 20 years.

Seitz, Singer, and other scientists with contrary opinions did not conduct scientific researches arising from the problems that they had argued. Singer and Seitz had been very prominent scientific researchers but sources indicate that they opposed the scientific consensus on the debate of tobacco. In the "Merchants of Doubt," they mostly attacked the work and reputation of others (Mann, 66). There has been an article for the American thinkers, which was presented in 2010 December by Singer, stating that the "Merchants of Doubt" attacked many prominent physicians, including Seitz.

In this article, Singer claimed that the authors of "Merchants of Doubt" had acted unprofessionally by not considering information, not consulting primary sources and by not questioning any of the scientists. Singer further indicated in this article that, Tobacco Company should not be.