The Death of Expertise is a book written by Tom Nichols that discusses the campaign against established knowledge and why it matters. The book covers how people today have access to unlimited information, which has led to an overall decline in expertise. Nichols provides evidence for this argument by discussing examples such as the rise of fake news, the presidential election of 2016, and social media platforms.
For who is this book for ?
The Death of Expertise is for anyone who wants to better understand the campaign against established knowledge and why it matters. Nichols provides in-depth research and examples that make this book interesting and easy to read for a wide audience.
Pros :
- The book provides a detailed and well-researched argument for the decline of expertise.
- The book is interesting and easy to read, despite covering complex topics.
- Nichols offers clear solutions to the problem of declining expertise, which makes the book useful for both individuals and organizations.
Cons :
- The Death of Expertise may be hard to read for those who are not used to academic writing.
- The book does not provide any solutions to the problems that it discusses.
- Nichols’ arguments can be difficult to follow at times.
Learn more about the author
Tom Nichols is a professor of national security affairs at the United States Naval War College. He also works as a columnist for The Federalist and has written for Salon, Politico, and The New York Times.
Reader Reviews
“Importantly, Nichols doesn’t just identify the problems. He also offers solutions—albeit difficult ones that will require a concerted effort from individuals and institutions alike.”
“Tom Nichols makes a convincing and alarming case that we are in the midst of an attack on expertise, which is eroding our ability to make informed decisions as citizens and public officials. Democracy depends on the shared communal understanding that experts can provide. If we lose faith in expertise, we put ourselves at risk of making terrible mistakes.”
“Tom Nichols has written an important, timely book on the death of expertise and its consequences for our democracy. With verve and insight, he documents how intellectual laziness and aGettysburg Address-level aversion to facts have created an era in which anyone can believe anything they want, leading to unprecedented polarization and social dysfunction. This is must reading for anyone who wants to understand America today.”
“If you care about the future of democracy and want to understand one of the factors eroding it, read this book.”
