THE SCIENCE OF LIBERTY Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature

Listeners will likely be fascinated by Timothy Ferris's look at how science and liberty have worked together through history. His discussion is enhanced by Fred Stella's narration. Stella has the clear, straightforward voice of a radio announcer, and his apparent interest in topics such as the psychology of betting and the futures markets makes them mesmerizing for listeners as well. Ferris shows how past totalitarians—Nazis and Soviet Communists—warped science to their own ends. He goes on to criticize postwar trends on all parts of the spectrum: postmodernist criticism, the democratization of science, opposition to globalization, Islamist fundamentalism, among others. With regard to global warming, he raises questions but avoids specifics. He makes a strong case that scientific freedom benefits society. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2011]