Lesson plan
Nonscience
Nonscience is a 1971 book which claims to have the longest and most complex title in publishing history. Its full title is , London: Wolfe Publishing ( ). The book was updated and reissued in 2020 as Nonscience Returns by the Curtis Press. Its author Brian J. Ford pokes fun at those who conceal their lack of real expertise by using long and complicated words, whilst making the serious point that many people are fooled by these so-called experts. Some consider the book prescient, thinking that modern society, where decisions are taken by unseen experts, is much as Ford predicted.
Article summary
Nonscience is a 1971 book which claims to have the longest and most complex title in publishing history. Its full title is , London: Wolfe Publishing ( ). The book was updated and reissued in 2020 as Nonscience Returns by the Curtis Press. Its author Brian J. Ford pokes fun at those who conceal their lack of real expertise by using long and complicated words, whilst making the serious point that many people are fooled by these so-called experts. Some consider the book prescient, thinking that modern society, where decisions are taken by unseen experts, is much as Ford predicted.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.