Concerns about people's resistance to facts and knowledge are becoming increasingly serious. This book draws on the social, economic and evolutionary sciences to provide an integrated understanding of the phenomenon.

1 Introduction2 What knowledge resistance isn’t and a hint at what it is3 If you’re with us, don't believe them4 Why invalid claims can be valuable5 Knowledge belief first, confirming evidence second6 What’s in it for me to know that?7 When knowledge is responsibility and ignorance freedom8 What if the earth is round? Concerns about cultural consequences9 How to resist knowledge resistance – and when10 Is knowledge resistance always bad, and other questionsIndex

Endorsements (back cover):‘At all levels of society, our world is becoming increasingly dominated by an inability, even refusal, to engage with others’ ideas. It does not bode well either for democracy or for science. Mikael Klintman’s book offers just the kind of in-depth exploration of the issues that surround this disturbing phenomenon that is desperately needed.’ R. I. M. Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at Oxford University and author of Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language'Mikael Klintman provides a thoughtful, wide-ranging, and imaginative analysis of the interwoven factors that obstruct the transmission of accurate information. He shows how such practices as avoidance, blocking, and conscious rejection of arguments and factual evidence can serve both harmful and protective roles, and helpfully evaluates strategies for individuals and groups to cut back on damaging types of knowledge resistance.'Sissela Bok, Professor of Philosophy, Harvard School of Public Health, winner of the Orwell award for Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life ‘Few things could be more important right now than trying to shed new light on “knowledge resistance” in the Internet age. It may not be a new phenomenon, but the way it impacts on our lives today, it is an existential threat to humanity. Mikael Klintman’s book provides valuable perspectives on knowledge resistance and suggests how we, as individuals and societies, could find ways to manage and prevent its harmful forms.’ Björn Ulvaeus, songwriter, producer and member of the Swedish pop group ABBA and tireless promotor of critical thinking in the spirit of the Enlightenment ‘A must-read, especially in these turbulent times. An insightful approach to a complex issue.’ Nazli Choucri, Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBlurb (front flap):Why do people and groups ignore, deny, and resist knowledge about society’s many problems? In a world of ‘alternative facts’ and ‘fake news’, which some believe could be remedied by ‘factfulness’, the question has never been more pressing. After years of ideologically polarised debates on this topic, this book seeks to further advance our understanding of the phenomenon of knowledge resistance by integrating insights from the social, economic and evolutionary sciences. It identifies simplistic views in public and scholarly debates about what facts, knowledge and human motivations are and what ‘rational’ use of information actually means. The examples presented include controversies about nature–nurture, climate change, gender roles, vaccination, genetically modified food and artificial intelligence. Drawing on cutting-edge scholarship as well as personal experiences of culture clashes, Knowledge resistance is aimed at the general public as well as students and scholars interested in the interface of human motivation and the urgent social problems we face today.Author affiliation (rear flap):Mikael Klintman is Professor of Sociology at the University of Lund, Sweden; Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science; and a former Wallenberg Fellow of Environment and Sustainability at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

'At all levels of society, our world is becoming increasingly dominated by an inability, even refusal, to engage with others' ideas. It does not bode well either for democracy or for science. Mikael Klintman's book offers just the kind of in-depth exploration of the issues that surround this disturbing phenomenon that is desperately needed.'R. I. M. Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology, University of Oxford'Few things could be more important right now than trying to shed new light on "knowledge resistance" in the internet age. It may not be a new phenomenon, but with the way it impacts on our lives today, it is an existential threat to humanity. Mikael Klintman’s book provides valuable perspectives on knowledge resistance and suggests how we, as individuals and societies, can find ways to manage and prevent its harmful forms.'Björn Ulvaeus, musician and activist'A must-read, especially in these turbulent times. An insightful approach to a complex issue.' Nazli Choucri, Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology