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THIS collection of 14 essays dating back over the past decade reflects the passions that have dominated the life of Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society and Skeptic magazine. Not surprisingly some essays focus on scepticism, such as Shermer’s analysis of his own attempt to rebrand and unify the sceptic movement under the banner of “Brights”. Unfortunately, the name offended most of those that it was supposed to describe.

Other essays stray into less obvious territory, such as sports psychology, the life of Gene Roddenberry, the writings of Stephen Jay Gould and a very personal reflection about the death of his mother from cancer. With such an array of material, there is an inevitable temptation to skip essays that veer away from areas of direct interest. Overall, however, there is a strong spine of engaging and thought-provoking writing that will challenge the reader.

There is also a theme, set out early in the book, which binds together what might otherwise seem like a disparate set of essays. Shermer’s life is dedicated to encouraging scientific thought and fighting irrationality, and in particular he is anxious to emphasise how peer pressure and our own prejudices can distort our understanding of the real world. Or, as Shermer puts it: “I wouldn’t have seen it, if I hadn’t believed it.”