Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search

Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science
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New York Times Book ReviewÂ
"[S]mart, delightful... a splendidly entertaining education in ethics, activism and science.â‚¬Â

Editors's Choice, New York Times Book Review

An impassioned defense of intellectual freedom and a clarion call to intellectual responsibility, Galileoâ‚¬s Middle Finger is one Americanâ‚¬s eye-opening story of life in the trenches of scientific controversy. For two decades, historian Alice Dreger has led a life of extraordinary engagement, combining activist service to victims of unethical medical research with defense of scientists whose work has outraged identity politics activists. With spirit and wit, Dreger offers in Galileoâ‚¬s Middle Finger an unforgettable vision of the importance of rigorous truth seeking in todayâ‚¬s America, where both the free press and free scholarly inquiry struggle under dire economic and political threats.

This illuminating chronicle begins with Dregerâ‚¬s own research into the treatment of people born intersex (once called hermaphrodites). Realization of the shocking surgical and ethical abuses conducted in the name of â‚¬Å“normalizingâ‚¬Â intersex childrenâ‚¬s gender identities moved Dreger to become an internationally recognized patient rightsâ‚¬ activist. But even as the intersex rights movement succeeded, Dreger began to realize how some fellow progressive activists were employing lies and personal attacks to silence scientists whose data revealed uncomfortable truths about humans. In researching one such case, Dreger suddenly became the target of just these kinds of attacks.

Troubled, she decided to try to understand moreâ‚¬"to travel the country to ferret out the truth behind various controversies, to obtain a global view of the nature and costs of these battles. Galileoâ‚¬s Middle Finger describes Dregerâ‚¬s long and harrowing journeys between the two camps for which she felt equal empathy: social justice activists determined to win and researchers determined to put hard truths before comfort. Ultimately what emerges is a lesson about the intertwining of justice and of truthâ‚¬"and a lesson of the importance of responsible scholars and journalists to our fragile democracy.

BooklistÂ (starred review)
"A crusader in the mold of muckrackers from a century ago, Dreger doesnâ‚¬t try to hide her politics or her agenda. Instead she advocates for change intelligently and passionately. Highly recommended."

KirkusÂ (starred review):Â
â‚¬Å“Let us be grateful that there are writers like Dreger who have the wits and the guts to fight for truth.â‚¬ÂÂ
Jared Diamond, author ofÂ Guns, Germs, and SteelÂ andÂ The World until Yesterday
â‚¬Å“Alice Dreger would win a prize for this yearâ‚¬s most gripping novel, except for one thing: her stories are true, and this isnâ‚¬t a novel. Â Instead, itâ‚¬s an exciting account of complicated good guys and bad guys, and the pursuit of justice.â‚¬Â
Country USA
Brand Penguin Press
Manufacturer Penguin Press
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 1594206082-localization
Color Black
ReleaseDate 2015-03-10
UnitCount 1
UPCs 884361330958
EANs 9781594206085

Country	USA
Brand	Penguin Press
Manufacturer	Penguin Press
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	1594206082-localization
Color	Black
ReleaseDate	2015-03-10
UnitCount	1
UPCs	884361330958
EANs	9781594206085

Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science

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