unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation »

Americans are bombarded daily with mixed messages, half-truths, misleading statements, and out-and-out fabrications masquerading as facts. The news media--once the vaunted watchdogs of our republic--are often too timid or distracted to identify these deceptions.

unSpun is the secret decoder ring for the twenty-first-century world of disinformation. Written by Brooks Jackson and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the founders of the acclaimed website FactCheck.org, unSpun reveals the secrets of separating facts from disinformation, such as:

• the warning signs of spin, hype, and bogus news
• common tricks used to deceive us
• how to find trustworthy and objective sources of information

Telling fact from fiction shouldn t be a difficult task. With this book and a healthy dose of skepticism, anyone can cut through the haze of biased media reportage to be a savvier consumer and a better-informed citizen.

Introduction: A World of Spin     vii
From Snake Oil to Emu Oil     3
A Bridesmaid's Bad Breath: Warning Signs of Trickery     25
"Tall" Coffees and Assault Weapons: Tricks of the Deception Trade     43
UFO Cults and Us: Why We Get Spun     65
Facts Can Save Your Life     83
The Great Crow Fallacy: Finding the Best Evidence     103
Osama, Ollie, and Al: The Internet Solution     127
Was Clarence Darrow a Creationist?: How to Be Sure     153
Conclusion: Staying unSpun     179
Acknowledgments     186
Index     189