True of False? – The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation
Jacqueline B. Toner, PhD
Magination Press, Nonfiction, Aug. 6, 2024
Pages: 192
Suitable for ages 10 -18
Themes: Information behavior, Psychological aspects, Errors, Truthfulness, Falsehood, Critical thinking
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Written for pre-teens and young teens in lively text accompanied by fun facts, True or False? The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation explores what psychology tells us about development and persistence of false perceptions and beliefs and the difficulty of correcting them, plus ways to debunk misinformation and think critically and factually about the world around us.
This book explores how we think and perceive and why false beliefs, superstitions, opinions, misinformation, or wild guesses can just stick around and mess things up. You’ll see how misunderstandings and misuse of scientific findings can lead people to the wrong conclusions. Readers learn how to outsmart their brain to gain critical thinking skills and find ways to identify and correct false beliefs and disinformation.
Our big brains are super-efficient but glitchy. Scientists estimate that 90% of what we see, hear, smell, or sense never really sinks in. Instead, we pick up on the big things, general impressions, or important stuff and end up leaving our brains to fill in the missing info. And on top of that, people sometimes twist information on purpose. False beliefs can be shared from person to person or go viral in a flash, often by people who think the info is true.
So how in the world do we know what’s real, what’s true, or who to believe? Dig in and get the facts!
What I like about True or False?
With social media, AI, and the noisy bombardment of chatter around us, True or False? is a very timely book and one that is especially valuable for preteens, teens, and parents. It will be available to the public on August 6,, so I hope school libraries add this gem to their list of purchases because it opens the door for so many important discussions in the classroom. And it will give them valuable tools for the future.
One of the author’s goals in writing this book is to foster critical thinking skills in youth at an earlier age because there is such a problem with misinformation and disinformation. Make sure you read her Note to Parents. This book is long overdue!
This beautifully designed book is divided into two parts: “Imperfect Minds: The Science of Perception and Misunderstanding and Evidence” and “Errors: The Science of Misinformation and Disinformation.” Every page is filled with colorful and lively artwork, and side bars like “Did You Know? and Try This” and “Check it Out.” The author introduces readers to a lot of information knowing that she will start them on a journey to question what they hear and see with the hopes that they will think more critically and learn to protect themselves.
Personal Note: This book appealed to me because I have been working on my own critical thinking skills for many years. I see it as a necessary as we move forward in the next few hundred years and create a new world. Teaching children these skills will benefit everyone.
Jacqueline B. Toner, PhD, is a retired clinical psychologist with over 30 years in private practice working with children and parents. She earned her PhD from University of Virginia and seved as Chief Facilitator for a medical resources project with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Toner has co-authored several books with Claire A. B. Freeland, PhD, including three books in the What-To-Do Guides for Kids series as well as Psychology for Kids: The Science of the Mind and Behavior, Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Survive and Thrive and Yes I Can: A Girl and Her Wheelchair. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit her at http://www.jacquelinetoner.net.
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*Review copy provided by the Magination Press in exchange for a review.