Ignorance
By Stuart Firestein
How It Drives Science. Oxford University Press, 2012.
Summary of Ignorance book by Stuart Firestein
A deep investigation into scientific research and discovery, illuminating how the process is more focused on ignorance—what isn’t known—than anything else, and how this is what spurs scientists to search for answers and push boundaries to propel humanity forward.
Chapters in Ignorance book summary
What do you get from this book? How ignorance drives research, encourages innovation, and changes humanity for the better
Science is spurred forward by the lack of answers rather than the accumulation of knowledge
Objective data is critical to science, but errors and bias often result in false facts
Evolution has constrained our sensory and cognitive apparatuses, creating unpredictability and uncertainty
Experiments can sometimes prove underlying principles that are predictable, but more often progress is made through unpredictability and ignorance
Curiosity helps drive “conscious ignorance,” but if you’re not careful, you can get stuck researching false theories
Hypothesis-driven experiments require a narrow focus that non-scientists may have a difficult time understanding
Asking scientists the “right” questions gets you into their head, though it’s debated whether animals have the same cognitive abilities
Cognitive scientists have an easier time experimenting than theoretical physicists, who rely on hypotheses and data
The brain’s visual, sensory, and motor senses are incredibly complex, with new areas of ignorance only just coming to light
Humans retain memories even when they’re not important, though diseases like Parkinson’s affects our ability to move at similar speeds
Galileo made science accessible to everyone, which is vital since today’s tax dollars are going toward scientific research
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 15 chapters of Ignorance — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
Ignorance — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Ignorance book
- Science enthusiasts
- scientists in any field
- teachers and students
- those interested in learning the limitations of the scientific method
- anyone who has wondered how scientific discoveries are made
About the author of Ignorance
Stuart Firestein
Stuart Firestein holds a Ph.D. in neurobiology and worked as a researcher at Yale Medical School. He is the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s fellowship, and head of Columbia University’s Department of Biological Science. His articles have appeared in publications such as the Huffington Post and Scientific American.
Books similar to Ignorance
Related books that explore themes found in Ignorance
Carl Sagan
An Extraterrestrial Perspective. Anchor Books, 1973.
Bruce H. Lipton
Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, and Miracles. Mountain of Love, 2005.
Walter Isaacson
His Life and Universe. Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Samuel Arbesman
Why Everything We Know Has an Expiration Date. Current, 2012.
Richard Dawkins
How We Know What’s Really True. Free Press, 2011.
Topics related to Ignorance book
Explore topics that share themes with Ignorance across Lobab's library
Categories Ignorance book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as Ignorance
If you liked Ignorance, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside Ignorance
Carlo Rovelli
The Journey to Quantum Gravity. Penguin, 2016.
David A. Sinclair
Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. Atria Books, 2019.
Christina Thompson
The Puzzle of Polynesia. HarperCollins, 2019.
Ainissa Ramirez
How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. MIT Press, 2020.
Ray Kurzweil
The Secret of Human Thought Revealed. Viking Press, 2012.
Sam Kean
And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. Little, Brown and Company, 2010.
Rodrigo Quian Quiroga
Memory, Perception and the “Jennifer Aniston Neuron.” BenBella Books, 2017.
Sanjay Sarma
With Luke Yoquinto. The Science Transforming How We Learn. Hachette, 2020.
Walter Isaacson
His Life and Universe. Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Charles Fishman
The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. William Morrow, 2016.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
A fascinating look at rejection from every angle, from understanding and overcoming the fear of rejection to learning how to increase your chances of a yes while becoming perfectly okay with a no.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader