This is basically a bunch of short essays, so it doesn't need to be read in order. In fact, it gets a bit repetitive if you read it straight through. I really like that each section includes a list of resources so you can find out more about any given topic. If you are familiar with skepticism, you'll probably find this book a bit too basic, but it's a good starting point for anyone wanting to be more skeptical. Even for someone who holds one or more of the 50 beliefs, it's good glimpse at why people don't believe the same things you do.

Favorite quote by Guy P. Harrison from the introduction:
"We should not be afraid to doubt and question, even when those around us do not." ( )

This was a very basic, readable guide to skepticism. A lot of it was based around the author's personal experiences, but he had some nice citations and endnotes for each article. The short chapters did get repetitive, which makes sense since virtually every single one of these beliefs can be challenged by applying the same scientific principles. ( )

A good reference of commonly held beliefs and refutations of said beliefs.
I actually had an experience with one of his chapters; regarding Holy Relics. Comic Con (a convention of Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Comic Book fans) cameto my local area this past weekend. The lines of people waiting for hours to lay down their hard-earned money for an autograph or the chance to speak to an actor from their favorite TV show or movie never ceases to amaze me. (Full disclosure: I was one of those people, too. I waited in line for almost an hour to get a photo of me and Norman Reedus autographed by Mr. Reedus.) These photos and signatures are the Holy Relics of our time. "This Action Figure was signed by the actor himself!" "I got to HUG Kevin Sorbo!" "Eliza Dushku liked my T-shirt!" All these are similar to Rosaries blessed by a Pope, a vial of "saint's blood" or even slivers of the True Cross. We hope that some of the actor's talent, luck, or charisma will transfer by osmosis to us and make our lives better or make people think better of us in some way- Fame by Contact. ( )

Critical thinking written so that people can understand it without a philosophy vocabulary - in short, a book I could give to my freshman students without worrying they would get lost because they haven't learned the language yet. The author covers a wide range of subjects (50, to be exact) but he groups them in like categories, so all the cryptozoological claims are in one place, ghosts and haunted houses together, etc. He doesn't shy away from exploring religious claims, either. Two minor issues I have: the constant reminder of how he is respectful to people with irrational beliefs begins to get very wearisome, especially if you don't agree that all of these beliefs are worthy of being treated respectfully; also, toward the end, it appears the editor began dropping off to sleep occasionally, with the last third of the book more erratically edited than the rest, leading to some strange uses of commas and some sentences that contradict themselves by leaving one letter off a crucial word. Otherwise, well written, well researched, and worth the time. ( )

Skeptical journalist Harrison writes fifty short essays on different things that are widely believed but are unsupported by scientific evidence. He covers a range of topics, from Magical Thinking (mostly paranormal ideas), various alien-related topics, science and medicine (global warming, "Biological Races are Real," "No Vaccines for my Baby!"), religion, bizarre beings (ghosts, Bigfoot), weird places (Bermuda Triangle), and the end of the world.

I've enjoyed reading this book over the last six months, picking it up and reading an essay or two at a time. I think reading it all at once would be too much and it would get annoying. The whole book can basically be condensed down to: "using the scientific method, there is no evidence to support ______ belief." That doesn't make this book unnecessary or useless, as it's a good example of using critical thinking skills in a variety of situations. Also, I found specific essays very helpful--the one that stands out the most is "A Psychic Read My Mind," because I have too many friends who have actually paid money to psychics and think they provide a valuable service. This essay shows how psychics are 100% scammers, but now I have information to back up what I felt in my gut.

Overall, I found Harrison's tone kind and respectful, unless he's talking about people who murder children in Africa because they believe them to be witches, or televangelists who fly on private jets while taking money from poor people. And he shows how even intelligent and educated people can be led into believing things that make no sense. So, in the end, a worthwhile read, but not one to take in one big gulp.

Recommended for: I think this might be one of those books that appeals most to the already-skeptical reader, but I hope not. I hope that someone who believes "Astrology is Scientific," will read this too. And I highly recommend it if you're tired of hearing your Uncle Len tell you that the moon landing was faked, or you have a co-worker who tells you that they found Noah's ark (again), or your best friend from grade 8 keeps posting stuff about aliens in Area 51 on your Facebook feed. ( )