The Power of Narrative: Climate Skepticism and the Deconstruction of Science

Scholarly yet accessible to a variety of readers, including undergraduates ... this thought-provoking work is especially commended to scholars and students of environmental studies and the sciences, political science, communication, and journalism. * C. A. Badurek, CHOICE * The book feels remarkably fresh because it tracks steadily along the narrow path of rationality and does not get distracted by fraught engagements with the flawed arguments of those it studies. The result is an achievement of moderation and focus that is unique among media about science skepticism.... Lejano and Nero's The Power of Narrative traverses the crowded field of misinformation studies to offer valuable information on a notoriously slippery concept. * Ryland Shaw, International Journal of Communication * Scholarly yet accessible to a variety of readers, including undergraduates, this text ably complements prior works on climate skepticism, scientific opinion, and media, such as Merchants of Doubt, by Naomi Oreskes. This thought-provoking work is especially commended to scholars and students of environmental studies and the sciences, political science, communication, and journalism. Highly Recommended. * C. A. Badurek, CHOICE * Throughout their analysis, the authors maintain their unbiased stance and avoid the use of absolutist terms like 'denialists' from the very beginning. Their inclusion of the other part of the story - the narrative of climate science, its danger of becoming an ideology and the need for climate scientists to consider how they use their authority when publicly addressing any scientific issue-provides a comprehensive understanding of narratives.... [I]t lays the paving stone for approaching the construction of the whole climate change debate while putting on our critical lenses. * Sneha Biswas, LSE Review of Books * If you have wondered how the science of climate change became a hot-button political question deeply embedded in the Left-Right polarization in the United States, this book is for you: The Power of Narrative explains the history of climate change skepticism and offers clues for resolving our current dilemma. * Anne H. Ehrlich, Senior Research Scientist, Emerita, Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Stanford University * Lejano and Nero bring the full power of narrative analysis to bear in explaining how and why the storytelling of groups and organizations rejecting the reality and seriousness of climate change has been so strongly embraced in the American public. Indeed, their signature contribution is explaining how the evolving ideological narrative of climate change disbelief and the coalitions promoting this narrative are co-constituted, resulting in greater political polarization on climate change and the rise of echo chambers over time. Their work on the cultural resonance of climate change disbelief is an essential complement to other bodies of work that have documented the financial resources, organizational structure, and political strategies of the climate change denial machine. * Aaron M. McCright, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Sociology, Michigan State University * The Power of Narrative examines the ways in which narrative contributes to the cultural divide over climate change. While political actors can promote the climate skeptical narrative as motivated by self-interest, its meaning for members of the general public is quite different, often weaving experience and ideology into a sense of personal identity and group solidarity. This book offers valuable insights for improving the efficiency of efforts to make headway on climate policy - any climate scientist or activist could benefit from the fundamental perspectives offered here by Lejano and Nero. * James S. Clark, Nicholas Professor of Environment, Duke University *