The Insecticide DDT: Dangers and Lies

The Insecticide DDT: Dangers and Lies

What is the history of the debate surrounding the insecticide DDT? What doubts were raised? Were they legitimate? In 1972, the EPA banned the use of the insecticide DDT in the U.S. Despite this, certain individuals and organizations kept the controversy alive by manufacturing doubt about the underlying science. In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway tell the story. Read more to learn how the merchants of doubt engaged in the debate surrounding DDT.

The Entrepreneurial Perspective: What Does It Entail?

The Entrepreneurial Perspective: What Does It Entail?

Do you think like an entrepreneur? What are the elements of an entrepreneurial perspective? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber suggests that you might need to think of your business in a new way. He provides an exercise for reconceptualizing your business, prompting you to think of it as though it was a prototype for thousands more. Keep reading to learn about the entrepreneurial perspective, what it entails, and how to think like an entrepreneur.

Causes and Effects of Ozone Depletion: Truth and Lies

Causes and Effects of Ozone Depletion: Truth and Lies

What are the causes and effects of ozone depletion? What’s the science? What doubts have been raised? Since the 1970s, the public controversy about the causes and effects of ozone depletion has been fueled by those who believe that certain environmental policies put their agenda at risk. These “merchants of doubt” seek to undermine the credibility of the science behind such policies. Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway discuss this in their book Merchants of Doubt. Read more to learn about the history of the debate surrounding the causes and effects of ozone depletion.

Doubt-Mongering in the Climate Change Debate

Doubt-Mongering in the Climate Change Debate

What role does doubt-mongering play in the recent climate change debate? What is the science? What doubts are raised? Merchants of doubt have been engaged in the climate change debate from the beginning. These are people or groups who seek to discredit science behind the policies that threaten their agenda. Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, the authors of Merchants of Doubt, updated their book in 2020 to cover highlights from the past decade, specifically California law and electric cars. Read more to learn about the recent efforts of merchants of doubt in discrediting the climate change debate.

The 3 Business Stages: Infancy, Adolescence, Maturity

The 3 Business Stages: Infancy, Adolescence, Maturity

What business stages must entrepreneurs understand and navigate? What are the risks of each phase? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber describes three business stages: infancy, adolescence, and maturity. He explains the characteristics—as well as the risks—of each. Business owners must learn to navigate these phases. Keep reading to learn about the three business stages of E. Gerber.

Environmental Effects of Acid Rain: The Tense Debate

Environmental Effects of Acid Rain: The Tense Debate

What are the issues in the debate about the environmental effects of acid rain? What’s the science and what doubts exist? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway discuss how doubt-mongering has affected the debate surrounding the environmental effects of acid rain. It’s a fascinating history of science, economics, and politics. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt impacted the narrative about the environmental effects of acid rain.

Start-Up Roles: The 3 Hats of a Beginner Entrepreneur

Start-Up Roles: The 3 Hats of a Beginner Entrepreneur

What start-up roles are necessary for your business to grow? What mindset should a small business leader adopt from the start? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber argues that a small business owner should assume three roles or mindsets: entrepreneur, manager, and technician. He describes the key characteristics of each start-up role and discusses how they must balance—rather than compete with—each other. Read more to learn the three crucial start-up roles for your business.

Environment and Economics: A Thorny History

Environment and Economics: A Thorny History

What is the historical connection between the environment and economics? How do economic interests impact environmental policy? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at the tense relationship between the environment and economics. They explain why environmental issues are major targets for merchants of doubt—people or organizations who discredit science that threatens their agenda or ideology. Read more to learn about the historic connection between the environment and economics.

The Entrepreneurial Myth: A Quick Look at a Classic

The Entrepreneurial Myth: A Quick Look at a Classic

What is the Entrepreneurial Myth? What’s the truth about starting and growing a successful small business? The E-Myth Revisited is a classic business book by Michael E. Gerber. The E-Myth stands for “the Entrepreneurial Myth.” Gerber explains how you can undermine your new business by focusing solely on the product and just trying to work harder. The right approach is to view your business like a franchise—to systematize operations so that it no longer relies on you. Read more to learn about the Entrepreneurial Myth.

Nuclear Winter Theory and Merchants of Doubt

Nuclear Winter Theory and Merchants of Doubt

What is the nuclear winter theory? How did doubt-mongering affect public awareness and policy about it? During the Cold War, the nuclear winter theory inspired scientific research—as well as doubt-mongering. In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway identify the people and organizations who sought to discredit the science that threatened their agenda or ideology. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt influenced the debate about the nuclear winter theory.