This week, we’re back with Naomi Oreskes, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and continue to shape how people think about science, truth, and the world around them.

In this episode, we unpack how she approaches writing for a broader audience by thinking of it less as writing and more as speaking to a real person. That mindset carries through everything, from how Merchants of Doubt was written to how it was shared. Instead of relying on one big moment, the book gained traction through consistent, deliberate effort by saying yes to every opportunity, traveling to places most authors overlook, and meeting readers where they are. We also get into how that same approach evolved with The Big Myth, where podcasts, op-eds, and timely conversations became a bigger part of the strategy. Along the way, we talk about staying connected to current events, maintaining scientific integrity, and simplifying complex ideas in a way that people can actually follow without losing what makes them true.

Tune in to this episode with Naomi Oreskes to see what separates books that come and go from those that continue to matter long after they’re published and why Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth don’t just stay relevant, but become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of misinformation, scientific claims, and the world around them.

If you want to explore more of Naomi Oreskes’ work, research, and writing, you can check out her platform below or pick up one of her books.

Reckoning Science (https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/) Naomi’s science platform with weekly posts (co-created with Sasha Kirov)

You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, and Naomi’s books on these platforms:

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&next=t

Amazon: https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7

→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers

Publications she writes for:

The New York Times

The Washington Post

Los Angeles Times

Science Magazine

British Medical Journal

Undark

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