{"title":"Helen Pluckrose","description":"\u003cp\u003eHelen Pluckrose's works offer a thoughtful examination of contemporary cultural and intellectual debates, blending rigorous analysis with accessible prose. Her books delve into themes of critical theory, social justice, and the impact of ideology on society and education, challenging readers to reconsider prevailing narratives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing from fields such as \u003cem\u003eScience \u0026amp; Nature\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEducation \u0026amp; Reference\u003c\/em\u003e, Pluckrose presents well-reasoned arguments that encourage critical thinking and open dialogue. Her writings serve as a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the complexities of modern social movements and academic discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cynical-theories-by-helen-pluckrose-9781800750326","title":"Cynical Theories","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHave you heard that language is violence and that science is sexist? Or been told that being obese is healthy, that there is no such thing as biological sex, or that only white people can be racist? Are you confused by these ideas, and do you wonder how they have managed so quickly to challenge the very logic of Western society?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCynical Theories\u003c\/em\u003e by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay documents the evolution of the dogma behind these ideas, from its origins in French postmodernism to its refinement within activist academic fields. Today, this dogma is recognisable as much by its effects, such as cancel culture and social-media pile-ons, as by its assertions, which are all too often taken as read: knowledge is a social construct; science and reason are tools of oppression; all human interactions are sites of oppressive power play; and language is dangerous. As they warn, the unchecked proliferation of these beliefs presents a threat to liberal democracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile acknowledging the need to challenge the complacency of those who think a just society has been fully achieved, Pluckrose and Lindsay break down how often-radical activist scholarship does far more harm than good, not least to those marginalised communities it claims to champion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46520543281388,"sku":"9781800750326","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3603353482829.jpg?v=1748993930"},{"product_id":"the-counterweight-handbook-by-helen-pluckrose-9781800751088","title":"The Counterweight Handbook","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the last several years, organisations and institutions throughout the West—both public and private—have adopted comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies and new forms of employee and student training on antiracism, unconscious bias, gender diversity, cultural sensitivity, and other related topics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe stated goals of these programmes are often reasonable if not noble— to create a more welcoming space and inclusive environment for all. But such training, when based on the activist ideology known as Critical Social Justice, crosses a clear line when participants are required to affirm beliefs they do not hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe mildest questions about or objections to common teachings in the sessions—that all white people are racists, that all underrepresented minorities are oppressed or useful tools of the majority, that sex and gender differences have no biological basis—are regularly met with pat commands: \"Educate yourself,\" \"Do the work,\" \"Listen and learn.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt work, raises, promotions, and even future employment may well depend on nodding approval during such training. At school, grades, nominations, and awards may be contingent upon active agreement with these ideological beliefs. When faced with such a predicament—between silent submission and risky, if ethical, opposition—what is a person to do?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Counterweight Handbook\u003c\/em\u003e provides individuals with a practical and easily navigable guide to understanding and addressing the issues that are likely to arise when this activist ideology is implemented in their organisation or institution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt also teaches them what to do when they are being expected to affirm their commitment to beliefs they simply do not hold, undergo training in an illiberal ideology they cannot support, or submit themselves to antiscientific testing and retraining of their 'unconscious' minds. It is for everyone who wishes to push back against the hostile work and educational environments such training inevitably creates—or who fears being fired, censored, or cancelled for their deeply held beliefs and principled convictions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833616879852,"sku":"9781800751088","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3610973482829.jpg?v=1758468533"},{"product_id":"social-injustice-by-helen-pluckrose-9781634312233","title":"Social (In)justice","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book about ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifically, this is a book about the evolution of a certain set of ideas, and how these ideas have come to dominate every important discussion about race, gender, and identity today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHave you heard someone refer to language as literal violence, or say that science is sexist? Or declare that being obese is healthy, or that there is no such thing as biological sex? Or that valuing hard work, individualism, and even punctuality is evidence of white supremacy? Or that only certain people—depending on their race, gender, or identity—should be allowed to wear certain clothes or hairstyles, cook certain foods, write certain characters, or play certain roles? If so, then you've encountered these ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs this reader-friendly adaptation of the internationally acclaimed bestseller \u003ci\u003eCynical Theories\u003c\/i\u003e explains, however, the truth is that many of these ideas are recent inventions, are not grounded in scientific fact, and do not account for the sheer complexity of social reality and human experience. In fact, these beliefs often deny and even undermine the very principles on which liberal democratic societies are built—the very ideas that have allowed for unprecedented human progress, lifted standards of living across the world, and given us the opportunity and right to consider and debate these ideas in the first place!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUltimately, this is a book about what it truly means to have a just and equal society—and how best to get there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCynical Theories\u003c\/i\u003e is a \u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller. Named a 2020 Book of the Year by \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e, it is being translated into more than fifteen languages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47537006543084,"sku":"9781634312233","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/0741c7f732de938705f4afa450ebb3f6.jpg?v=1776903044"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/helen-pluckrose.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}