author: Randy Olson

name: Steev

average rating: 4.05

book published: 2009

rating: 4

read at: 2010/04/20

date added: 2010/04/20

shelves: filmmaking, politics

review:
The author is out to instruct scientists and science communicators on how to communicate more effectively with a mass audience. he uses his own experiences as tenured marine biology professor who became a filmmaker.



I saw Olson's film about climate change, "Sizzle" and was intrigued enough to buy the book in the lobby afterward. Basically his whole thesis is that you can't just dump a bunch of truth on people and expect them to be convinced of your position. You have to entertain them and appeal to other chakras or whatever besides the head.



His message fits right into some other stuff I've been reading and thinking a lot about, like George Lakoff's "Don't Think of An Elephant!" as well as Stephen Duncombe's "Dream", etc. Olson isn't a genius at executing what he preaches, as evidenced by "Sizzle", his rather flawed (but still interesting) latest film - but apparently, judging by the relative number and quality of festival appearances, the feature he made before Sizzle, "Flock of Dodos" is better, and I want to see it. But basically, it's just more stuff to consider in my own efforts to reach wider audiences with my film work.



Anyone who comes from a science background and wonders how they might be better at talking to "normal" people would probably benefit from this book.