Prove It: A Scientific Guide for the Post-Truth Era

A compelling journey through science’s big breakthroughs, by an award-winning Australian science writer

Humans developed the scientific method over centuries. Its departure from what came before was that theories should be fuelled by data, not opinion. Today, the institutions that underpin democracy – the law, academia, government, journalism – all rely on its central idea: seeking facts and interrogating them through robust discussion and real-world testing. Yet in the post-truth era, public conversations can feel far from scientific.

In Prove It, Elizabeth Finkel describes how the scientific method plays out in a series of controversies, from proving the existence of Einstein’s gravitational waves to identifying the origins of Covid-19, from understanding human origins to defining consciousness. Through these tales of dispute and discovery, she breaks down the key elements of scientific thinking.

Full of politics, prejudice, obsession, heroism and eccentricity, Prove It captures the drama and excitement of scientific discovery and debate and argues compellingly that its lessons are more crucial now than ever.

‘From DNA to consciousness, blackholes to randomised trials, Elizabeth Finkel brings science to life. Brimming with insights, this book is a rallying cry for reason. Evidence and data have shaped our world for the better, and we ignore them at our peril.’ – Andrew Leigh, member of Australian Parliament and author of The Shortest History of Economics

‘An immensely powerful read, Prove It reminds us that human progress is anchored in frank and fearless debate in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. This book is for anyone who believes in an evidence-based, expert-informed approach to life.’ – Professor Katie Allen, University of Melbourne

‘Prove It is brilliantly argued, vivaciously written and deeply thought through. If you want to know how science works, what philosophers say about how science works, and what the two have to do with each other, this book is for you.’ – Michael Strevens, author of The Knowledge Machine