The brilliant Martin Gardner has left us. Here's a New York Times obit, published online the 23rd and in print yesterday. Mr. Gardner wrote many, many wonderful books and articles. From the time I first discovered his work, he kept me enthralled, even though at that time I couldn't understand much of what he was saying. He led me and so many other readers patiently and amusingly through so much of the world of science and critical thought, though he had other interests, such as literature (G. K. Chesterton and Lewis Carroll) and magic. And he helped found CSICOP, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), now CSI (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), in 1976.
Here's another appreciation from The Guardian's Chris French. Lawyers can practice their critical thinking and debating skills by checking out his work, like Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science (Dover, 1957), which includes discussions of reincarnation (the Bridey Murphy case) and Science: Good, Bad and Bogus (Prometheus Books, reprint 1990), as well as a number of books on magic, including Mathematics, Magic, and Mystery (Dover, 1956) which explains "mind reading" performances. His is a great legacy.
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