The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

EPISODE # 179

Niall Ferguson — Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe

Disasters are inherently hard to predict. Pandemics, like earthquakes, wildfires, financial crises, and wars, are not normally distributed; there is no cycle of history to help us anticipate the next catastrophe. In this episode, Michael Shermer speaks with one of the world’s most renowned historians, Niall Ferguson, who explains why our ever more bureaucratic and complex systems are making us worse, not better, at handling disasters.

Listen now

If you enjoy the podcast, please show your support by making a $5 or $10 monthly donation.

PURCHASE WITH PURPOSE!

Shop AmazonSmile for Mother’s Day

Make a difference this Mother’s Day. Shop at smile.amazon.com and Amazon donates to the Skeptics Society.

Shop Now

Donate
For those seeking a sound scientific viewpoint

Newsletter

eSkeptic logo

Be in the know!

Subscribe to eSkeptic: our free email newsletter and get great podcasts, videos, reviews and articles from Skeptic magazine, announcements, and more in your inbox once or twice a week.

Sign me up!

Skeptic Digital

Skeptic Digital on iPhone

Read Skeptic on Apple or Android devices, or on PC or Mac via PocketMags.com.

Skeptic 28.1

Skeptic 28.1 (cover)

Skeptic 27.4

Skeptic 27.4 (cover)

Skeptic 27.3

Skeptic 27.3 (cover)
Copyright © 1992–2023. All rights reserved. | 3938 State St., Suite # 101, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105-3114 | 1-805-576-9396. The Skeptics Society is a non-profit, member-supported 501(c)(3) organization (ID # 95-4550781) whose mission is to promote science & reason. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy.