One poster even said that if one reads a book on the subject the author would be telling him how to think. And he'd prefer to think for himself. (That really is sort of funny.) Imagine that - if one reads a book on a subject the author is telling him how to think. No wonder he's afraid of communism or Islam being taught about in schools. Would suck him right in to learn. Best stick to science fiction.

You think getting published makes a person a genius? Or infallible?

Just curious--when was the last time you read a non-fiction book that wasn't selected and tailored to feed your own prejudices? Most people are happiest in an echo chamber. Ever wonder why I don't hang out someplace like Free Republic?

Teaching facts without teaching the ability to think is not useful. I've known people whose scholarship is spectacular, but who couldn't reason their way out of a wet paper bag, or make even the most basic moral judgment. The way things are taught in schools now, we tend to end up with kids like this.