This book investigates the boundary between legitimate scientific inquiry and pseudoscientific claims that masquerade as valid research. Robert Park, a physicist and former director of public information for the American Physical Society, utilizes his extensive background in academia and policy to dissect the mechanisms by which fringe science gains public and political traction. He argues that the lack of scientific literacy in the public sphere, combined with the allure of quick-fix solutions, creates a fertile environment for what he terms 'voodoo science.'

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of science and public policy. Readers often note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience while maintaining rigorous standards of evidence.