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feoren • yesterday at 6:13 PM • 2 replies • view on HN

> He does correct for the efficiency of both electric cars, and heat pumps in later chapters.

There's something really important to understand when evaluating non-fiction books: nobody reads the later chapters, and the authors generally know this. They can present tremendously one-sided information in the first few chapters, giving the spin that they want, and then in later chapters give a more balanced approach to shield themselves from criticism. Almost everyone who reads the book will read only the spin, but any criticism levied against the author will be met with "but I specifically say, in the later chapters ...". It's a slimy technique that you start to see everywhere once you're aware of it.


Replies

sideshowb • yesterday at 6:41 PM

Although in this case, iirc the argument that using renewables in isolation would be challenging came in an even later chapter

PaulDavisThe1st • yesterday at 7:14 PM

> There's something really important to understand when evaluating non-fiction books: nobody reads the later chapters

Asserted without evidence, and I very much doubt that it's true. I suspect it varies dramatically by subject matter, intended audience, book length, data density, and more. I have no evidence for any of that. Do you?

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