The Death of Expertise Summary

Summary of The Death of Expertise Book by Tom Nichols, Ph.D.

Name: The Death of Expertise
Rating: 4.5 (2023 reviews)
Author: Tom Nichols, Ph.D.

4.5 . 2023 reviews

Short summary

The Death of Expertise is a non-fiction tidbit that discusses the division between experts and non-experts. It also discusses how education and the Internet have helped to promote a cult of ignorance. As discussed by Tom Nichols, the death of expertise does not mean the literal end of a high level of knowledge and skills that differentiate some people from others in various areas. Instead, it is the rejection of established knowledge. Tom Nichols, author and a professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, also works as an adjunct professor at the Harvard Extension School. He is a former U.S. Senate aide and a well-known commentator on U.S. politics and national security. In 1995, he became a five-time Jeopardy (an American television game show) champion. The jury of Roseto Degli Abruzzi awarded Tom Nichols the best foreign author prize of 2018 for The Death of Expertise. “Experts are not flawless; they have made awful mistakes with dreadful consequences.” ~ Tom Nichols

11 min

7 key points

8 insights

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Table of content

Summary of The Death of Expertise
About the author
What is The Death of Expertise about?
Who should read The Death of Expertise
Topics in The Death of Expertise

first key point

A society cannot operate without a social division of labor and dependence on experts

Listen the first key point

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Nobody is an expert on everything. No matter our desires, we are limited by time and talent. People thrive when they specialize and develop formal and informal mechanisms and practices that enable them to trust each other in those specializations. We cannot function without acknowledging the limits of our knowledge and trusting in the expertise of others.

Nobody can keep up with the flood of news about everything; if laypeople could absorb all of that information, they wouldn’t need experts in the first place.

Most experts in international affairs would struggle to pass a map test outside their area of specialization, so what’s the big deal if the average person has no idea where Kazakhstan is? No one can master all information. We do our best, and when we need information on something, we consult the best sources we can find. Indisputably, some experts’ complaints about laypeople are biased.

This summary reveals how the average American takes pleasure in dismissing expertise. It will help everyone better understand the experts on whom they rely. This tidbit will also help bridge the divide between experts and lay people — individuals without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.

Specialized knowledge is inherent in every occupation. ~ Tom Nichols

second key point

Individuals who specialize in specific subjects are prone to thinking that others should be as interested in it as they are

Experts are individuals who have mastered specific skills or bodies of knowledge and practice those skills or use them as their principal occupation in life. They are those who have more knowledge on a subject than others. Experts are those we go to when we need advice, education, or solutions in a specific area of human knowledge. They may not be all-knowing, but they are an authority in their field, and their views are considered accurate.

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third key point

The conversations between experts and laypeople can be exhausting

fourth key point

Higher education mocking the corporate world devalues expertise

fifth key point

The Internet helps lay people reach out to each other for information that might be too costly to access from experts

sixth key point

For their growth, younger journalists should be willing to acquire knowledge in the subject on which they report

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is The Death of Expertise about?

In this thought-provoking book, a renowned scholar delves into the alarming rise of anti-intellectualism and the erosion of expertise in modern society. With compelling arguments and extensive research, the author explores the consequences of dismissing established knowledge, highlighting the dangers it poses to democracy, public policy, and even our personal lives. A wake-up call to value and respect expertise, this book urges readers to confront the perils of a society that disregards the wisdom of experts.

Who should read The Death of Expertise

Educators
researchers
and scholars seeking to understand the erosion of expertise.
Politicians and policymakers grappling with the challenges of anti-intellectualism.
General readers interested in the consequences of dismissing expert opinions.

Topics in The Death of Expertise

Sociology Education Politics Journalism History Psychology Philosophy Critical Thinking Intellectual Social History Cultural History Government Society Misinformation Ethics

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