Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer
Name	Michael Shermer
Birth date	January 8, 1954
Birth place	Durango, Colorado
Occupation	Author; Historian of Science; Founder of The Skeptics Society; Skeptic; Columnist; Lecturer
Alma mater	California State University, Fullerton; Claremont Graduate University
Notable works	The Believing Brain; Why People Believe Weird Things; Why Darwin Matters; How We Believe

Michael Shermer is an American author, historian of science, and prominent figure in the modern skepticism movement. He is best known for founding The Skeptics Society and editing the magazine Skeptic, for popular books on belief and cognition, and for public debates on religion, evolution, and pseudoscience. Shermer has engaged with a wide range of institutions, media outlets, and public intellectuals across science, philosophy, journalism, and politics.

Early life and education

Born in Durango, Colorado, Shermer grew up in the American Southwest United States region and was educated in California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton and later completed graduate work at Claremont Graduate University, receiving a Ph.D. in the History of Science and in the History of Ideas. His doctoral studies involved interactions with scholars associated with Claremont Graduate University programs and with research traditions linked to the history of science and intellectual history. During his formative years he participated in activities and communities connected to Los Angeles-area institutions and think tanks.

Career and publications

Shermer began his professional career combining writing, lecturing, and entrepreneurship. He founded and published Skeptic and established The Skeptics Society as a nonprofit organization that produces public outreach, lectures, and media. He has written regular columns for mainstream publications and online platforms, contributing to discussions in venues such as Scientific American, Time, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. Shermer’s bibliography includes popular science books addressing cognition, belief formation, and the interface of science and society: notable titles include Why People Believe Weird Things, How We Believe, The Believing Brain, and Why Darwin Matters. His books engage topics and figures ranging from Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins to critiques of paranormal claims and assessments of scientific methodology.

Shermer has been a prolific public speaker, debating and lecturing at universities and forums including Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, and other international venues. He has participated in debates and dialogues with prominent public intellectuals, scientists, and religious leaders such as Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Lawrence Krauss, William Lane Craig, Leonard Mlodinow, and Deepak Chopra. His work intersects with journalists and media figures including Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, and editors at Scientific American and Nature.

Skepticism, skepticism movement, and The Skeptics Society

As a leading organizer in the contemporary skepticism movement, Shermer helped institutionalize organized skeptical inquiry in the United States through The Skeptics Society and the magazine Skeptic. He curated conferences, lecture series, and media projects that brought together investigators and critics of pseudoscience such as members of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and figures like James Randi, Susan Gerbic, Carol Tavris, —note: name avoided per guideline— (editorial policy prevented linking of the subject). The Society has collaborated with museums, universities, and science centers, and has supported investigations into claims promoted on programs by broadcasters like Discovery Channel, History and podcasts featuring guests from NPR and BBC Radio.

Shermer’s public-facing efforts include his long-running columns, podcast appearances, and documentary features. He has explored cognitive biases, pattern-seeking, and the neurological and evolutionary bases for belief, engaging with research cited in publications such as Nature, Science, and reports from research institutions including Harvard Medical School, Stanford Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health.

Views and controversies

Shermer’s positions have generated debate across political, religious, and academic circles. He is an advocate for evolutionary biology and secular explanations for human behavior and has frequently criticized creationism and intelligent design proponents such as Ken Ham and organizations like the Discovery Institute. He has engaged in public debates on religion and atheism with figures including William Lane Craig and Alister McGrath, and has been aligned at times with New Atheist commentators Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens while opposing certain approaches taken by religious apologists.

Controversies have included critiques of Shermer’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations and disputes over institutional responses, which involved attention from media outlets like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian. He has also faced academic and public criticism for stances on topics such as political polarization, free speech on university campuses, and applications of evolutionary psychology, drawing responses from scholars affiliated with University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, Princeton University, and University of Oxford.

Personal life and honors

Shermer resides in Southern California and has been active in public lecture circuits, media appearances, and academic collaborations. He has received awards and recognition from organizations within the skeptical and scientific communities, including honors associated with groups like the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and lecture appointments at institutions such as Claremont Graduate University and guest roles at Yale University and UCLA. His outreach work has been featured in documentary films and broadcast interviews on networks including CNN, PBS, and BBC.

Category:American non-fiction writers Category:Science communicators Category:People from Durango, Colorado