In the book, Mooney discusses the Republican Party leadership's stance on science, and in particular that of the George W. Bush administration, with regard to issues such as climate change denialism, intelligent design, bioethics, alternative medicine, pollution, separation of church and state, and the government funding of education, research, and environmental protection.

[3] A review in Science by Naomi Oreskes states the author recounts the 20-year campaign by "influential Republicans—initially in Congress and now also in the White House—in concert with determined allies in private industry and fundamentalist Christian organizations" to systematically deny, disparage and misrepresent scientific information related to public policy.

"[6] In a positive review in Scientific American, Boyce Rensenberger described the book as "a well-researched, closely argued and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists.

"[7] Lisa Margonelli of The New York Times Book Review wrote that Mooney "juggled extensive research and sharp arguments [...] with precision and a showman’s wink that made his unpromising subject fun.

"[9] Writing in The New York Times, John Horgan said of the book that the prose was "often clunky and clichéd", but explains that Mooney "addresses a vitally important topic and gets it basically right."

"[10] Stuart Derbyshire, a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham School of Psychology, praises Mooney and notes that he explained how Republicans had manipulated the uncertainty in science "to ensure that Congress rarely hears any consensus opinion that may damage a Bush policy."