The culture of fear: why Americans are afraid of the wrong things

Dubious dangers on roadways and campuses : how fears are sold

Crime in the news : tall tales and overstated statistics

Youth at risk : faulty diagnoses and callous cures

Monster moms : on the art of misdirection

Black men : how to perpetuate prejudice without really trying

"Smack is back" : when presidents and the press collude, the scares never stop

Metaphoric illnesses : how not to criticize the establishment

Plane wrecks : small danger, big scare

Final thoughts : the Martians aren't coming.

Introduction: Why Americans fear the wrong things

Dubious dangers on roadways and campuses : how fears are sold

Crime in the news : tall tales and overstated statistics

Youth at risk : faulty diagnoses and callous cures

Monster moms : on the art of misdirection

Black men : how to perpetuate prejudice without really trying

"Smack is back" : when presidents and the press collude, the scares never stop

Metaphoric illnesses : how not to criticize the establishment

Plane wrecks : small danger, big scare

Final thoughts : the Martians aren't coming.