Living in a Risky World

School Library Journal

Gr 9-12-- Pringle's aim is to ``give readers some insights that can be applied to all hazards, and suggestions for making life less risky.'' His suggestions, confined to a brief final chapter, are basic and broadly stated--action guidelines with which many adolescents are familiar in this age of heightened awareness. However the previous chapters present information which should challenge the intended audience to think carefully about the perception, identification, assessment, and management of risk; and here Pringle is breaking new ground for this age group. He discusses difficulties we all encounter in evaluating potential personal risk: emotionalism, overconfidence, lack of reliable information and media distortion, subjective biases, techno-phobia and, simply, confusion. Pringle stresses that experts also encounter, as well as create, significant difficulties. Pringle's message may be depressing for young people; he confirms that there are few right answers and that even the establishment of priorities is an overwhelming task. However he clarifies important points which make risk issues more manageable. This balanced and effective overview of an extremely complex subject could be used by science and social science teachers in curricula designed to encourage critical thinking. Imaginative math teachers might employ many of Pringle's observations about risk assessment to illustrate statistical possibilities and pitfalls. No footnotes are provided, but quotes, paraphrased observations, and most sources of statistics are at least partially identified within the text. In some cases readers will find a complete citation in the bibliography of 30 resources. A book that might need some promotion, but one that will be useful in all libraries serving high school students. --Tess McKellen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn