UB Bookshelf

Though misinformation may seem like a modern problem—saturated as we are in TikTok videos and TV talking heads—it is anything but. For almost as long as people have communicated with each other, false information has spread. In this new work, Yotam Ophir, associate professor of communication, dives into the history and psychology of misinformation to examine its enduring impact on the world today.

According to Ophir, misinformation is linked to human evolution. We are susceptible to conspiracy theories and other falsehoods because our brains evolved to identify immediate risks in order to secure our survival. While this instinct helped ensure the continuation of our species, it has also affected our ability to make rational decisions.

Ophir takes these cognitive processes into account as he explores the role misinformation has played over time, examining how recent technological advances—like algorithm-driven social media and AI— are shaping public discourse. Grounded in extensive research, and grappling with present-day issues such as vaccine skepticism and climate change, this book offers strategies for readers to recognize and resist misinformation wherever it appears.

Stephanie Fredrick, Amanda Nickerson, Michelle Demaray, Chunyan Yang

Parenting in the digital age can be daunting. Graduate School of Education faculty members Stephanie Fredrick and Amanda Nickerson and their co-authors—all school psychologists—have created a practical research-based resource to help parents of kids and teens navigate aggressive behavior and bullying online. This timely guide offers actionable insights and strategies to help keep children safe while fostering healthy social and emotional growth, exploring both the risks and benefits of digital technology on developing minds.

David A. Westbrook

Louis A. Del Cotto Professor of Law David A. Westbrook believes we are living in a moment of transition—one in which long-held perspectives about the world are giving way to new ideas about who we are and where we’re headed. In this collection, he brings together insights from an international group of social scientists with whom he has been in conversation for two decades, shedding light on substantial topics such as the evolving role of the humanities and the university, and how we should confront crisis, uncertainty, anxiety and hope.

Mark Gottdiener

For much of its history, the field of urbanism has focused on the city as the primary lens for understanding modern-day urban life. This new book from Mark Gottdiener, professor emeritus of sociology, challenges that paradigm by taking a regional perspective, emphasizing broader economic, social and digital forces over a singular focus on the city. It’s a nuanced but meaningful shift, and one that Gottdiener contends is key to formulating solutions to some of today’s most urgent issues, from affordable housing to climate change.

Barry Smith, Jobst Landgrebe

One of the most widely cited philosophers in the world, Barry Smith takes up the question of whether artificial intelligence can ever exceed human intelligence in this expanded second edition. With co-author Landgrebe, the SUNY Distinguished Professor draws from mathematics, physics, linguistics and more to delve into the enormous possibilities—and undeniable limitations—of AI. The first edition was published just as ChatGPT was released. This updated version picks up at that pivotal moment and brings the discussion to the present day.

Marc Böhlen

Thousands of satellites constantly orbit the lower region of Earth’s atmosphere, enabling communication, geographic observation and data analysis on a global scale. Once the exclusive domain of nations for research and defense, this advanced technology is now widely accessible to commercial enterprises. In this new work, Professor of Art Marc Böhlen bridges the humanities and engineering to explore the ramifications of AI-powered satellites through a specific case study—a land dispute in the highlands of Bali.