ISBN 978-1-923443-79-2
PAPERBACK
ISBN 978-1-923443-80-8
HARDCOVER
ISBN 978-1-923589-25-4
EBOOK
Are we on the Right Path or the Wrong One ?
Why critical thinking matters now more than ever
In any society, self-examination is not a luxury — it is a necessity.
Are we on the Right Path or the Wrong One? argues that a healthy democracy depends on citizens who are well-informed, critically engaged, and able to distinguish evidence-based knowledge from propaganda. This book invites readers to pause and reflect: are we truly moving in the right direction?
Drawing inspiration from the scientific method — which encourages exploration, critical inquiry, and the courage to question assumptions — the book challenges us to examine controversial issues such as the entrenchment of false beliefs, the state of education, the rise of authoritarianism, the misuse of science, and the politicisation of climate change. Like scientists probing multiple hypotheses, we must be willing to test our societal assumptions without dogmatism or defensiveness. Seeking truth demands intellectual humility — and a readiness to acknowledge when we may have taken a wrong turn.
Are we on the Right Path or the Wrong One? is a spirited defence of reason, free thought, and common sense. In an era of intense political polarisation, it calls for a renewed commitment to critical thinking, honest dialogue, and genuine respect for diverse viewpoints — values essential for democracy’s survival and flourishing.
“This is a work of profound learning and reflection. It is a vigorous and deeply thoughtful defence of freedom of thought and the need for integrity in science. I cannot recommend it too highly – it is a work desperately needed at times in our history, such as now.”
John Roskam – Senior Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs.
About the Authors
FINLAY MACRITCHIE is an internationally recognised scientist and Emeritus Professor of Grain Science & Industry at Kansas State University, USA. He previously worked at CSIRO in Australia for 30 years and held visiting professorships in universities across Europe and South America. He has published over 150 scientific papers and five books. He has been a member of the Editorial Boards of Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Cereal Chemistry and Journal of Cereal Science and was Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Cereal Science (2008 – 2018). Professor MacRitchie’s awards include the F.B. Guthrie Medal of the Cereal Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Thomas Burr Osborne Medal and George W. Scott Blair Memorial Award of the American Association of Cereal Chemists (now AACC International). In 2020, Stanford University listed him among the world’s top 2% of researchers.
SYLVIA MACRITCHIE-HOOK is a qualified marketing and communications specialist with over 25 years of professional experience. Her background includes work across various sectors, including publishing and media in London, Sydney, and San Francisco. She has also held roles at top-tier law firms, in higher education, and within the Catholic sector. Most recently, she served in a senior management role at a prominent Catholic organisation in Australia. Currently, she is a Ramsay Scholar at Australian Catholic University, pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation).