We live in an increasingly uncertain world. There's so much to worry about it is often hard to know what to really panic about. Putting a lit match to the lies, headlines and statistical twaddle that seeks to frighten us, this title explores 40 reasons for worry: from binge-drinking to Frankenstein foods, bird flu to alien abductions.

What exactly are your chances of being struck by a meteorite? Think you're having less sex than the French? How high will sea levels actually rise? We live in an increasingly uncertain world. There's so much to worry about it is often hard to know what to really panic about. But stay calm! For Panicology is the perfect answer to the conundrums and questions that bedevil modern life. Putting a lit match to the lies, headlines and statistical twaddle that seeks to frighten us, it explores 40 reasons for worry: from binge-drinking to Frankenstein foods, bird flu to alien abductions - and explores what, if any, effect they will have on your life. Why worry in ignorance when you can be a happy, informed sceptic?

'Gloriously deft in their rebuttal of some of the more egregious cases of media-fuelled herd idiocy.' Observer 'A cool and intelligent look at such issues as bird flu, global warming, terrorism, species extinction and so on' - Tibor Fischer, Sunday Telegraph 'A reality check on the endless catalogue of disasters that are supposed to wait us.' New Statesman 'An uplifting and very interesting sceptics' concordance to everything we read in the news. I recommend it.' Daily Telegraph 'Upbeat and reassuring ... sets out to cure us ... by taking a dispassionate look at some top 40 scares' Scotland on Sunday 'A sceptical and optimistic 'feel-good' book which intends to face the scares of today -- and tomorrow.' Collective 'Promises welcome relief' Harper's Bazaar 'A rigorous analysis of several dozen of the most popular media scare stories.' Economist