Daily horror stories in the media about unfit doctors, unhealthy foods, dangerous chemicals, soaring gas prices, and incompetent child care have created a culture of fear. But is that fear well-founded?

In his new book Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity (Hyperion, May 2006), John Stossel tackles the misconceptions, misrepresentations, and plain inanity that plague our society. Does outsourcing hurt U.S. workers? Can price gouging actually be good for consumers? Do public schools have enough money? Are we experiencing a cancer epidemic? Addressing a range of topics—including education, organic food, the government, and gender-bias in the workplace—Mr. Stossel explains why conventional economic, political, and social wisdom are often wrong. Joining Mr. Stossel will be a panel of AEI experts to discuss—and debunk—popular myths about the roles of law, genetics, and environmental activism in today’s world.