Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Merchants of Doubt

How some scientists hid the truth on tobacco smoke + more

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Merchants of Doubt launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Buyology▲100

   Truth and lies about why we buy

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   What is Fire?▲134

   An illustrated explanation, from Hardbound

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3FO
   Feed of current articles for science lovers shortened to bullet points▲94

   2019 · bullets.tech · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Truth or Truthiness▲64

   Learn to think like a data scientist

   2017 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Little Bets▲89

   How breakthrough ideas emerge from small discoveries

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   The Hidden Life of Trees▲11

   What they feel, how they communicate

   2016 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Sapiens▲185

   A brief history of humankind

   2015 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   The Pipe▲196

   Product Hunt for eBooks

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   What If?▲107

   Serious scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Why We Buy▲62

    The Science of Shopping

    2016 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Light▲58

    A Radiant History from Creation to the Quantum Age

    2016 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Blindspot▲86

    Hidden biases of good people

    2015 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Without Permission▲147

    Lessons learned from reddit, hipmunk & YC - in book form!

    2014 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Take Off With Elixir▲61

    An Introduction to Elixir

    2016 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Brand Sense▲63

    Sensory Secrets Behind the Stuff We Buy

    2016 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    How to Make Coffee: The Science Behind the Bean▲142

    The art and science behind the bean ☕️

    2015 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Smokio▲82

    A connected electronic cigarette

    2014 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Readingstash▲148

    Tinder for books

    2015 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Hit Makers▲96

    The science of popularity in an age of distraction

    2017 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Naked Statistics▲66

    Stripping the dread from the data

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Stiff▲62

    The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

    2016 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    How Magnets Work▲126

    You've always wondered, haven't you? (a Hardbound story)

    2016 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Smoke Reports▲91

    Your Personalized Cannabis Guide

    2015 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    The Knowledge▲62

    A too close to true novel

    2017 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →