I would like to buy a copy of James Whyte's book, Bad Thoughts: A Guide to Clear Thinking. Where can I get it from?

M.Wilkinson, Hornsea, UK

Paris Hilton does not even have a High School Diploma but she has good looks and inherited wealth. People look at her as a courtesan and the essence of celebrity is simply that good looks and lots of publicity will ensure the good life.

That is the Advertising Mantra and in Paris Hilton it is made flesh. That is all. It is the zenith of a consumerist society that the ill-educated daughter of a property developer and a model can live on her grandfather's trust secured by her father challenging the old man's will in court.

It is the epitome of the Catwalk Culture

CCTV, Bristol, England

Where please does the statistic come from that IQ results are 20 points higher than in 1950? Yes I had left school by that year and from a lifetimes experience I would have thought that almost the reverse was the case.

John Moore, Chudleigh, UK

Attending a university no longer indicates a weelleducated person, nor even a reasonable level of education in order to get there.

As to your question: " When did you last socialise with someone who did not know that East Anglia is in England" consider this. My daugher recently bought a house from a gentleman wh had and Australia but was hesitating as had recently been told that Australia was a bit further!

Mike Bibby, St Albans , Englad -not EU

"It is because we are so much cleverer and better educated than previous generations that foolishness commands such a high price."

Jamie - I was nearly fooled into believing you meant that! (Nearly, but not quite)

Steve, Sutton Coldfield,

Nitwits that a funny term..Ignorance of society clinches an social behavior that is between insanity and a good drunk where yor throwed in the hoosgow!!
The Old West History i even fun-e er..can you imagine wearing girdles and coresttes or walken to the next state for the month for fun....:)

Colonel Bain, Antelope, Montana, USA

The simple truth is that life has become too boring for the great unwashed. Cult celebrity worship is the modern opiate of the masses. It is a common feature of decadent civilisations.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

I watched the highlight show of Big Brother for the second time this series. The 'constestants' were discussing the economy and they were all (3 of 4 of them) saying how they used to be under the impression that the economy meant large sized crisps and such like, they were saying how they got confused by it!

If, as BB likes us to think, the BB 'contestants' are a snippet of our society, i really pray for it!

Jackie, london, England

A gifted actor playing the well scripted role of an idiot, such as the cast of My Name Is Earl, will always be funny and in increasing demand.

Hilton, Goody and their ilk are not funny because they are stupid. What amuses is the shock value of their ignorance.

How can anyone possibly not know that if a judge tells you not to drink and drive *again* you will go to jail if you do, that Sherlock Holmes did not invent the toilet, or that chick peas are not made from chicken? These statements of ignorance are funny, especially when worn so proudly.

But they are also deeply depressing. While intelligence is no guarantor of ability, the lack does not excuse ignorance.

Paul Schleifer, Chiswick,

Obviously his grandchildren will only be denied the joy of conversation with a complete nincompoop if grandpa is already dead.

Eric campbell, harrogate, uk

education != intelligence

Jack Thursby, Sheffield,

"Since when did an increasing supply of something – be it oil, orange juice or stupidity – cause its price to go up?"

1. When demand increases faster than a growing supply. 2. When supply acts as a stimulus to demand, by increasing the availability and prevalence of a commodity which people previously had limited access to.

And in this case, demand is greater not necessarily because more people are stupid, but because our culture has become more popularised than ever, and the tastes of a stupid plurality are afforded both exposure and credibility like never before. It certainly is dumbing down, and it's supply-side.

John Allen, Oxford, UK

The price mechanism idea is a novel take on this but I suspect it is wrong.

I take issue with the author's statement that average IQs have risen by 20% - given that the result is simply to compare your outcome with the norm therefore by definition the average will remain the same - 100.

It seems more likely to me that the this current fad of celebrity watching is founded partly on fascination with the widely publicised behaviour of people who are richer than we are, partly on the loss of the good manners which led well brought up individuals not to mock the afflicted, and partly from the fact that with our much richer consumerist society where genuine neediness really no longer exists and has been replaced by a sort of hunger for lifestyle accessories and leisure plays a much more important part of our consciousness than it used to, and the proliferation of media has led to a desperate search for stories to put in it (the phenomenon of 24 hour news broadcasting)

cuffleyburgers, lucca,

The reason why I like to read about these people is not because of their "education or intelligence" it is because they are humans like me with lots of mistakes like me. Long ago we thought that celebreties were Gods. Well, we know now, they are not thanks you to BB.

alma, bournemouth, dorset