Its publication in October 2016 sparked instant public controversy. A reviewer for the US "The Chronicle of Higher Education" hailed it as perhaps 'the most in-depth meditation on "the Chomsky problem" ever published', recommending it as 'a compelling read'. In Britain, "The New Scientist" described Knight's controversial account as 'trenchant and compelling.' Chomsky responded dismissively to Knight's book in both "The New York Times" and "The London Review of Books."