Conspiracy

Why the Rational Believe the Irrational

Michael Shermer

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Paperback

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English

Johns Hopkins University Press
30 January 2024

Society & Social Sciences; Hoaxes & deceptions; Politics & government

""A well-written and essential tool for those navigating today's complicated geopolitical landscape.""—Library Journal Best-selling author Michael Shermer presents an overarching theory of conspiracy theories—who believes them and why, which ones are real, and what we should do about them.

Nothing happens by accident, everything is connected, and there are no coincidences: that is the essence of conspiratorial thinking. Long a fringe part of the American political landscape, conspiracy theories are now mainstream: 147 members of Congress voted in favor of objections to the 2020 presidential election based on an unproven theory about a rigged electoral process promoted by the mysterious group QAnon. But this is only the latest example in a long history of ideas that include the satanic panics of the 1980s, the New World Order and Vatican conspiracy theories, fears about fluoridated water, speculations about President John F. Kennedy's assassination, and the notions that the Sandy Hook massacre was a false-flag operation and 9/11 was an inside job.

In Conspiracy, Michael Shermer presents an overarching review of conspiracy theories—who believes them and why, which ones are real, and what we should do about them. Trust in conspiracy theories, he writes, cuts across gender, age, race, income, education level, occupational status—and even political affiliation. One reason that people believe these conspiracies, Shermer argues, is that enough of them are real that we should be constructively conspiratorial: elections have been rigged (LBJ's 1948 Senate race); medical professionals have intentionally harmed patients in their care (Tuskegee); your government does lie to you (Watergate, Iran-Contra, and Afghanistan); and, tragically, some adults do conspire to sexually abuse children. But Shermer reveals that other factors are also in play: anxiety and a sense of loss of control play a role in conspiratorial cognition patterns, as do certain personality traits.

This engaging book will be an important read for anyone concerned about the future direction of American politics, as well as anyone who's watched friends or family fall into patterns of conspiratorial thinking.

By: Michael Shermer
Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 522g
ISBN: 9781421449074
ISBN 10: 1421449072
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 30 January 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michael Shermer (SANTA BARBARA, CA) is the publisher of Skeptic magazine, a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, the host of the popular podcast The Michael Shermer Show, and the Skeptic Substack weekly columnist. He is the author of many New York Times–bestselling books, including Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time, The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies—How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths, and The Moral Arc: How Science Makes Us Better People.

Reviews for Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational

Conspiracies succeed thanks to repetition, and Shermer's numerous examples prove how entrenched these beliefs are within contemporary American culture. The book includes solid tips on how to assess a conspiracy theory's veracity, how to talk to conspiracists, and how to restore trust and truth in national conversations....A well-written and essential tool for those navigating today's complicated geopolitical landscape. —Library Journal (starred review) A fascinating tour of oddball wrongheadedness, with gentle but firm prescriptions for combatting it. —Kirkus Reviews What Shermer's book does is delve into the reasons why we are so ready to believe that, to borrow a phrase from perhaps the ultimate conspiracy theory work of culture, the X-Files: The Truth is Out There....Part of why we think that is because our levels of trust in those in power has plummeted in recent years....The answer, according to Shermer, is very simple. If everyone told the truth, and we all believed that was the case, there would be no need for conspiracy theories. —The Independent Deep and engaging. —Ralph Lewis, MD, Psychology Today Many books about conspiracies and conspiracy theories exist, but this one stands out as an authoritative, very readable overview of the subject. —Choice Though we may think conspiracy theories appeal only to the naïve or uneducated, Shermer dispels that myth, showing how pervasive they really are.His book doesn't leave readers feeling overwhelmed or powerless, but offers a primer on how not to be duped—and how to help others who've fallen prey to conspiracies. —Greater Good Magazine