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Conspiracy
- Why the Rational Believe the Irrational
- Narrated by: Michael Shermer
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
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Conspiracy
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Summary
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 listen 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.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What listeners say about Conspiracy
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Danny Liddle
- 31-01-23
Great book
Had a good time with this book but I did feel like there was a lot repeated from The Believing Brain. I suppose this is to be expected with the themes being almost the same, ie. Why people believe weird things. I particularly enjoyed his dismantling of popular conspiracies like 9/11, JFK and others and wish there was more of this. Overall would recommend and I'm a big fan of Shermer in general and glad that he narrates it. He delivers it very well
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Freneticmonk
- 16-03-23
It could have been better.
I decided to give this a listen after hearing Brett Weinstein give it a thumbs up on his podcast. I was actually disappointed with this in general. Michael just came across as condescending. The inflections in his voice at certain times reminded me of a teenager making fun someone for what they think. Perhaps if we’re to have been read by someone who’s first language wasn’t sarcasm, it would have been better.
The book could be summed up with “I’m smarter than you.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a Truther or a Birther or believe that alien lizards rule the world but the whole book just felt like Michael punching down.
The other criticism is that he kept repeating the same two conspiracies, Truthers and Birthers as well as an unhealthy obsession with Trump. Every other paragraph seemed to be “orange man bad”.
Really a 10 hour book that could have been 5 if he would have just focused on the subject and not tried to reinforce what a vast majority of us already know. Trump wasn’t a nice guy.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-02-23
Thanks for shattering my world…
I can highly recommend this book. As a self proclaimed conspiracist- on the mend- it’s healthy for me to start to practice critical thinking for myself. Listening to opposing viewpoints, being persuaded by some but not by others is an important journey that I have not taken seriously before when I was headed downward through the rabbit holes. I urge everyone to try it out for themselves- but it takes-well - critical thinking, not least towards you own beliefs and ideas. Good luck to
You in that effort. And Godspeed
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-11-22
Well written and read by the author
I had no idea about the author and was very pleasantly surprised. The ideas and themes of the books are well structured and researched and it is well read by the author himself - not always the case. Glad to leave the first review.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Murphy
- 13-09-23
Interesting perspectives
I really enjoyed this book.
It goes into detail on how to build your own communication skills to deal with people who don’t believe the same things you do. To be open minded. And not to just assume you’re right and the other person is wrong because they see the world a different way.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Gw Foran
- 07-12-22
Seems like endless waffle
1.5 hours in and that’s it for me. Returned. Seems like pointless waffle, and the challenge of how many times the word conspiracy can be used.
I was hoping for a breakdown of popular conspiracy theories and why they might or might not be true. So far none of this. It seems the author is just dismissing all theories as if he knows for sure that he knows the full truth about everything.
Maybe after another 1 or 2 hours it gets better, but I do not have the mental capacity to listen to anymore waffle from this guy.
If you have listened past 2 hours please message me and let me know when to fast forward to, and I’ll pick it up from there.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mr. X. Dijo
- 27-09-23
Very boring and outdated
This book is mainly focused on the US context and most of its arguments are outdated (nothing new). The narration is dull and unengaging. I doubt that even US readers would find it relatable or interesting
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