Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational

Shermer’s (Why People Believe Weird Things) latest work is organized in two parts: the first details the psychology behind belief in conspiracies; the second half uses this knowledge to break down popular conspiracies, including the 9/11 truth movement, Obama birthers, and the JFK assassination. In addition to terms and examples, there are solid insights that show that when faced with facts that contradict belief, most will double down on their beliefs, creating a cognitive dissonance that’s hard to counter. 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 copy of Skeptic Research Center’s 2021 poll on conspiracies appears at the end of the book, providing insights into the composition of current conspiracists—a composition that may be surprising to some.