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The Audible Original for The Great Courses is a somewhat abbreviated version of this book and well worth it if you're looking for something a bit more bite-sized. <--but still delicious!



The conspiracies covered are interesting. And I loved the way he peeled apart the difference between the "evidence" we've heard via pop culture that has propagated some of these theories into large-scale societal beliefs vs the facts that we should be looking at. Sometimes we subconsciously assume things to be true or probably true without even realizing why or how we came to that conclusion. The conspiracies are just out there in the ether with believableish sounding talking points.
The first line of defense against gullibility is to take a rational look around and try to shake our ingrained reaction toward confirmation bias.
For example, the CIA has done shady and illegal things in the past does not equal JFK was killed by the CIA, but an overwhelming number of people still believe this to be at least somewhat true.



The biggest difference I noticed between this and The Great Courses version, was that at the end of this book, it discusses how to talk to people who hold both fringe and mainstream conspiracy theories without it turning into a heated argument. Or losing relationships over the disagreements.
I really like the way Shermer is open to criticizing both sides of the political fence over their pet conspiracies. Also, that we should all be not only talking to but actively listening to people with ideas we disagree with. That's really the only way we can find the underlying causes to help us untangle the reasons behind what seems like vast gulfs of belief between family, friends, and neighbors.



Some of the more prevalent and disproven conspiracy theories tell us a lot about not only ourselves but our cultural and societal worries.
We are creatures who are hardwired to need answers. Conspiracies happen, so it's not at all crazy to stop and take a look at them. But it is important to take a look at the actual evidence and make an informed, rational, neutral decision on which ones to believe.
And it is also VERY important to look in the mirror and realize that what you would like to believe is going to make you biased. I try hard to untangle myself from my emotions when I listen to new information but I usually fail and end up with some kind of biased gut-reaction takeover of my mouth.



So that's my (belated) New Year's resolution. Shut up and listen. Take a step back. Then take a deep breath and attempt some unbiased research. Go into conversations with an open mind, and the idea that what I believe may be wrong.
I'm not, of course. Pffft. <--damn, that's a hard habit to break.
At the very least, my hope is that I'll end up with a broader understanding of the people around me, and I think this book will go a long way to helping me reach that goal.

Recommended.