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203 reviews for:
Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything
Kelly Weill
3.83 AVERAGE
203 reviews for:
Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything
Kelly Weill
3.83 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Fine. But much of the early book is boring about conmen doing their grift. Wasn’t the most interesting
I’m writing this a little over a year after finishing it. I remember it as less in depth and insightful than I’d hope, while still being pretty interesting.
I do remember that for me she completely undermines her credibility by stating unequivocally that trans women are women with pretty much no elaboration. I’m not saying that she couldn’t have given a decent explanation for this belief (most likely, “I want to support trans people, which requires me to engage in this polite fiction”). But she didn’t even try!
Writing a whole book about how some people have this frenzied belief in nonsense because their religion requires it of them and then immediately turning and declaring a scientific untruth to be true because your cultural belief system requires it is hilarious and sad, and it completely undermines her credibility.
I do remember that for me she completely undermines her credibility by stating unequivocally that trans women are women with pretty much no elaboration. I’m not saying that she couldn’t have given a decent explanation for this belief (most likely, “I want to support trans people, which requires me to engage in this polite fiction”). But she didn’t even try!
Writing a whole book about how some people have this frenzied belief in nonsense because their religion requires it of them and then immediately turning and declaring a scientific untruth to be true because your cultural belief system requires it is hilarious and sad, and it completely undermines her credibility.
informative
medium-paced
For a book about one of the most ridiculous positions on the face of the planet, Off the Edge is surprisingly understanding and compassionate. While Flat Earthers' gullibility still beggars belief, Weill reveals that there are larger, more sinister forces at play; Flat Earth propaganda has gained traction in the Internet age largely because of its capacity to generate revenue. In the process, people like Mike Hughes lose their lives.
While Weill's style seemingly aspires to narrative nonfiction, each chapter reads more as its own journalistic vignette than as a link in an overarching narrative chain. The result is that reading her book in a disjointed fashion has no negative impact on its enjoyability, but conversely, reading it more smoothly and steadily will not necessarily improve the reading experience.
The final chapter, "Away from the Edge," suggests that there is hope for people to recover from Flat Earth belief, provided that they maintain contact with their relations outside of FE. Weill notes the similarity to established cult deprogramming methods. At the same time, I don't think it's reasonable to expect "Globe Earthers" to go out of their way to maintain relationships with people who have chosen to believe in FE. While there may be hope, I doubt I will be its fount.
While Weill's style seemingly aspires to narrative nonfiction, each chapter reads more as its own journalistic vignette than as a link in an overarching narrative chain. The result is that reading her book in a disjointed fashion has no negative impact on its enjoyability, but conversely, reading it more smoothly and steadily will not necessarily improve the reading experience.
The final chapter, "Away from the Edge," suggests that there is hope for people to recover from Flat Earth belief, provided that they maintain contact with their relations outside of FE. Weill notes the similarity to established cult deprogramming methods. At the same time, I don't think it's reasonable to expect "Globe Earthers" to go out of their way to maintain relationships with people who have chosen to believe in FE. While there may be hope, I doubt I will be its fount.
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The book starts with way too long and detailed of a history lesson on Flat Earth's origins. It gets better as Weill gets into the rise of FE and other conspiracies in modern times.
challenging
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
An informative look into the history of the Flat Earth phenomenon. I don't understand it, it's obvious that the world is round, but so many people, of various backgrounds and educations, do believe the idea that the Earth is flat.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced