Reviews

A fascinating look at of how fear of the "other" has shaped American history. The author shows how rather than being one-off's of bizarre beliefs that pop-up out of the blue, conspiracy theories have been with us since the beginning. From the founding fathers right through the Trump phenomena, fear of change inspires the strangest beliefs that then culminate in some of the most heinous actions. We've gone from believing that secret plots threathen our government to believing in secret plots come from our government, but they all originate from a fear that we will be worse off if someone else is granted the same rights and privileges we ourselves enjoy - be in Catholic, Irish, Jews, and the formerly enslaved in years past, to immigrants, "elites" and still, the Jews in more modern times. That's not to say there hasn't been conspiracies - the difference being that the those were based in fact that could be investigated and ultimately exposed. Today's conspiracists will claim "lack of evidence IS evidence" and reason can't be used to persuade otherwise. Conspiracies pervade both political parties. Conservatives tend to believe conspiracies coming from the governement while liberals tend to believe conspiracies coming from big corporations. I know after reading this I feel more inspired to question why I believe what I do.

The author reminds us that it's easy to give in to despair, but hope is the braver course. Actual conspiracies have been exposed when everyday citizens saw something and said something. The absurd conspiracies die away as the fear they promoted changes and is no longer a threat, only to resurface when a new fear presents itself. (Society didn't collapse after the 8 hr work day was introduced afterall.) People who fall down these rabbit holes of conspiracy theories tend to feel outside of society and excluded in some way. Belief in the theory du jour offers a feeling of superiority - they are wise to the secret and therefore superior to the sheeple who believe what they are fed by mass media. We can all work to be better neighbors and citizens who are inclusive and actually know one another. There is no easy fix, just many small points of connection and inclusion.