Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

Revised and Expanded Edition.

In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print, Why People Believe Weird Things debunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science.

Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes. Why People Believe Strange Things is an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them.
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Recent Reviews

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Sep-23-2009; "why people believe weird things", or stupid stuff people believe and how it is stupid; The book does a fine job rationally dissing and debunking fringe and/or unscientific beliefs like Holocaust denial (which gets a disproportionate chunk of the book), creationism, ghosts and witch crazes -so if your looking for a book...; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-17-2009; Thought-provoking, but poorly titled; Though I don't usually highlight books, I kept a highlighter handy while reading this one, because it's full of excellent insights backed by impressively thorough research. Author and Skeptic magazine publisher Michael Shermer astutely...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-27-2009; Misleading Title led to a very "slow read"; I expected to read a fun book about why people believe weird things as that is the title. However, shame on me for not skimming the book more carefully in the book store. I thought a chapter on cults would explain in details how people...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-27-2009; Misleading Title led to a very "slow read"; I expected to read a fun book about why people believe weird things as that is the title. However, shame on me for not skimming the book more carefully in the book store. I thought a chapter on cults would explain in details how people...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-17-2009; Thought-provoking, but poorly titled; Though I don't usually highlight books, I kept a highlighter handy while reading this one, because it's full of excellent insights backed by impressively thorough research. Author and Skeptic magazine publisher Michael Shermer astutely...; read full review | report as inappropriate

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Sep-23-2009; "why people believe weird things", or stupid stuff people believe and how it is stupid; The book does a fine job rationally dissing and debunking fringe and/or unscientific beliefs like Holocaust denial (which gets a disproportionate chunk of the book), creationism, ghosts and witch crazes -so if your looking for a book...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jul-27-2009; Misleading Title led to a very "slow read"; I expected to read a fun book about why people believe weird things as that is the title. However, shame on me for not skimming the book more carefully in the book store. I thought a chapter on cults would explain in details how people...; read full review | report as inappropriate