Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories Audiobook By Michael Shermer, The Great Courses cover art

Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories

What We Should and Shouldn't Believe - and Why

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories

By: Michael Shermer, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Michael Shermer
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.59

Buy for $16.59

Millions of Americans buy into conspiracy theories. Did you know that...

  • 81 percent of Americans believe more than one person was responsible for the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
  • 1/3 of this country thinks 9/11 was an “inside job” by the Bush administration?
  • 21 percent believes aliens crash-landed in Roswell and are being hidden in Area 51?
  • 7 percent are convinced that the moon landing was faked?

What causes some people to advocate these unfounded—often disproven—ideas as reality? And why is the power of conspiracies so compelling that they can motivate people to act, some even participating in acts of violence?

In this eye-opening Audible Original, Professor Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and the host of the Science Salon podcast, takes you through some of the most prevalent conspiracy theories in history, giving you a clear understanding of how and why they came about, who was likely to believe and perpetuate them, and the reality behind these beliefs.

Whether you are looking for the truth regarding popular conspiracy theories; are fascinated by the psychology of why people buy into them; or are interested in how they shaped and were shaped by history, this course will provide you all the tools you need to better understand the pervasiveness of conspiracy theories.

©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC. Media Studies Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Popular Culture Social Sciences Suspenseful Funny Scary Thought-Provoking Witty Critical Theory

Our favorite moments from Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories

Chapter 2, Lecture 1: The Difference between Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories
  • Chapter 2, Lecture 1: The Difference between Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories
Mass-killer manifesto
-0.00
Chapter 6, Lecture 7: The Conspiracy Detection Kit
  • Chapter 6, Lecture 7: The Conspiracy Detection Kit
Russia manipulates US social media.
-0.00
Chapter 11, Lecture 12: The Real X-Files: Conspiracy Theories in Myth and Reality
  • Chapter 11, Lecture 12: The Real X-Files: Conspiracy Theories in Myth and Reality
"And you greet me with bombs!"
-0.00
  • Chapter 2, Lecture 1: The Difference between Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories
  • Mass-killer manifesto
  • Chapter 6, Lecture 7: The Conspiracy Detection Kit
  • Russia manipulates US social media.
  • Chapter 11, Lecture 12: The Real X-Files: Conspiracy Theories in Myth and Reality
  • "And you greet me with bombs!"
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
.

About the Professor

Dr. Michael Shermer is the publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of the Science Salon podcast, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101, a course in how to think like a scientist. For 18 years he was a monthly columnist for Scientific American. Dr. Shermer is the New York Times best-selling author of numerous books including Heavens on Earth, The Moral Arc, The Believing Brain, The Mind of the Market, Why Darwin Matters, The Science of Good and Evil, and Why People Believe Weird Things. Dr. Shermer received his BA in psychology from Pepperdine University, his MA in experimental psychology from California State University and his PhD in the history of science from Claremont Graduate University. He has been a college professor since 1979, has appeared on such shows as The Colbert Report, 20/20, and Dateline, and is a guest on such popular podcasts as The Joe Rogan Experience. Dr. Shermer was co-host and co-producer of the television series Exploring the Unknown.

Comprehensive Analysis • Critical Thinking Tools • Clear Voice • Historical Examples • Balanced Perspective

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
Great listen! Shermer does a great job as always! Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly engrossing stuff!

Great listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thought this would be an interesting description of the conspiracy theories people believe. Instead, it was a lecture on what kind of people believe in them. OK, but disappointing.

Not What I Thought

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I'm no Trump fan, but the kicking a dead horse Trump and his insane antics) while giving today's CNN and others narrative silence is unfortunate.

Free pass on liberal media

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
While reading this book, one must remember that most conspiracies are unbelievably inconceivable until they have been proven otherwise. A conspiracy theory that has not yet been proven can not necessarily be labeled as false.

Informative, Interesting and Slightly Biased

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I had listened to the Believing Brain Audiobook so felt repetitive, but the best parts were the real conspiracies, sometimes they really are out to get you.

Excellent education on real and fake conspiracies

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews