This very dense and entirey humorless book is the work of the British/French/ German writer, and Professor of American Studies, at the University of Tubingen, whose research is certainly extensive.
The history of conspiracy theories as he defines them goes back to at least Ancient Rome and includes Churchill and Lincoln as believers. He defines them as a belief that nothing happens by accident, nothing is as it seems, everything is connected and the world is
divided into evil and righteous forces. As such, the witchcraft trials qualify.
Some of the conspiracy theories such as those of David Ickes who proposes that extraterrestrial reptiles are controlling the world are so bizarre that it is hard to believe that anyone could take them seriously. But he has a string of popular books, sold-out audiences for his lectures and piles of merchandise. And his followers span the spectrum of the poor and uneducated to the rich and well educated.
Antisemitism figures prominently in many conspiracies, often in deniable disguise.
The author claims that up to fifty percent of Americans believe some conspiracy theory, and perhaps forty percent of Canadians. This led me to question my own beliefs. I may be considered at least a follower of one such conspiracy theory. Jeanne Calment is stated by Wikipedia to have been the oldest person ever to have lived-to age 122. But a conspiracy theory that I kinda-sorta like and seems to make sense is that her daughter assumed her identity when she died at a much younger age.
Donald Trump’s extensive touting of many conspiracy theories is well known and he has used them to great political davantage, whether he believes them or not.
I can only claim to understand part of this book, but it frightens me to think that human beings are so gullible as to believe many of them, evidence to the contrary be damned
2.5/5.
The Passionate Reader 