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Loading... Voodoo Histories (2010)by David Aaronovitch
Ocasionally interesting but a disappointment overall. (  ) Sullywriter | Apr 3, 2013 |  Aaronovitch traces various conspiracy theories throughout the 20th century, from WWI to the birther movement. He details their origins and outcomes, as well as all of the evidence from either side. Also a pretty fascinating look at the psychology behind such and why we may just NEED conspiracy theories in order to function as humans. (  ) ScoutJ | Mar 31, 2013 | Starts with the common characteristics of conspiracy theories. covers: Protocols of the Elders of Zion, McCarthy's Red Scare, JFK's assassination, Marilyn Monroe's death, Bill Clinton's Arkansas days, Bush and 9/11, Diana's accident, as well as others. The Round Robin of rotating citations of questionable references and resources. Downright comical evidence. (  ) michellebarton | Mar 14, 2013 | Entertaining survey of conspiracy theories from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion to the current belief amongst some that President Obama was not born in the United States. The author shows how although the content of conspiracy theories may vary, the dynamics and personnel involved are often similar. He tries to explain why conspiracy theories are popular (human beings prefer narrative explanations and they plug into anxieties about social or political change of those who perceive themselves as disadvantaged by the changes). ( ) Robertgreaves | Jan 13, 2013 | I felt on reading that this book attempted to do one thing and did another. It felt as though the author intended to write an overarching view of conspiracies, how they're not just silly beliefs but have real consequences, and examine why people believe them. What he actually happened was he often became mired down in debunking the theory and loses track of the overall message. He does manage to draw up an overall idea but the book could have been cut down to make to more concise. Also, I felt a few times that he was getting a little personal about certain conspiracy theorists, exploring a few of their backgrounds to show how the beliefe can come from experience and how people become invested in theories is one thing, the biography of everyone who attened a certain meeting I can't now remember the name of and I never really established the importance of wasn't. (  ) TPauSilver | Dec 27, 2012 |
 ...a sweeping tour of the paranoid style in Western politics by David Aaronovitch, a British journalist. In his account, which runs from “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” down to the obsession over Obama’s birth certificate, the pendulum of paranoia is constantly swinging from right to left and back again, depending on which faction feels more powerless and put-upon.  Mr. Aaronovitch deconstructs a dizzying array of conspiracy theories in these pages with unsparing logic, common sense and at times exasperated wit. In the book, Aaronovitch tackles the intriguing question of why well-educated, reasonable people sometimes believe "perfectly ridiculous things."
References to this work on external resources.
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