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Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories
- What We Should and Shouldn't Believe - and Why
- Narrated by: Michael Shermer
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
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Publisher's summary
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.
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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.
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- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- As Told to Alex Haley
- By: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
- Narrated by: Laurence Fishburne
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.
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it's Nearly perfect
- By Kerry on 09-16-20
By: Malcolm X, and others
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The Antidote
- Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking
- By: Oliver Burkeman
- Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
- Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
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The Antidote is a series of journeys among people who share a single, surprising way of thinking about life. What they have in common is a hunch about human psychology: that it’s our constant effort to eliminate the negative that causes us to feel so anxious, insecure, and unhappy. And that there is an alternative "negative path" to happiness and success that involves embracing the things we spend our lives trying to avoid.
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The Antidote explores the negative path.
- By Bonny on 05-15-14
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I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)
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- By: Brené Brown
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Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we're all in this together.
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I'm sure its great if you are a mother ....
- By Leslie A Hill on 08-09-11
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The Parole Room
- By: Ben Austen
- Narrated by: Ben Austen
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
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Will Johnnie Veal—convicted of the murder of two police officers in 1970—be granted parole after 50 years in prison? How can he convince the parole board he’s reformed when he insists he’s innocent? What is prison time even supposed to accomplish? These are the questions that propel The Parole Room forward as it builds toward Johnnie’s 20th parole hearing—after 19 rejections.
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Enlightening story & a must read
- By Patsy on 10-07-24
By: Ben Austen
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Eight Dates
- Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
- By: John Gottman PhD, Julie Schwartz Gottman PhD, Doug Abrams, and others
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin, Julie McKay
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
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Navigating the challenges of long-term commitment takes effort - and it just got simpler, with this empowering, step-by-step guide to communicating about the things that matter most to you and your partner. Drawing on 40 years of research from their world-famous Love Lab, Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman invite couples on eight fun, easy, and profoundly rewarding dates, each one focused on a make-or-break issue: trust, conflict, sex, money, family, adventure, spirituality, and dreams.
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What the F. Robot-reader???!?!?!
- By Anonymous User on 01-21-20
By: John Gottman PhD, and others
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Helter Skelter
- The True Story of the Manson Murders
- By: Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 26 hrs and 29 mins
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Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the 20th century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Now available for the first time in unabridged audio, the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime is brought to life by acclaimed narrator Scott Brick.
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Everything I remembered about the case was wrong..
- By karen on 06-22-12
By: Vincent Bugliosi, and others
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Far more politics than fraternity.
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From Halloween costumes to patriotic parades to belly-busting meals, every holiday tradition tells a unique story—one encoded in symbols and layered meanings that stretch back over the centuries. In 19 lectures, professional storyteller Dr. Hannah B. Harvey takes listeners through the seasons and investigates the surprising stories behind seemingly odd holiday traditions.
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An enjoyable listen, but a few inaccuracies
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A reader's digest version of many other good books
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Who wrote Great Expectations? That’s easy: Charles Dickens. Who’s the author of Beloved? Toni Morrison, of course. Now how about the Old Testament? You’d think for a book as widely known, studied, and distributed as the Bible, the question of authorship would have been sorted out by now. But the question is more complex (and fascinating) than it seems. Why? Because asking it is to challenge everything we might assume about the Bible’s identity as a book, about what “writing” and “authorship” really mean, and about how a written text could become sacred.
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What a Great Courses Book Is Meant to Be
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Grab a flashlight and go monster-hunting in the safe company of Adam Jortner, award-winning professor of religion at Auburn University. You’ll encounter chilling tales of living houses, sentient plants, psychotic toys, brain-eating zombies, and otherworldly beings whose mere name is enough to drive people insane. Along the way, you’ll learn how monster stories change how Americans think and what Americans do, how they shape the history of our country, and what secrets about human nature these inhuman monsters can share.
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Great entertaining listen
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We are living in the most moral period of our species’ history. Best-selling author Michael Shermer’s most accomplished and ambitious book to date demonstrates how the scientific way of thinking has made people, and society as a whole, more moral. Ever since the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment thinkers consciously applied the methods of science to solve social and moral problems.
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Us is getting bigger, them is getting smaller
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delightful
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In The Science of Good and Evil, psychologist and science historian Michael Shermer explores how humans evolved from social primates into moral primates, how and why morality motivates the human animal, and how the foundation of moral principles can be built upon empirical evidence. Along the way he explains the implications of scientific findings for fate and free will, the existence of pure good and pure evil, and the development of early moral sentiments among the first humans.
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Read by author
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Throughout history, women have played integral roles in family, society, religion, government, war - in short, in all aspects of human civilization. Their contributions have often shaped history and shifted the axis of power for later generations of women. And yet, unearthing their stories from the historical record has often been a challenge. In Powerful Women of the Medieval World, Professor Dorsey Armstrong will introduce you to 10 amazing women who played vital roles in the Middle Ages.
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Very good! I wish I would have began listening to the Great Courses sooner.
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The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle called man a political animal. But what did he mean by that? What is democracy? How do democracies differ from one another? How do they stack up against their alternatives, like dictatorship? And can democracy survive the many challenges it faces today? To answer these questions, look no further than Democracy and Its Alternatives. Political science, history, and current affairs rolled into one, these 24 lectures investigate democratic government in theory and practice.
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Very Informative
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Education can be enriching and transformative. It can also be downright excruciating—even demoralizing. When it comes to learning, why are some of us lovers and some of us haters? Welcome to the world of educational psychology, which uses science to explore what causes people to engage and learn, and what we can do to make learning opportunities more enjoyable and impactful. Spoiler alert: Teachers can only do so much. Students, too, must take control of their learning. Unfortunately, many of us never, ahem, learned the skills to do just that.
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Like sitting through a middle school class
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UFO abductions, television psychics, paranormal phenomena, skeptics and believers alike, find themselves debating truths and lies in the strange web of pseudoscience and the occult. Now, director of the Skeptics Society Michael Shermer explores the very human reasons why we find other worldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing.
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No Why, not Know Why
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The Iliad of Homer
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For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the
Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people. Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece -whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the
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Vandiver never disappoints
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Denying History
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Denying History takes a bold and in-depth look at those who say the Holocaust never happened and explores the motivations behind such claims. While most commentators have dismissed the Holocaust deniers as antisemitic neo-Nazi thugs who do not deserve a response, historians Michael Shermer and Alex Grobman have immersed themselves in the minds and culture of these Holocaust "revisionists." In the process, they show how we can be certain that the Holocaust happened.
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Please don't let this guy read his own work!!!
- By Laurie on 11-30-09
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Conspiracy Theories
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Where did the coronavirus outbreak originate, and was the pandemic predicted? Did aliens help to build the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza, and what were they trying to tell us? Is the food industry colluding to make us addicted to sugar? Prepare yourself for some startling revelations on these topics and many more in this updated and expanded compendium of the world’s scariest and strangest conspiracy theories.
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What listeners say about Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- david malaguti
- 01-21-24
misleading, disappointing
The first 7 lectures were spent explaining this inquiry as an academic pursuit.
(about five lectures too much..)
Schermer's politics also make make me suspect his motives;
He vocally defended the Trump- Russia hoax. he called the wuhan lab leak theory a "right-wing hoax" and he dismissed hunter's laptop.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lisa Gilkison
- 11-02-21
Explained well.
I like how it's broken down & explained how good people believe these conspiracies.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jt1111
- 04-07-22
Great
I will read anything Dr. Shermer puts out. His logic is so concise would recommend!
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- William
- 08-23-21
But I Heard on FB...
Another of the “Great Courses” of lectures by university professors, this course is a bit briefer than some but still complete enough. But, if you’re expecting a discussion of various conspiracy theories with arguments for or against them, note the subtitle. Professor Michael Shermer does pick up some theories and some that are not just “theories” but certainly real and true conspiracies and uses them as examples or illustrations, but the focus of this book if more on helping us to understand them and be better equipped to judge between those that are true or possibly true and those that are likely not or certainly not.
With that goal, Shermer has succeeded fairly well. He reminds us to make a distinction between conspiracies (secret plots) and conspiracy theories (what people think might be a secret plot). Shermer is not trying to convince you to disbelieve in all conspiracies. Conspiracies are real and are carried out by groups of individuals, government officials, and business. But, how can we decide which ones are believable? Some of the lectures touch on subjects that you may already have heard about, such as cognitive biases and why the theories can hold such sway. He discusses how to rate them according to probability. He talks about how difficult it is to carry out a conspiracy and thus the more complicated and the more people are involved, the more likely it is to fail. He gives us a conspiracy detection kit and then finally does review some of the more famous ones (from some that are almost certainly false to some that are proven to be true) including 9/11, Obama’s birthplace, the JFK assassination, the tobacco companies hiding of the tobacco/cancer link, drug companies, and what he calls “the Deadliest Conspiracy Theory in History,” the plot to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand which was the catalyst for World War I which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 million people, enabled the Spanish Flu (which started in Kansas, not in Spain) to spread around the world, brought on an economic collapse in Europe and the Great Depression, sped up the collapse of the Colonial Empires, and set the stage for the Russian Revolution as well as WWII. And, it was carried out by a group of 6 men.
There are some caveats. The author is strongly biased against any idea of a belief in transcendence and several times states that the theistic belief that “everything happens for a reason” allows some people to more readily look for a conspiracy to explain what may well be chance. But, he then evokes science as a search for the reason behind all things. He shows his misunderstanding of transcendentalists who can believe in a sovereign God who allows man to make choices, even evil ones. He disparages the idea of a God with a “secret” plan for the universe but misunderstands the distinction between “secret” and “mystery.” He also forgets that while science rightly seeks truth through data, this is still a theoretical ideal because scientists also have biases, preconceptions, and emotions. Transcendentalism is not intuitive any more or less than empiricism. Modern research has shown that we don’t believe because of data. We believe because of our emotional side and we tend to see the data that supports that belief. There are checks and procedures that try to minimize and overcome that, but it’s still true of scientists and of him.
Nonetheless, the lectures are worth listening to and there is much to learn. Despite this criticism, the lectures are quite balanced and they are certainly relevant to today when it seems that people see conspiracies in every corner.
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- Craig S.
- 09-18-19
Great listen!
Great listen! Shermer does a great job as always! Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly engrossing stuff!
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10 people found this helpful
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- William
- 03-01-20
Not What I Thought
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.
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- CBH76244
- 08-23-22
Free pass on liberal media
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.
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- Roland
- 06-14-20
Informative, Interesting and Slightly Biased
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.
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- Alan
- 12-03-21
Excellent education on real and fake conspiracies
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.
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- Faithful
- 09-12-21
Worth Your Time
A timely exploration and well researched explanation of what Conspiracy Theories are and what they have done and can do, to harm the social fabric of a nation via eroding public trust. With a close look at how real conspiracies have helped give plausibility to theories. Interesting content that does a good job examining scientific knowledge and historical facts.
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