Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History - David Aaronovitch

From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 to the assassination of JFK to the Birthers, Aaronvitch probes and explores the major conspiracy theories (and theorists) of our time. In doing so, he examines why people believe these conspiracies, and makes an argument for a true skepticism. \nMeticulous in its research, forensic in its reasoning, robust in its argument, and often hilarious in its debunking... a highly entertaining rumble with the century's major conspiracy theorists and their theories. --John Lahr, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Tennessee Williams \nFrom an award-winning journalist, a history so funny, so true, so scary, it's bound to be called a conspiracy. \n \nOur age is obsessed by the idea of conspiracy. We see it everywhere- from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, from the assassination of Kennedy to the death of Diana. In this age of terrorism we live in, the role of conspiracy is a serious one, one that can fuel radical or fringe elements to violence. \n \nFor David Aaronovitch, there came a time when he started to see a pattern among these inflammatory theories. these theories used similarly murky methods with which to insinuate their claims: they linked themselves to the supposed conspiracies of the past (it happened then so it can happen now); they carefully manipulated their evidence to hide its holes; they relied on the authority of dubious academic sources. Most important, they elevated their believers to membership of an elite- a group of people able to see beyond lies to a higher reality. But why believe something that entails stretching the bounds of probability so far? \n \nIn this entertaining and enlightening book, he examines why people believe conspiracy theories, and makes an argument for a true skepticism: one based on a thorough knowledge of history and a strong dose of common sense.\n