Why People Believe Weird Things

Michael Shermer systematically addresses why humans believe weird and extraordinary things. He even makes a case that we are hard-wired for it. Further—and this should make most of us feel better about our strange thinking—he shows how even highly intelligent people sometimes believe in pseudoscience and other extraordinary claims. 

Shermer has long been a champion of rationality, exposing fraudsters and scam artists. He is a brilliant orator as well as a science communicator in his writing. Here he attacks superstition, pseudoscience, and anti-science beliefs such as creationism. In his typical acerbic wit, he demolishes many of the deeply held beliefs that he argues hold back the progression of humanity and society. Not as extreme nor focused on religion, Shermer points his critical finger at all unfounded claims, especially those that exploit others.

Why People Believe Weird Things is a classic, must-read in the areas of critical thinking and skepticism. But, the reason I love Michael Shermer’s book so much is that he clearly explains why people believe the strangest of things without patronizing his opponents. In doing so, the book reaches a very compelling demonstration of how anyone’s search for meaning and spiritual fulfillment can result in the beliefs in extraordinary claims and controversial ideas. For example, Shermer explains why people may truly believe that they were held by aliens or have recovered a memory of childhood satanic-ritual abuse in terms of… show more.