Conspiracy 101: An Authoritative Examination of the Greatest Conspiracies in American Politics.
Conspiracy 101: An Authoritative Examination of the Greatest Conspiracies in American Politics.

Author: Paul Debole

Publisher: Beaufort Books

Published: 2022-08-29

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 9780825309823

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For decades, society has viewed "conspiracy theorists" as people who live in their parents' basement, wearing baseball caps lined with aluminum to keep the Martian death rays away. But the truth is that conspiracies are not reserved for people with a tenuous grasp of reality; to some extent, we all want to know the unknowable. In Conspiracy 101, political science professor Paul DeBole delves into the why, how, and what of conspiracy theories: why humans are prone to believing--and spreading--misinformation; how the nature of our political institutions fosters distrust, paving the way for conspiracy theories to run rampant; and what we can do to filter out theories that are not based on fact, but rather hearsay, innuendo, or just a "strong feeling." He then breaks down the most notorious conspiracy theories in American politics, including the Lincoln kidnapping plot and his subsequent assassination, the possible escape and eventual suicide of John Wilkes Booth, the JFK assassination, the RFK assassination, Watergate, the Vast Right-Wing conspiracy, as well as modern-day conspiracies based on misinformation and "fake news."

Conspiracy 101:
Conspiracy 101:

Author: Ava Fails

Publisher: ProWebWriter.com

Published: 2014-02-06

Total Pages: 71

ISBN-13:

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Have you ever asked yourself "What's really going on?" after watching a news story? Maybe you have wondered, "What is the government REALLY doing?" Perhaps you've caught a slip of something an "official" shouldn't have said and wanted to know the other side of the story. Conspiracy Theory 101 explores some of these situations. When the government is silent, theories fill the space in a genuine effort to see the big picture.

Debunking 9/11 Myths
Debunking 9/11 Myths

Author: David Dunbar

Publisher: Union Square + ORM

Published: 2011-08-02

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 1588168557

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“9/11 conspiracy theorists beware: Popular Mechanics has popped your paranoid bubble world, using pointed facts and razor-sharp analysis.” —Austin Bay, national security columnist (Creators Syndicate) and coauthor of From Shield to Storm Decades after the World Trade Center disaster, rampant speculation abounds on what actually happened. Wild talk flourishes on the Internet, TV, and radio. Was the Pentagon really struck by a missile? Was the untimely death of Barry Jennings, who witnessed the collapse of Tower 7 and thought he heard “explosions,” actually an assassination? Not everyone is convinced the truth is out there. Once again, in this updated edition of the critically acclaimed Debunking 9/11 Myths, Popular Mechanics counters the conspiracy theorists with a dose of hard, cold facts. The magazine consulted more than 300 experts in fields like air traffic control, aviation, civil engineering, firefighting, and metallurgy, and then rigorously, meticulously, and scientifically analyzed the twenty-five most persistent 9/11 conspiracy theories. Each one was conclusively refuted with facts, not politics and rumors, including five new myths involving the collapse of 7 World Trade Center and four longstanding conjectures now considered in the context of new research. “A reliable and rational answer to the many fanciful conspiracy theories about 9/11 . . . What happened on 9/11 has been well established by the 9/11 Commission. What did not happen has now been clearly explained by Popular Mechanics.” —Richard A. Clarke, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Against All Enemies “Do you have a friend who emails you the most recent documentary ‘proving’ that a missile impacted the Pentagon or that timed explosions brought down WTC-7? Buy him a copy of this book. He’ll thank you later.” —The Weekly Standard

Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories

Author: Richard Greene

Publisher: Open Court Publishing

Published: 2020-01-07

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 081269483X

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Conspiracy theories have become a major element in modern opinion formation. From the theory that the killing of President Kennedy was masterminded by a powerful conspiracy to the theory that 9/11 was an inside job, from the story that Barack Obama wasn’t born in America to the story that Donald Trump was a Russian asset, conspiracy theories have become a major element in opinion formation and an ever-present influence, sometimes open, sometimes hidden, on the daily headline news. In Conspiracy Theories, philosophers of diverse backgrounds and persuasions focus their lenses on the phenomenon of the conspiracy theory, its psychological causes, its typical shape, and its political consequences. Among the questions addressed: ● What’s the formula for designing a contagious conspiracy theory? ● Where does conspiracy theorizing end and investigative reporting begin? ● What can we learn about conspiracy theories from the three movie treatments of the Kennedy assassination (The Parallax View, JFK, and Interview with the Assassin)? ● Does political powerlessness generate conspiracy theories? ● Is conspiracy theorizing essentially an instinct that lies behind all belief in religion and all striving for a meaningful life? ● Can we find conspiracy theories in all political movements for centuries past? ● What are the most common types of fallacious reasoning that tend to support conspiracy theories? ● Is there a psychological disorder at the root of conspiracy theories? ● Why is the number of flat-earthers growing?

Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies
Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies

Author: Christopher Hodapp

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-02-04

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 1118052021

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Entering the world of conspiracy theories and secret societies is like stepping into a distant, parallel universe where the laws of physics have completely changed: black means white, up is down, and if you want to understand what’s really going on, you need a good reference book. That’s where Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies comes in. Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, this fascinating guide, packed with the latest information, walks you through some of the most infamous conspiracy theories — such as Area 51 and the assassination of JFK — and introduces you to such mysterious organizations as the Freemasons, the Ninjas, the Mafia, and Rosicrucians. This behind-the-curtain guide helps you separate fact from fiction and helps you the global impact of these mysterious events and groups on our modern world. Discover how to: Test a conspiracy theory Spot a sinister secret society Assess the Internet’s role in fueling conspiracy theories Explore world domination schemes Evaluate 9/11 conspiracy theories Figure out who “they” are Grasp the model on which conspiracy theories are built Figure out whether what “everybody knows” is true Distinguish on assassination brotherhood from another Understand why there’s no such thing as a “lone assassin” Why do hot dogs come in packages of ten, while buns come in eight-packs? Everybody knows its a conspiracy, right? Find out in Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies.

Suspicious Minds
Suspicious Minds

Author: Rob Brotherton

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2015-11-19

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 147291564X

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'A first class book' Sunday Times We're all conspiracy theorists. Some of us just hide it better than others. Conspiracy theorists do not wear tin-foil hats (for the most part). They are not just a few kooks lurking on the paranoid fringes of society with bizarre ideas about shape-shifting reptilian aliens running society in secret. They walk among us. They are us. Everyone loves a good conspiracy. Yet conspiracy theories are not a recent invention. And they are not always a harmless curiosity. In Suspicious Minds, Rob Brotherton explores the history and consequences of conspiracism, and delves into the research that offers insights into why so many of us are drawn to implausible, unproven and unproveable conspiracy theories. They resonate with some of our brain's built-in quirks and foibles, and tap into some of our deepest desires, fears, and assumptions about the world. The fascinating and often surprising psychology of conspiracy theories tells us a lot – not just why we are drawn to theories about sinister schemes, but about how our minds are wired and, indeed, why we believe anything at all. Conspiracy theories are not some psychological aberration – they're a predictable product of how brains work. This book will tell you why, and what it means. Of course, just because your brain's biased doesn't always mean you're wrong. Sometimes conspiracies are real. Sometimes, paranoia is prudent.

COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories
COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

Author: John Bodner,

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2020-11-21

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 9781476684673

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As the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) spread around the world, so did theories, stories, and conspiracy beliefs about it. These theories infected communities from the halls of Congress to Facebook groups, spreading quickly in newspapers, on various social media and between friends. They spurred debate about the origins, treatment options and responses to the virus, creating distrust towards public health workers and suspicion of vaccines. This book examines the most popular Covid-19 theories, connecting current conspiracy beliefs to long-standing fears and urban legends. By examining the vehicles and mechanisms of Covid-19 conspiracy, readers can better understand how theories spread and how to respond to misinformation.

Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in American History [2 volumes]
Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in American History [2 volumes]

Author: Christopher R. Fee

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2019-05-24

Total Pages: 869

ISBN-13: 144085811X

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This up-to-date introduction to the complex world of conspiracies and conspiracy theories provides insight into why millions of people are so ready to believe the worst about our political, legal, religious, and financial institutions. Unsupported theories provide simple explanations for catastrophes that are otherwise difficult to understand, from the U.S. Civil War to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Ideas about shadowy networks that operate behind a cloak of secrecy, including real organizations like the CIA and the Mafia and imagined ones like the Illuminati, additionally provide a way for people to criticize prevailing political and economic arrangements, while for society's disadvantaged and forgotten groups, conspiracy theories make their suffering and alienation comprehensible and provide a focal point for their economic or political frustrations. These volumes detail the highly controversial and influential phenomena of conspiracies and conspiracy theories in American society. Through interpretive essays and factual accounts of various people, organizations, and ideas, the reader will gain a much greater appreciation for a set of beliefs about political scheming, covert intelligence gathering, and criminal rings that has held its grip on the minds of millions of American citizens and encouraged them to believe that the conspiracies may run deeper, and with a global reach.

Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories

Author: The New York Times Editorial Staff

Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Published: 2019-07-15

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 1642822132

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Who really killed JFK? Was 9/11 an inside job? Has anyone seen Obama's birth certificate? Conspiracy theories have been around for years, often surrounding the lives of political figures and national tragedies. In recent years, conspiracy theories have been moving from the fringes to the mainstream, receiving national attention from Alex Jones' Infowars, and President Donald Trump's embrace of far-right conspiracies. The articles in this book trace conspiracy theories from their historical foundations to their modern representations, showing how these ideas can grow until they have a life of their own. Media literacy questions and terms will challenge readers to further analyze reporting styles, devices, and the veracity of sources.