{"product_id":"why-people-believe-weird-things-book-michael-shermer-9780285638037","title":"Why People Believe Weird Things","description":"A survey of a range of   irrationalisms, with explanations of their empirical and logical flaws, this   book describes the differences between science and pseudo-science, and goes   on to describe and critique popular contemporary irrationalisms.     Why do smart people believe weird things?Why   do so many people believe in mind reading, past-life regression therapy,   extra-terrestrial abduction and ghosts? What is behind the rise of   'scientific creationism' and Holocaust denial? In an age of supposed   scientific enlightenment why do we appear more impressionable than   ever?Scientific historian, and director of the Skeptics Society, Michael   Shermer debunks these extraordinary claims in a no-holds-barred assault on   the popular superstitions and confused prejudices of our time. Exploring the   very human reasons behind otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories and   cults Shermer explains why are they are so appealing to so   many.\"Skepticism is the agent of reason against organized irrationalism   -and is therefore one of the keys to human social and civic   decency.\"Stephen Jay Gould, from his forewordShermer reveals the darker   side of wishful thinking, through the recovered memory movement, satanic   rituals and other modern witch hunts, and ideologies of racial superiority.   Confronting those who take advantage of the gullibility of other people to   advance their own, self-serving agendas Why People Believe Weird Things is   compelling and often disturbing. It is a perceptive portrait of the human   capacity for self-delusion and a celebration of the scientific spirit.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49531756544273,"sku":"GOR002078007","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49652948238609,"sku":"GOR003415760","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50442025304337,"sku":"GOR008564336","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0285638033.jpg?v=1751070351","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/why-people-believe-weird-things-book-michael-shermer-9780285638037","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}