These books are loosely sorted in the order that I would recommend reading them. That is not to say that the books at the end are not good or do not have value. Every book I add to this page is wonderful and has my full recommendation.
Post-Truth – Lee McIntyre
For me, this was the book that started it all. It’s a wonderful overview that includes a number of relevant and concise case studies along with well-reasoned theories about what has caused the alarming growth of misinformation that has followed us into the 21st century. The primary topics covered: McIntyre summarizes what science denial is and provides a historical roadmap, …
Escaping The Rabbit Hole by Mick West
This is a wonderful getting started guide for those trying to help friends, loved ones, or themselves escape conspiratorial or radicalized thought. I’ve bought a half-dozen copies for friends and family. Mick West also hosts the Tales From The Rabbit Hole podcast.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe by Dr. Steven Novella et al.
This is a wonderful overview of skeptical thought and biases that affect the way that every single one of us thinks. A must-read. The team that wrote this book also hosts the wonderful SGU Podcast.
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History – Kurt Andersen
The history of America is inseparable from the influence of various fantasies and their believers, including (but not limited to) religious followings, Disney fanatics, gold seekers, conspiracy theorists, and science denialists of all sorts. Fantasyland is an in-depth history of American fantasies and how they have shaped our culture and public discourse. The topics include: Americanized Religion The Gold Rush …
Calling Bullshit – Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West
Calling Bullshit delves into the science of, well, bullshit. We are surrounded by bullshit these days. This book does well to define bullshit, review the history of bullshit, explore different types of bullshit, and educate its readers about how to spot, manage, and tastefully call-out bullshit.
Respecting Truth by Lee McIntyre
A wonderful review and rebuke of the willful ignorance that is so prevalent these days. It includes a nice mixture of philosophy and a review of modern science regarding how we manage finding truth.
True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society – Farhad Manjoo
True Enough is a wonderful technical overview of how and why The United States have populations that seem to be witnessing completely different realities. From the psychology of selection bias to the economics of decision making, Majoo does a wonderful job outlining the forces acting on each and every American as they try to find Truth.
