by Michael Shermer
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Product Description
Revised and Expanded Edition.
In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print, Why People Believe Weird Things debunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science.
Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes. Why People Believe Strange Things is an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them.
Amazon.com Review
Few can talk with more personal authority about the range of human beliefs than Michael Shermer. At various times in the past, Shermer has believed in fundamentalist Christianity, alien abductions, Ayn Rand, megavitamin therapy, and deep-tissue massage. Now he believes in skepticism, and his motto is "Cognite tute--think for yourself." This updated edition of Why People Believe Weird Things covers Holocaust denial and creationism in considerable detail, and has chapters on abductions, Satanism, Afrocentrism, near-death experiences, Randian positivism, and psychics. Shermer has five basic answers to the implied question in his title: for consolation, for immediate gratification, for simplicity, for moral meaning, and because hope springs eternal. He shows the kinds of errors in thinking that lead people to believe weird (that is, unsubstantiated) things, especially the built-in human need to see patterns, even where there is no pattern to be seen. Throughout, Shermer emphasizes that skepticism (in his sense) does not need to be cynicism: "Rationality tied to moral decency is the most powerful joint instrument for good that our planet has ever known." --Mary Ellen Curtin
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Skeptical os skepticism, 2008-11-29
Why People Believe weird Things--Michael Shermer
Strong bias is provided in the book which itself has much pseudoscience in the guise of science
0 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Skeptics who don't know anything about the paranormal shouldn't be writing books on them!, 2008-10-15
It annoys me when skeptics who don't know anything about the paranormal write books on them and pretend to be experts.
In Demon Haunted World for example, Sagan never even met any alien abductees, yet he devotes a whole chapter to them?
If you ask a real researcher like Bud Hopkins, who has interviewed hundreds of abductees, you'll learn a lot more than this pseudo-skeptic and scientist Sagan who is trying to bat out of his league.
These debunkers never present the best arguments from the paranormal believers/experiencers side. They just build up straw mens and knock them down.
Plus they insult our intelligence, with notions like astrology is all general hits that fit everyone. If that was the case, no one would believe in it. Duh! Truth is, they are not general hits, but highly specific.
The vedic version of astrology as well as the Chinese purple heart astrology, are even far more accurate and specific than the western astrology.
And FYI, science is not "a candle in the dark". Science is a tool, a useful one at that, but it does not have a position on whether the paranormal is true or false. That's something that pseudo-skeptics try to do, is make science appear to have a say in all this when it doesn't. Scientists may have their opinions, but not science itself.
See my essay which exposes the fallacies and misinformation that skeptics spread about the paranormal, to get a dose of truth.
[...]
Also see my youtube channel where I expose some of the lies and misinformation James Randi spread about Uri Geller.
[...]
Thanks,
Winston
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
 Well thought out book showing how even smart people can believe weird things., 2008-08-04
Well written easy to understand book about the psychology of how people (even smart people) can fall into common logical fallacies and come to wrong conclusions if they aren't careful.
Must read.
2 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
 debunkers are losers!, 2008-07-31
debunkers are losers
whats the difference between debunkers and Christian fundamentalist..there isn't one there!
there both cults!
there is an esoteric side to life that the scientist don't know much about..I have had experience with ESP,OBE and helped make 2 documentary's on UFO phenomena.The reason people believe in strange things is because TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!
I have no time for sceptic debunkers
OBTW it's possible to get 3 pairs dice correct in a row! Because I have done it (without conscious effort) "small inner voice"..it comes to when NOT thinking about it.
all I can say to debunkers..is get real..it's DIRECT EXPERIENCE!..positive people know the truth!
I feel sorry for debunkers..
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Why People Believe, 2008-07-30
Great book by Michael Shermer and a foreward by Stephen Jay Could.
I love the section on History and Pseudohistory-Holocaust- Debunking the deniers
Great book to retool our "Skepticism Radar".
Question....everything!
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