Why People Believe Weird Things

By: Michael Shermer

Narrated by: Michael Shermer

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

UFO abductions, television psychics, paranormal phenomena, skeptics and believers alike, find themselves debating truths and lies in the strange web of pseudoscience and the occult. With everyday normal life moving too fast to comprehend, people are turning to the bizarre and wacky for comfort. Now, director of the Skeptics Society Michael Shermer explores the very human reasons why we find other worldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. The eternal search for meaning and spiritual fulfillment leads us astray by extraordinary claims and controversial ideas, particularly those in the realms of superstition and the supernatural. This celebrates the scientific spirit and the joy to be found in rationally exploring the world's greatest mysteries.

©1997, 2002 Michael Shermer

Ok but not as good as How We Believe

This book contained many of the same arguments in the author's other book, How We Believe, with additional discussion of topics such as the Holocaust deniers as well creation scientists. There was too much debunking of the deniers and creationists and not enough analysis of why people believe such things. I suppose the reasons why people believe nonsense is really limited to a few reasons, such as hope, fear, laziness, etc., that are applicable to a variety of situations. There's not a whole lot more that can be said about this.
No need to read both of the author's book. I liked How We Believe much better than this one.

Best Chance to Save Us All!

Me. Shermer is an entertaining and brilliant spokesman for science and against irrationality. His book shows the way to avoid the faulty thinking we can all be afflicted with and respond to those who think they know it all.

A must-read indeed

Reinforcing the importance of critical thinking and scientific scepticism, Shermer communicates his ideas and arguments thoroughly yet concisely. This book is written in a down-to-earth manner which is easily understood by non-experts making it a highly valuable addition to any skeptics toolkit.

Another Great common sense book

you can never go wrong reading a Michael Shermer book, or in this case hearing , as a writer I know the work it takes to put out a book great job

Great book, audio book is condensed

I have had the books for some years now, but I never had time to dedicate to reading it entirely. Some books can be read quickly, while others require your complete attention (at least for me, lol).

Well, I was very excited to find out that Audible had this book, and I was even more excited when I found out that Michael Shermer himself was reading it! The only problem that I had was that the audio book was a condensed version of the book. I noticed when I sat and tried to follow along and saw that it didn't read everything that was on the book.

Regardless, it's a great book and had a great insight of different views of what makes people think the way they do.

This book sadly misses the point.

When I brought this book, I was expecting an audiobook focused on the philosophical and psychological causes of false beliefs. Instead, this book is just a long skeptic diatribe directed towards fraudulent psychics, creationists, UFO abductees and holocaust deniers. The author even took the time to launch himself in a poorly and bitter attack on Ayn Rand that, in my opinion, reeks of personal bitterness. The last ten minutes are dedicated, almost as an afterthought, to summarily explain the "excuses" humans use to believe in "Weird Things".

I was expecting something close to Malcom Gladwell, Sam Harris or Richard Dawkins. Mr. Shermer fell short.

If you want a book to refute Creationism, Holocaust Denial or encounters of the third kind, this Audiobook is pure ammunition for your cause. If you REALLY want to know why people believe in real things, please invest your credit/money elsewhere.

confirming you suspictions

that most people are self delusional or just stupid. Read this and you'll know why.

a bit too nazi centric for my taste

there's too much volume on non believers in the Holocaust, but still very enjoyable and interesting

Worth Listening To

It was very frustrating to go through the pandemic and wonder why people did the weird (and cult-like) things that they did - even if it cost them their lives and the lives of their loved ones. This book was written before the 2020 pandemic, but the logic is timeless and explains a lot.

Short, but good for a start

If you find it hard to answer the question: how do I know if an assertion is valid? or the question: how do skeptics think like? or why do people talk of science so highly? This might be an ok introduction, but I'd recommend either after or instead: The demon haunted world, from Carl Sagan.
It touches similar points, but elaborates further and Carl's style of writing contains less bold assertions - which I think helps when considering new ideas.
But as a quick introduction this book is fine.