The Parasitic Mind

How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense

By: Gad Saad

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

The West’s commitment to freedom, reason, and true liberalism have become endangered by a series of viral forces in our society today. Renowned host of the popular YouTube show, The Saad Truth, Dr. Gad Saad exposes how an epidemic of idea pathogens are spreading like a virus and killing common sense in the West. 

Serving as a powerful follow-up to Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life, Dr. Saad unpacks what is really happening in progressive safe zones, why we need to be paying more attention to these trends, and what we must do to stop the spread of dangerous thinking. 

A professor at Concordia University who has witnessed this troubling epidemic first-hand, Dr. Saad dissects a multitude of these concerning forces (corrupt thought patterns, belief systems, attitudes, etc.) that have given rise to a stifling political correctness in our society and how these have created serious consequences that must be remedied - before it’s too late. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Gad Saad (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Some pros and some cons

I heard about this book a couple months ago, and it sounded interesting since I love reading about the irrationality of people. Previously, I never heard of Gad Saad, so I followed him on Twitter and checked out his YouTube channel. Within about a week, I unfollowed him. I'm 100% for debating and the sharing of ideas, but like many of the current SJW-bashing "intellectuals", they seem more interested in arguing than having a debate. Nevertheless, I still purchased the book on release day. 

This book definitely falls into the category of books I'm reading of people I disagree with, but not by much. If I had to break it down into percentages, I'd say I disagree with about 60% of what Gad Saad has to say, but I agree with 40%. But when it comes to his overall argument that we should be able to have logical, rational discussions without people becoming outraged, I 100% disagree. 

While Gad Saad uses quite a bit of research to back his arguments, it's only on specific subjects. For people like Gad Saad, Sam Harris, Dave Rubin, and others, I feel there are some low-hanging fruit subjects that they love capitalizing on. When it comes to implicit biases, they avoid discussing the research because they either A) know the research isn't on their side or B) are afraid of what the research shows. Rather than looking at the research of people like Dr. Jennifer Eberdhardt, they try to simplify the message of the book White Fragility. Personally, I'd love to see someone like Gad Saad go head-to-head with Dr. Eberdhardt or Keith Payne to discuss biases and inequality.

Lastly, I gave this book a 3-star rating because there's a group of these authors that don't really present anything new in their books, but they know they'll make money off of the echo chamber they've built, so they figure "why not?".

Please allow the author to read their book

That was an abomination of Saad’s thoughts and words. Hiring a voice to pretend to care absolutely destroys the poignancy of his work. The amount of mispronounced, underwhelming, and incorrectly emphasized language detracts from the intention of this book. Saad himself is fun, witty, sarcastic, and extremely intelligent in his analysis, and your voice actor pales in comparison to the author. The $ you save by hiring a vocal ‘professional’ is lost immediately as the audiobook has no ‘sticking power’ when reduced this way. I love the content, I despise the delivery.

This is not a follow up to 12 rules to life.

I normally don't write reviews but I have some strong thoughts on this book.

1. This book is extremely hostile towards the left. Saad didn't do much in trying to separate your average liberal or center left person from a left wing extremist. When ever he wants to make a point that might be present in both political teams he will use language like "Some on the right" then follow up with "Many" or "Most on the left"

2. In part 2, Saad makes a claim that people that voted against Trump did it simply because the media fueled the negative viewpoints towards him and that if everyone on the left simply took the time to look at his policies then maybe they would have voted for Trump. He made a further point that Trump ran on common sense policies while the left ran with Hillary on a "Vote for her because she is a woman" platform. This is simply a very narrow view of the 2016 election. If you educated everyone on policy its 100% more likely that those in the far right and those in the far left would both move towards the middle. Instead Americans suffer from only having 2 political options.

3. Saad makes it a point to focus a lot on the bad science (mostly on gender)the far left promotes but fails to point the the science denial that goes on the right on an everyday basis. This is just my theory but I think that because Mr. Saad is a Canadian resident he seems to attribute the more center right conservative mindset from Canada and applies it to the American conservatives. I don't think Mr. Saad quite understands that attack on science that has come from the right wing politicians in America.

4. The book offers no solutions to the mind parasites he highlighted on his title. The book simply points the finger at the left and lays the blame of western civilization declining on liberals. It's a lot of "No u" arguments and echo chamber right wing talking points.

5. If you read 12 rules to life and think this is a follow up, it is not. if you lean right and want to have a positive feedback loop of ideas then you might enjoy this.

6. I did not hate the book. The points Saad makes about the far left and the attack on free speech are valid. its just for every 1 good point there is about 3 bad ones that could easily apply to the right as well.

Amusing yet terrifying book

You will smile at various phrases that the author has invented but after a while you will realize how deep his thoughts are. What distinguishes this book from others on the fall of Western Civilization is the accurate and wholesome diagnosis of the problem, choice of clear words and the broadness of the solutions offered. This book must be part of college curriculum and beyond.

the most important book of our time

I can not stop listening to this book. it is antivirus to the crazyness everywhere

An Inculation to Disordered Thinking and Chaos

I graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2017, the year a mob of angry students overran the school and caused a disruption that garnered national attention. I stood by and watched as my alma mater was debased to pander to the hero fantasies of a group of self-indulgent children. I knew if I followed my conscience, I would pay the price and lose the good will as an ally that I had worked so hard to achieve. 

What happened at Evergreen was very serious, and very wrong. Now, the sentiments of those students have scaled to encompass the nation, and the moral development of a generation has been stunted because responsible people have continued to indulge them.

Actions, and inactions, have consequences. When faced with a tough moral choice, I chose silence. Consequently, I was helpless when a cause I supported upended an institution I held so dear.  I won’t make that mistake again.

If you have any love for virtue, character, responsibility, or achievement read this book and spread it widely. If only a handful students at Evergreen had received this inoculation, they could have "flattened the curve" of infection and saved thousands, if not millions of innocent minds.

AMAZING

Do you question everything you have seen in 2020. Well read this book and become Woke....The Real Woke not that nonsense that is being peddled on mainstream or legacy media. The Gadfather brilliantly explains all the bs we have been subjected to and more importantly what our kids have been subjected to. Thank you Gad for fighting the good fight. Everyone time to must up courage and grab your intellectual spear and defend yourselves. Enjoy

Another Entry for the Echo Chamber

The author's style is engaging, and I'm sympathetic with most of his positions, but I can't give this book more than a middling review. It's bag of intellectual potato chips. You'll consume the whole thing in one sitting, but don't expect to be better for it.

Life changing book!

Gad Saad is a witty, brilliant scientist and teacher. He is also widely known for his magnifent looks! This book is terrific. Gad discusses complex ideas in an easy going way that is understandible to the great unwashed

80% Nonsense, 20% Narcissistic Filler

Illogical claptrap claiming "Truth" while denying it. First 2 sections about his victimhood while championing truth/freedom.

Rubbish

Stopped listening to this after a few chapters. The author uses big words to try to convince readers that his views are justified because he's intelligent. He's a left wing hater Trump lover and anti Muslim.He sounds like a right nob. There we go I've just used my right to free speech that he loves so much.

An essential book for modern times

I am (to my shame) one of those cowards (from the U.K.) who watches from the sidelines as the pillars of reason fall at the hands of SJWs on social media. I wish I had the time and energy of Dr Saad to fight the good fight, and I don’t mean that dismissively. If I was to add a ‘but’ it would be this.. I home educate my kids, we travel (a lot) and openly discuss wokeness, virtue signalling, and victimhood mentality, so when they go into the world they will at least have the emotional fortitude to deal with whatever these crazy times bequeathes to future generations. Keep up the good work Dr Saad, you are definitely added to my Christmas card list after this excellent book ;)

A challenge to bad ideas and downright lies.

Thank you. I needed this! a great dissection of the many issues that are prevalent Western society today. if you are concerned by the direction of travel towards a world where difference of opinion is no longer tolerated and "everyone who disagrees with me is a nazi" then you will get a lot from this book. Excellent listen.

Not what I was hoping

I largely agree with the general opinion of this book, but still I wouldn't recommend it. I'm a few chapters in and it's lost me. It follows a boring pattern.

1. Here's something dumb the SJWs did.
2. Here is something witty I said about it on a podcast/twitter.
3. "This is what this book is all about."
4. Repeat.

Awful

The author goes around calling himself a parasitic thought warrior and repeatedly compares social media interactions to the Lebanon war. He's a nutcase.

shit voice

I'm just starting it, really is interesting....can't stand the robotic American voice though!!! Ruins so many of these audibles!!! I'm English by the way

Essential reading.

The most important book this year. It takes all the bad ideas and gives you the means to tackle them. Gad's personality shines through keeping the content lively, thought provoking, engaging, challenging and entertaining throughout.

I liked Gad Saad before reading this book, now I

like him even more. Quite possibly, this is one of the most entertaining yet insightful books I have read in years. It's assessment of western downfall and rise of wokedom is very sophisticated and on-point. 10/10.

A difficult listen!!!

Ok so this book was not for me (a millennial ‘snowflake’ feminist and liberal).

Prof. Saad actually does have some interesting nuggets of ideas and makes some good points in chapter 8.

But those nuggets are so smothered in angry vitriol, absolutist terms, hypocrisy and contractions it was really hard to keep going with it. Not because ‘my feelings got hurt’ as Prof Saad would have you think - but because many points didn’t make sense in the context of previous points and analogies.

Many times throughout I was sure that this book must actually be satirical in nature and posed as the ‘mind virus’ itself - sadly no, I don’t think this is the case.

If you enjoy hearing angry male privilege use personal anecdotes and Twitter exchanges to demonstrate one persons thoughts and ideas (some of which are backed by some science) then you may get on better with this.

It’s a shame that these important topics of discussion have been put forward with such an angry, intolerant and outraged tone (oh by the way, which is exactly what Gad Saad will say about the ‘labotomised liberals’ and ‘ostrich head in the sand looneys’ we apparently are).

A book made from, by and to the man-o-sphere. I do not recommend to anyone!!

Ostriches !

The only reason I took 2 stars off an otherwise 5 star review is because of the narrator. Not that he did a bad job, quite good infact. I'd rather Gad had narrated it though. 2020 problems right ? Great book, should be compulsory reading.