Sign-In
Cart
Ridiculous Things People Actually Believe: A Field Guide to Spectacular Intellectual Failure
Paperback
General PsychologyGeneral Sociology
Publisher Price: $15.95
ISBN13: 9781946458445
Publisher: Writing King
Published: Apr 9 2026
Pages: 298
Weight: 0.88
Height: 0.67 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A sharp, funny, and thoroughly researched tour of the beliefs that should have died in the Dark Ages but somehow have Wi-Fi now. From flat earthers who use GPS to drive to conferences where they explain why GPS is a lie, to parents giving their children industrial bleach because someone on Facebook said it cures autism, to people who think the British Royal Family are shape-shifting lizard aliens. Richard Lowe documents 18 categories of spectacular human intellectual failure and exactly why otherwise intelligent people fall for every one of them.
This is not a compassionate exploration of why misinformation happens. There are plenty of those, and they are very polite, and they have not fixed anything. This is a direct examination of specific beliefs, why they are wrong, and how people manage to hold them while surrounded by evidence of their wrongness.
Forty-five years in technology taught Lowe one thing above everything else: there is a hard difference between things that work and things people want to work. Watching grown adults spend real money on psychic hotlines and crystal healing and manifestation coaches does not just baffle him. It makes him angry. Some of these beliefs are harmless entertainment. Some of them kill children.
The book covers the full spectrum. Flat earthers and hollow earth believers who have rejected basic geography. Seven flavors of medical misinformation, from homeopathy to urine therapy to MMS advocates who convinced themselves that pool chemicals cure cancer. Celebrity death hoaxers who have decided that Elvis, Tupac, Paul McCartney, and Michael Jackson all faked their deaths rather than simply died. Secret societies, reptilian overlords, moon landing denial, time travel, financial fantasy, historical revisionism, weather warfare, QAnon, manifestation culture, social justice overreach, and the alpha male mythology that convinced a generation of men that female attraction works like a stock market.
The final chapters step back from the specific beliefs and look at the machinery underneath - the logical fallacies, the cognitive biases, and the social media dynamics that turn individual delusion into organized movements with merchandise, conferences, and YouTube celebrities.
By the end, you will have a complete picture of how ordinary human brains get weaponized against their owners. And you will never look at a contrail the same way again.
Also from
Lowe, Richard
The Enshittification of America: How Private Equity Destroyed the Things We Love
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
Focus on LinkedIn: Advanced Strategies for Professional Success in the Digital Age
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
The Ghostwriting Advantage: Five Ways to Get Your Book Written, and How to Choose
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
The Emasculation of America: How Russia's Long War Against the American Male Is Destroying the Nation from Within
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
Stuck In the Middle: Wars, Weapons, and the Forces That Will Shape the Next Thirty Years
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
The Relationship BULLSHIT Men Fall For: What I Learned from Hundreds of Women
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Being the True Account of Captain Nemo and the Nautilus
Lowe, Richard
Paperback
Also in
General Psychology
Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America
White, William L.
Paperback
Real Life Intuition: Extraordinary Stories from People Who Listen to Their Inner Voice
Barnum, Melanie
Paperback
The Enneagram of Eating: How the 9 Personality Types Influence Your Food, Diet, and Exercise Choices
Gadd, Ann
Paperback
On Death and Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nursers, Clergy, and Their Own Families
Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth
Kbler-Ross, Elisabeth
Paperback
The Electromagnetic Brain: Em Field Theories on the Nature of Consciousness
Joye, Shelli Renée
Paperback
The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy, and the Wild Life of an American Commune
Stille, Alexander
Hardcover
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Stone, Douglas
Heen, Sheila
Patton, Bruce
Paperback
Wearing My Tutu to Analysis and Other Stories: Learning Psychodynamic Concepts from Life
Malawista, Kerry
Adelman, Anne
Anderson, Catherine
Paperback
Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
Richtel, Matt
Hardcover
Philosophy in Turbulent Times: Canguilhem, Sartre, Foucault, Althusser, Deleuze, Derrida
Roudinesco, Elisabeth
Paperback
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Herman, Judith Lewis
Paperback
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood
Hallowell
Hallowell, Edward M.
Paperback
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Hardcover
The Strength of Sensitivity: Understanding Empathy for a Life of Emotional Peace & Balance
Mesich, Kyra
Paperback
Discover Your Soul Template: 14 Steps for Awakening Integrated Intelligence
Anthony, Marcus T.
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Paperback
Essays V2: Moral And Entertaining On The Various Faculties And Passions Of The Human Mind (1815)
Clarendon, Edward Hyde Earl of
Paperback
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Pressfield, Steven
Paperback
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Rosenberg, Marshall B.
Paperback
Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter
Young Phd, Jennie
Hardcover
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--And Keep--Love
Levine, Amir
Heller, Rachel
Paperback
Hábitos Atómicos: Cambios Pequeños, Resultados Extraordinarios / Atomic Habits
Clear, James
Paperback
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical Dbt Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, a
McKay, Matthew
Wood, Jeffrey C.
Brantley, Jeffrey
Paperback
The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them
Mestyanek Young, Daniella
Reed, Amy
Hardcover
Your Ocd Will Hate This Book: A Proven System to Overcome Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Take Back Your Life
Peterson, Nathan
Hardcover
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Hardcover
A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection
Epley, Nicholas
Hardcover
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving in
Fisher, Roger
Ury, William
Patton, Bruce
Paperback
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering
Gladwell, Malcolm
Paperback
The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole
Schwartz, Arielle, PhD
Paperback
The Balancing ACT: Creating Healthy Dependency and Connection Without Losing Yourself
Tawwab, Nedra Glover
Hardcover
Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
Logan, Megan, MSW Lcsw
Paperback
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
Menakem, Resmaa
Paperback
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle
Wolynn, Mark
Paperback
Sometimes Therapy Is Awkward: A Collection of Life-Changing Insights for the Modern Clinician
Arzt, Nicole
Paperback
Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results
Eyal, Nir
Hardcover
Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal about How Markets Work
Roth, Alvin E.
Hardcover
The Ultimate Fun Adult Activity Book: Logic Puzzles, Sudoku, Mazes, Word Searches, Crosswords, Acrostics, Coloring, and More!
Demyanovich, Julie
Paperback
The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy
Cook, Alison
Paperback
The Internal Family Systems Workbook: A Guide to Discover Your Self and Heal Your Parts
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work
Bethea, Aiko
Hardcover
The Betrayal Bind: How to Heal When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst
Mays Lpc Csat-S, Michelle
Paperback
Te vas a morir y todavía no has empezado a vivir: 29 principios para vivir mejor (y con más sentido)
Moreno Montana, Uli
Falces, Laura
Paperback
Come Closer: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy
Atlas, Galit
Hardcover
Raising Conscious Sons: Cultivating Purpose, Connection, and Inner Power in a Chaotic World
Tsabary, Shefali
Hardcover
Imagine That: Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live with the Science of Imagination
Vieten, Cassandra
Hardcover
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Brown, Brené
Paperback
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
Brown, Peter C.
McDaniel, Mark A.
Roediger, Henry L., III
Hardcover
Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life
Negi, Lobsang Tenzin
Hardcover
Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle. (from Vol. 8. of the Collected Works of C. G. Jung)
Jung, C. G.
Paperback
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
Heath, Chip
Heath, Dan
Hardcover
The Road Less Triggered: Turning Conflict Into Connection with a Single Choice
Flanagan, Kelly
Paperback
The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team
Lencioni, Patrick M.
Hardcover
Raising Conscious Daughters: Building Confidence, Courage, and Inner Power in an Anxious World
Tsabary, Shefali
Hardcover
Hbr's 10 Must Reads on Emotional Intelligence, Updated and Expanded (Featuring What Makes a Leader by Daniel Goleman)
Goleman, Daniel
Ibarra, Hermina
Review, Harvard Business
Paperback
Darkness Becomes Bright: On the Brief Life and Immortal Art of Edgar Allan Poe
Ogden, Emily
Hardcover
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
Gottlieb, Lori
Hardcover
This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo's Evil Twin
Pilcher, Helen
Hardcover
The Art of Letting Go: Stop Overthinking, Stop Negative Spirals, and Find Emotional Freedom
Trenton, Nick
Hardcover
Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted
Maguire, Caroline
Hardcover
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice
Mullan, Jennifer
Hardcover
The Goddess That Failed: Feminism's Unending War against Men, Families, and Civilization Itself
Fiamengo, Janice
Paperback
How to Win Friends and Influence People: Updated for the Next Generation of Leaders
Carnegie, Dale
Hardcover
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race
Lieberman, Daniel Z.
Long, Michael E.
Paperback
When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows . . .: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life
Pinker, Steven
Hardcover
Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How "Small" Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life
Sandstrom, Gillian
Hardcover
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Heen, Sheila
Patton, Bruce
Stone, Douglas
Paperback
The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
Edmondson, Amy C.
Hardcover
Say This, Not That: How to Master 7 Dreaded Conversations As a Leader in the Modern Workplace
Flickinger, Chris
Paperback
AP Psychology Premium, 2027: Prep Book with 4 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice
Weseley, Allyson J., Ed D.
McEntarffer, Robert, PH. D.
Paperback