---
product_id: 4123715
title: "Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time"
brand: "michael shermerstephen jay gould"
price: "$85"
currency: NZD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/4123715-why-people-believe-weird-things-pseudoscience-superstition-and-other-confusions
store_origin: NZ
region: New Zealand
---

# Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

**Brand:** michael shermerstephen jay gould
**Price:** $85
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time by michael shermerstephen jay gould
- **How much does it cost?** $85 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/4123715-why-people-believe-weird-things-pseudoscience-superstition-and-other-confusions)

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## Description

Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A Bit Dense, Older Information, But Still Worth It
  

*by K***S on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 22, 2023*

It's at times an enjoyable book to read, and times a slog. It's jargon heavy, and though it's often appropriate, it's overdone. The conclusion is pretty slim at the end and it's almost like the author had also gotten tired of writing. The book has great info, it's all plausible and comes to reasonable conclusions, but it could use some serious editing which hurts its impact and readability. Also, if you're reading this in 2023, the information in much of the book is 20+ years old and has surely developed.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Good book about weird ideas and why people believe them
  

*by C***C on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 27, 2013*

This is an interesting book where Shermer explores why people believe weird things by which he means things that once considered seemed odd or strange. The book is divided into five parts. which dela with sciecne and skepticism, pseudoscience and superstition, evolution and creationism, history and pseudohistory, and hope springs eternal. Shermer deals with a number of topics. The book begins with some anecdotes and an attempt to define skepticism.  By skeptic, Shermer tells readers he means, "one who questions the validity of a a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it" (17) and emphasizes that this ought to be a self correcting approach to the positions one holds. Chapter 2 discusses some of the differences between science and pseudoscience and briefly explores the internalist v. externalist debate in the historiography of science. Shermer suggests that even though  scientific principles only exist in people's mind; the actual phenomena they describe exist outside of us.; "all description is in the mind, but scientific laws describe repeating natural phenomena while pseudoscientific claims are idiosyncratic. Further, he contends, that science, at least on average, moves forward due its cumulative nature while recognize that "there is no question that science is heavily influenced by the culture in which it is embedded, and that scientists may al share a common bias that leads them to think a certain way about nature" (41). Chapter 3 discusses ways in which thinkers commonly make mistakes (theory influences observations, observer changes the observed, equipment constructs results, anecdotal thinking, the use of scientific language cab mislead, bold statements, heresy, rumors, where the burden of proof lies, after the fact reasoning, coincidence, etc). Part II begins begins with a Chapter on Deviations where Shermer briefly explores how deviations from the mean will statistically occur when experiments are run. Chapter 5 is about near death experiences and explores the phenomena concluding that it is likely the result of chemical interactions in the brain when people are close to dying. Chapter 6 is about alien abductions; here Shermer explores, recovered (read implanted) memories. He further wonders why aliens never actually give important information. Lastly, Shermer points out that these fantasies which human experience are culturally affected: "humans are experiencing fantasies and interpreting them in the social context of their age and culture" (98). Chapter 7 is about epidemics of accusations - where he discusses witch crazes, crazes about satanic abuse cults, and so forth. In chapter 7 he describes how individuals can 'acquire' memories and come to belief that they did things they did not do. Chapter 8 is about the cult of Ayn Rand, which Shermer (who once considered himself an Objectivist), calls "the unlikeliest cult" (114). This chapter offers a brief history of Rand and her work. Rand's philosophy is supposedly based on reason and argues that an objective reality exists which can be understood by reason, thus one must be self-interested and support capitalism.Strangely, and unlike, science, Objectivism is not self-correcting, once something is established it is taken as truth. Shermer claims that the "great flaw in her philosophy is that morals can be held to some absolute standard or criteria" (123). Part III begins with chapter 9 on the question of origins. Chapter 10 is about confronting creationists. Chapter 11 is about a supreme court case about creationism and evolution. Part 4 is about history and pseudohistory. This part deals mostly with holocaust denialism. Chapter 15 looks at race, variation and the like. Part 5, begins with Chapter 15 and attempts by scientists to find evidence to support some of their metaphysical conveptions (Tipler and christianity). Chapter 17 is why people belief weird things - because of immediate gratification, simplicity and morality/meaning Shermer suggests. In Chapt 18 Shermer explores why smart people belief weird things (they are better at rationalizing beliefs they reached without evidence)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Shermer is Always a Treat to Read
  

*by B***K on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 4, 2011*

Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael ShermerWhy People Believe Weird Things finally makes its appearance to the Kindle. In this revised and expanded edition accomplished skeptic and the Director of The Skeptics Society takes an evenhanded and fair approach to addressing why people believe weird things. He tackles a number of pseudo claims including but not limited to: out-of-body experiences, abductions, recovered memory movement, creationism, and holocaust, among others. This 384-page book is composed of seventeen chapters and broken out by the following five main parts: Part 1 - Science and Skepticism, Part 2 - Pseudoscience and Superstition, Part 3 - Evolution and Creationism, Part 4 - History and Pseudohistory, and Part 5 - Hope Springs Eternal.Positives:1. Michael Shermer is a treat to read because of his direct and accessible prose.2. As expected a well written, well researched book. A very pleasant tone throughout.3. A wonderful job of defining terms and providing popular examples.4. Great use of illustrations and diagrams.5. Great quotes such as, "Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons".6. Why skepticism is a vital part of science.7. A better understanding of the scientific method.8. The Hume methodology at display.9. The chapters on creationism are always a personal favorite.10. Twenty-five examples of fallacies, excellent.11. The curious phenomenon of the feedback loop.12. In defense of science.13. The first-cause and prime mover argument revisited.14. The strength of evolution.15. What exactly do holocaust deniers, deny?16. Ayn Rand's cult...17. UFOs...far out.18. The difference between men and women regarding their beliefs.19. Interesting look at how people perceive to believe things versus what how they perceive others to believe.20. Confirmation bias.21. Why smart people believe weird things.22. Great bibliography.Negatives:1. The sections on the holocaust deniers were my least favorite.2. Not enough time discussing why people believe weird things.3. No links.In summary, a few shortcomings aside I enjoyed the book. Mr. Shermer is an accomplished skeptic and does an excellent job of conveying his thoughts in an accessible manner. The book is an excellent book for those who are interested in critical thinking and want to know about the importance of the scientific method.Further suggestions: "
  
The Believing Brain







  
  
    " is excellent by the same author, "
  
Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior







  
  
    " by Leonard Mlodinow, "
  
Paranormality: Why we see what isn't there







  
  
    " by Richard Wiseman, "
  
Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science







  
  
    " by Robert L. Park, "
  
Science and Nonbelief







  
  
    " by Taner Edis, "
  
The Demon-haunted World







  
  
    " by Carl Sagan, "
  
Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science (Popular Science)







  
  
    " by Martin Gardner, "
  
Science Under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience







  
  
    " edited by Kendrick Frazier, "
  
Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me)







  
  
    " by Carol Tavris, and "
  
Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to Solve Unexplained Mysteries







  
  
    " by Benjamin Radford.

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*Store origin: NZ*
*Last updated: 2026-03-06*