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Counterknowledge
How we Surrendered to Conspiracy Theories, Quack Medicine, Bogus Science and Fake History
Damian Thompson
‘An invigorating trumpet blast against the monstrous regiment of twenty-first-century quacks, flat-earthers and mumbo-jumbo merchants, loud enough to wake reason from its sleep.’ Francis Wheen
We are being overwhelmed by dangerous nonsense. From 9/11 conspiracy theories to Holocaust denial, from creationism to unorthodox medicine, there is now an epidemic of demonstrably untrue descriptions of the world.
For Damian Thompson, these unproven theories and spurious claims are forms of 'counterknowledge'; spread not least by the internet, they are creating a global generation of misguided adherents who repeat these untruths and lend them credence.
‘The sleep of reason brings forth monsters’, warns the title of Francisco Goya’s famous etching of 1799. As Damian Thompson demonstrates, unless the defenders of enlightenment values fight back soon, the counterknowledge industry has the potential to create new political, social and economic disasters.
‘Excellent... Widely enough read and clearly enough understood, Counterknowledge might save us from the tsunami of misinformation, falsity, error and distortion that infects our culture... A superb crusade against despoliation of truth and reason.’ A C Grayling, New Humanist
‘After reading this impressive study the reader will be convinced that we are indeed in desperate times.’ Milo Andreas Wagner, Observer
‘A wonderfully clear-sighted and intellectually exciting polemic... Thompson's demolition of every fatuous illusion is brilliantly exact and often very witty... A splendid, short sharp shock of a book.' Mail On Sunday
'The perfect little riposte to the cultic milieu in which we suddenly, somehow, appear to have found ourselves… Now we can counter the counterknowledge.' Irish Examiner
'One of the best short contributions to an important argument I have ever read. Cleanly and crisply written, entertaining and clear, and packed with factual ammunition.' Matthew Parris, Spectator
About the author
Damian Thompson completed his PhD in the sociology of religion at the London School of Economics. He is a leader-writer for the Daily Telegraph. He is also editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, and the author of The End of Time (1996) and Waiting for Antichrist (2005).
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Paperback
Published July 2008
208 pages
ISBN: 978 1 84354 676 4
RRP: £7.99