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ReQovery: How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole and Climbed Out
Unraveling A Survivor’s Guide to RecoveryOver the past two years, Katrina Vaillancourt shared her story of entry into and exit from the QAnon conspiracy community with me for a book on which I was working. Her account is brimming with curiosity, insight, and vulnerability. So many of us have stereotypes of people who follow QAnon and other conspiracy theories that we forget the very human reasons that people turn in this direction. Understanding, however, offers equally human strategies to bring them back. Through her radical openness, Katrina opens a door for those curious enough to listen instead of judging. Her message can help many."
~ Jamil Zaki, Stanford Professor of Psychology and author of War for Kindness and Hope for Cynics
In the throes of the 2020 pandemic, Katrina Vaillancourt, a dedicated Bernie Sanders supporter and seasoned Nonviolent Communication trainer, found herself unexpectedly spiraling down the rabbit hole of QAnon. How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole and Climbed Out is her candid, vulnerable account of the six tumultuous months she spent ensnared by the "Pastel Q" phenomenon—a journey marked by shock, elation, deep disillusionment, and ultimately recovery.
Navigating through intense emotional highs and devastating lows, Katrina's story is not just about the allure of a conspiracy that captivated millions worldwide, but also about the profound psychological toll it takes. With the world turned upside down by a global crisis, she delves into how sophisticated social media algorithms exploit our deepest fears and desires, creating echo chambers that reinforce extreme ideologies.
Through her expertise in Nonviolent Communication, Katrina offers a rare glimpse into the subtle yet powerful ways our everyday interactions can either fuel division or foster understanding. ReQovery goes beyond a personal saga— it is a crucial guide laden with insights into dismantling the psychological traps set by movements like QAnon and reclaiming a sense of reality grounded in present-moment truths.
This book is an indispensable resource for anyone struggling to understand a loved one lost to QAnon, providing not just context but also hope and practical solutions for bridging seemingly insurmountable ideological divides. Join Katrina on her journey back to rationality, in a story brimming with empathy, clarity and insight, that offers a heartfelt roadmap for healing.
Topics Thoroughly Covered in
How could anyone intelligent fall into QAnon?How on earth could a Bernie supporter flip to supporting Trump?How did she get out?What did other’s do that helped her come around?What were the turning points that helped her question QAnon?and so much moreAs a certified Nonviolent Communication trainer for over two decades, and a mediator before that, I struggled when two dear friends fell into QAnon in 2020. When Katrina reached out to me for support during her recovery, our conversations provided mutual benefit. I offered her empathy, and she gave me insights into QAnon that I couldn't have gained otherwise. This education helped me rebuild and maintain close friendships with those holding different worldviews than my own. May the wisdom of Katrina’s personal experience of recovery, as shared in this book, be a beacon of light for all who are seeking to restore relational bonds in the wake of QAnon.
~ Jamil Zaki, Stanford Professor of Psychology and author of War for Kindness and Hope for Cynics
In the throes of the 2020 pandemic, Katrina Vaillancourt, a dedicated Bernie Sanders supporter and seasoned Nonviolent Communication trainer, found herself unexpectedly spiraling down the rabbit hole of QAnon. How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole and Climbed Out is her candid, vulnerable account of the six tumultuous months she spent ensnared by the "Pastel Q" phenomenon—a journey marked by shock, elation, deep disillusionment, and ultimately recovery.
Navigating through intense emotional highs and devastating lows, Katrina's story is not just about the allure of a conspiracy that captivated millions worldwide, but also about the profound psychological toll it takes. With the world turned upside down by a global crisis, she delves into how sophisticated social media algorithms exploit our deepest fears and desires, creating echo chambers that reinforce extreme ideologies.
Through her expertise in Nonviolent Communication, Katrina offers a rare glimpse into the subtle yet powerful ways our everyday interactions can either fuel division or foster understanding. ReQovery goes beyond a personal saga— it is a crucial guide laden with insights into dismantling the psychological traps set by movements like QAnon and reclaiming a sense of reality grounded in present-moment truths.
This book is an indispensable resource for anyone struggling to understand a loved one lost to QAnon, providing not just context but also hope and practical solutions for bridging seemingly insurmountable ideological divides. Join Katrina on her journey back to rationality, in a story brimming with empathy, clarity and insight, that offers a heartfelt roadmap for healing.
Topics Thoroughly Covered in
How could anyone intelligent fall into QAnon?How on earth could a Bernie supporter flip to supporting Trump?How did she get out?What did other’s do that helped her come around?What were the turning points that helped her question QAnon?and so much moreAs a certified Nonviolent Communication trainer for over two decades, and a mediator before that, I struggled when two dear friends fell into QAnon in 2020. When Katrina reached out to me for support during her recovery, our conversations provided mutual benefit. I offered her empathy, and she gave me insights into QAnon that I couldn't have gained otherwise. This education helped me rebuild and maintain close friendships with those holding different worldviews than my own. May the wisdom of Katrina’s personal experience of recovery, as shared in this book, be a beacon of light for all who are seeking to restore relational bonds in the wake of QAnon.
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2024
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 25, 2024
There’s so much going on in here- the reader will certainly learn something, whether it’s informative or based on the human spirit. I picked up the book because I was interested in learning more about QAnon, something I heard about vaguely, several years ago, and I did learn about it, as well as a lot more! The author provides her raw and unfiltered POV during six crazy and potentially life-altering months when she was a part of QAnon and the work it took to get out.
August 17, 2024
Katrina Vaillancourt’s book ReQovery: How I Tumbled Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole and Climbed Out was one of the very few books I almost couldn’t put down, and I highly (even urgently) recommend it to anyone who has been puzzled, disheartened, perplexed, or saddened by the phenomenon of QAnon, or other hard-to-understand conspiracy theories or radicalized belief systems. I was captivated by her story, touched by her vulnerability, and heartened by its message. "ReQovery" is a transparent, timely, informative, and well-crafted autobiography that skillfully chronicles her personal journey into the world of QAnon, the impact on her friends and family, and her eventual path out.
ReQovery is more than just a personal memoir, though. It is a crucial resource for understanding the broader phenomenon of conspiracy theories, and QAnon in particular. Even more broadly, the book helps shed insight into the phenomenon of radicalization in general: people, political parties, or religious affiliations that are radically and sometimes incomprehensibly different from our own beliefs and world view.
The book was satisfying for so many reasons. It was a compelling and easy read that, as I mentioned, I didn’t want to put down. It gave me insight into the QAnon phenomenon, of which I had only cursory understanding. It also gave me hope. I do not know of any examples where someone has “goes down the rabbit hole” of a conspiracy theory and come out, and then was able to chronicle the journey with intelligence, nuance, depth, and clarity. My hope is that her story is widely read, both as a compelling memoir in its own right, but also as a source of solace, understanding, and hope to anyone whose life has been affected by QAnon, or any other radicalizing conspiracy theory, or even (non-conspiracy) radicalizing points-of-view.
ReQovery is more than just a personal memoir, though. It is a crucial resource for understanding the broader phenomenon of conspiracy theories, and QAnon in particular. Even more broadly, the book helps shed insight into the phenomenon of radicalization in general: people, political parties, or religious affiliations that are radically and sometimes incomprehensibly different from our own beliefs and world view.
The book was satisfying for so many reasons. It was a compelling and easy read that, as I mentioned, I didn’t want to put down. It gave me insight into the QAnon phenomenon, of which I had only cursory understanding. It also gave me hope. I do not know of any examples where someone has “goes down the rabbit hole” of a conspiracy theory and come out, and then was able to chronicle the journey with intelligence, nuance, depth, and clarity. My hope is that her story is widely read, both as a compelling memoir in its own right, but also as a source of solace, understanding, and hope to anyone whose life has been affected by QAnon, or any other radicalizing conspiracy theory, or even (non-conspiracy) radicalizing points-of-view.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews