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Confidence Men: Peterson, Musk, Tate and the Duping of the American Mind
Uncovers the irrational philosophy behind today’s “confidence men” – from Jordan Peterson, to Elon Musk, Andrew Tate, and beyond.
Why do millions of Americans support a system that is making them poorer, sicker, and less secure every day? If modern capitalism routinely exploits working people, then why do so many flock to its most reactionary defenders in personalities like Jordan Peterson, Elon Musk, and Andrew Tate? Or, as the philosopher Baruch Spinoza asked, why do we fight for slavery as if it were our salvation? Confidence The Duping of the American Mind provides a compelling answer to those questions.
Mere journalistic accounts of these hucksters have pointed out their many lies and inaccuracies, their personal failings and rank hypocrisy. Confidence Men does something different. Instead of treating these sensational figures as individual bad actors, it identifies a common philosophy that animates them all. Each of them are, in their own ways, irrationalists – believing in the power of a strong will to overcome ordinary reality (and ordinary people). Objective facts, nature, and even “human nature” melt away before the creative genius or the mystical hero. Today’s “confidence men” are the cheerleaders of hierarchy and domination, where the supreme value is one of unhinged belief in oneself. As against reactionary forms of self-help, Confidence Men proposes a rationalist alternative – neither wishing our problems away, nor “manifesting” success – but instead, understanding the world so that we can change it for the better.
Why do millions of Americans support a system that is making them poorer, sicker, and less secure every day? If modern capitalism routinely exploits working people, then why do so many flock to its most reactionary defenders in personalities like Jordan Peterson, Elon Musk, and Andrew Tate? Or, as the philosopher Baruch Spinoza asked, why do we fight for slavery as if it were our salvation? Confidence The Duping of the American Mind provides a compelling answer to those questions.
Mere journalistic accounts of these hucksters have pointed out their many lies and inaccuracies, their personal failings and rank hypocrisy. Confidence Men does something different. Instead of treating these sensational figures as individual bad actors, it identifies a common philosophy that animates them all. Each of them are, in their own ways, irrationalists – believing in the power of a strong will to overcome ordinary reality (and ordinary people). Objective facts, nature, and even “human nature” melt away before the creative genius or the mystical hero. Today’s “confidence men” are the cheerleaders of hierarchy and domination, where the supreme value is one of unhinged belief in oneself. As against reactionary forms of self-help, Confidence Men proposes a rationalist alternative – neither wishing our problems away, nor “manifesting” success – but instead, understanding the world so that we can change it for the better.
- GenresPolitics
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 14, 2026
A welcome dose of rationalist self-help medicine to combat the conmen of reaction and irrationalism.
April 15, 2026
Confidence Men is a really interesting and easy-to-read take on a pretty big topic. Fluss and Frim look at figures like Peterson, Musk and Tate, but it never feels like a simple hit piece. What’s more engaging is how they connect these personalities to a broader mindset that’s very present in online culture right now. It’s smart without being heavy, and you don’t need a background in philosophy to follow it. The book gently pushes you to question the ideas you come across every day without feeling preachy or over the top. Definitely worth a read if you’re curious about influence, power and modern self-belief.
Many thanks to Repeater Books and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy
Many thanks to Repeater Books and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy
May 28, 2026
Perhaps not the most uplifting read, but probably not a bad idea to be sprinkle books like this into one's reading diet. It does a good job, from the history and quotes of the men, of making a case as to how we are willing to trust and even admire the very men who have our worst interests in mind. I'm still not sure it's fair to compare Peterson to Tate but there are similarities in how pretend to offer a better life for young men but really offer nothing of substance that can deliver long term.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews