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Irrational
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Expected 31 Dec 99176 pages, Paperback
Expected publication December 31, 2099
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 29, 2025
The back of the book promises “sharp insights into the forces driving our present and future” with the aim of “dissect[ing] the rise of irrationality in modern life and society through an extensive and thought-provoking array of case studies.” However, the authors don’t appear to me all that well read on the terrain to which they’re implicitly claiming some authority, and appear to miss many of the root causes of the phenomena they observe.
For example, of the Great Replacement Theory, Russia’s “Special Military Operation,” and QAnon, which they tout as three examples of “sorcerer-like thinking,” they say, “We do not intend to go into the merits or demerits of these narratives whose absurdity rivals the visions of an ayahuasca user or the characters in a Marvel or DC comic book.” Rather, they claim interest in “understanding the processes and motivations that lead hundreds of thousands of individuals to believe such stories…”
How can the processes and motivations of this general phenomenon of irrationality be explored without investigating the merits and demerits of these narratives? After all, are Qanon delusions not rooted in the very real phenomenon of Jeffrey Epstein? Is Putin’s complaint of NATO expansion completely devoid of reality?
The theoretical underpinnings here are, in a word, sloppy. Take the author’s Case Study 49: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. They attempt to connect “the advent of digital manipulation software and artificial intelligence” to the Zimbabwean military taking over state television in 2017 to say they aren’t doing a coup (which they were). Except no AI or deep fakes were used in this instance. In fact, the entire operation would not be out of place in the earliest days of radio, film, or television.
The authors ascribe to a faith in analog media that their predecessors, Adorno, Debord, among others, would not have. They’ve been behind the curve from the jump, it would appear.
But at least this case study makes an attempt at linking up to the introductory 40-page paragraph. Most of the case studies in question appear to function much the same as a Ripley’s Believe It or Not entry, lazily inserted as a “isn’t this weird??” phenomena that ironically floats as an empty signifier of irrationality that doesn’t functionally contribute to the overall argument.
Terrible? No. Important, new, insightful? Definitely not.
For example, of the Great Replacement Theory, Russia’s “Special Military Operation,” and QAnon, which they tout as three examples of “sorcerer-like thinking,” they say, “We do not intend to go into the merits or demerits of these narratives whose absurdity rivals the visions of an ayahuasca user or the characters in a Marvel or DC comic book.” Rather, they claim interest in “understanding the processes and motivations that lead hundreds of thousands of individuals to believe such stories…”
How can the processes and motivations of this general phenomenon of irrationality be explored without investigating the merits and demerits of these narratives? After all, are Qanon delusions not rooted in the very real phenomenon of Jeffrey Epstein? Is Putin’s complaint of NATO expansion completely devoid of reality?
The theoretical underpinnings here are, in a word, sloppy. Take the author’s Case Study 49: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. They attempt to connect “the advent of digital manipulation software and artificial intelligence” to the Zimbabwean military taking over state television in 2017 to say they aren’t doing a coup (which they were). Except no AI or deep fakes were used in this instance. In fact, the entire operation would not be out of place in the earliest days of radio, film, or television.
The authors ascribe to a faith in analog media that their predecessors, Adorno, Debord, among others, would not have. They’ve been behind the curve from the jump, it would appear.
But at least this case study makes an attempt at linking up to the introductory 40-page paragraph. Most of the case studies in question appear to function much the same as a Ripley’s Believe It or Not entry, lazily inserted as a “isn’t this weird??” phenomena that ironically floats as an empty signifier of irrationality that doesn’t functionally contribute to the overall argument.
Terrible? No. Important, new, insightful? Definitely not.
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January 3, 2026i dont think many of the case studies are real examples of the thesis
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Irrational meaning 'done without regard for logic or reason'.
Many such cases!
As a picture, as a snapshot of the world in 2025-- as a record of the surrealism, immensity, and entropic energy that has burst out in the 21st century.
More more more!
Many such cases!
As a picture, as a snapshot of the world in 2025-- as a record of the surrealism, immensity, and entropic energy that has burst out in the 21st century.
More more more!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews