The New Heretics: Understanding the Conspiracy Theories Polarizing the World

by Andy Thomas

Through their part in some huge controversies, conspiracy theorists are being branded the Number One Enemies of our times – the new heretics. They are seen to threaten the very fabric of modern society, spreading doubts and fears that result in Washington Capitol invasions, transmission mast burnings or the spread of anti-vaxx material. Yet the theorists prefer to call themselves "truth seekers" and see the mainstream establishment as the real disruptor, treating its increasingly harsh censorship as direct validation of their views.

In truth, the new heretics, whose numbers are swelling, are symptoms of a wider polarization splitting apart much of the world in ideological divisions. Many have lost trust in politicians and the media, while nuanced debate is crushed and information overload and manipulation breeds uncertainty, civil unrest and mental health issues. How does the age old strategy of divide-and-rule play out in such an environment?

Using his extensive experience of negotiating disputes between cynics and truth seekers, Andy Thomas explores the proliferation of conspiracy thinking, peeling back unhelpful layers of biased thinking on all sides to find more insightful ways to bridge the polarised divides and create a better way forward.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2021

Reviews

[Christopher Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subtitle: For Seekers of All Kinds and Avoiders of Polarity Traps

This book takes a look at several of the most current conspiracy theories such as Q-Anon, the anti-vaxxer movement, the anti-5G cell transmission movement, etc. in terms of how proponents of those conspiracies are treated in the traditional media and social media and suggests alternate ways of approaching those controversies so that all sides of the arguments can be heard and their proponents treated with respect.


I have to confess that I had a hard time coming to grips with a lot of the author’s suggestions, not because they aren’t valid suggestions, but because in my mind some of the groups deserve to be censored because they endanger society. Thomas refers to all of the various conspiracy proponents as “truth seekers”, but the is little to no truth to be found in the conspiracies spouted by Q-Anon, and the anti-vax/anti-mask movements (at least in the U.S.) are more driven by support of the Republican Party and Donald Trump than by religion and actual health concerns. Also, the author never once brings up the Terms of Service that social media companies have put it place that allow them to censor and remove users who violate them by inciting violence, spreading disinformation, etc.

I gave The New Heretics three stars on Goodreads. While I am sympathetic to several types of conspiracy theory, I simply could not summon sympathy for groups who advocate violence against the government or endanger public health and that influenced my ability to enjoy this book.

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book, I get what the author is getting at, but I’m not sure society is ready for unbridled “free speech”
As so many of these views in our internet age are simply hateful and dangerous. I came away from this book not sure what I got out of it

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book. Not because it's boring or badly written (it is neither of those things) but because I needed to put it down many times and consider what I'd read. I may even have had a toddler tantrum a couple of times... "but why do I have to listen to the idiot spouting nonsense"...

The author has produced a book that is not strictly a polemic or a diatribe but tries instead to be a considered, nuanced look at many conspiracy theories and their origins. Importantly he shows why people develop mistrust, how we propagate our own myths and misconceptions and how we then come to believe them in our echo chambers. I’m not sure he manages to achieve complete independence and I’m not sure that’s even possible in this context.

It is difficult to listen to people when their views don't make sense, when their arguments are fatally, logically flawed... but we should be listening. If the arguments are indeed nonsense then we can easily refute them. But as Mr Thomas shows with 5G communications among many other examples, sometimes deep within the nonsense there are worried experts who are being ignored.

The author does not take any particular line and I had to pause to think things through and because of that I'm more able to look beyond the ranting and the rhetoric. I don't think I'll be inviting a "truther" round for tea any time soon but perhaps I can empathise more with his position. I’d read more by this author as I like his approach but I felt at times he was perhaps too ‘kind’ to some of the dangerous ideas that are out there. He does offer good solutions or ways to find a middle ground but I’m not convinced they are likely to be adopted.

This is one of those books where the people who would most benefit from reading it are unlikely to pick it up. They’ll see it as part of the New World Order attempt at manipulation.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, well thought out read that tries to see both sides to many stories or conspiracies.

My only problem with it is the author is sometimes too quick to dismiss certain aspects as if it just isn't true when we know that's not the case. Some of it could be down to timing between it being written and published though.

On the other side, the author is incredibly keen to point out his beliefs on 9/11.

Overall an interesting read and I appreciate that there are people out there who will debate such things rather than dismiss it as tinfoil hat territory when they read something they don't like or don't agree with.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book, for a few reasons, but I am still glad I read it. Firstly, the author is part of the “truther”/conspiracy theorist community, albeit with a mostly moderate, reasonable approach. His main thesis, which he returns to again and again, is for there to be balance and moderation in discussion about issues, on both sides of the debate, and that non-conforming views should not be silenced, lest they be driven underground. It was definitely eye-opening for someone like me, who has not really investigated or engaged with conspiracy theories.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I pretty much skip read this book as couldn't really get into it and had time constraints. Listening to multiple ideas is great, ideal even. Treating people with respect is the same. But the author seems to almost neglect critical thinking as being important in casting aside theories be they be "mainstream" or "alternative".
The term "Truther" could/should be replaced by something like "hypothersizer". Not as catchy but at least the name implies that alternative views proposed should also be tested, if they fail testing, change or discard them.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book. I get what he is trying to say. Ultimately he wants all voices to be heard, excepting hate speech.

[Seb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult one to rate. While I appreciate the author’s point of view, and actually appreciate that he brings a different perspective to the table, his execution is not the strongest. Like some better authors, he tends to digress, but these digressions occur within an otherwise structured book, making some of his points a bit wonky. He has an interesting passion for 9/11 ‘theories’, and crop circles, which you can take as a bigger metaphor for his love of the esoteric. In this way I can appreciate the author, his obvious uniqueness and interest in his subjects. The bits I didn’t love were the digressions, the hyperlink citations, the reliance on half-truths to support a point. The bits I did like were his passion, his actual (and sometimes unique) suggestions on how to get over our biases, and the structure, had it been stuck to more rigidly (which clearly isn’t his style). Overall I’m glad this book was published, and I’m glad I had an opportunity to read it even if it wasn’t exactly my forte.

[Michaela Wenhold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this educational but far too American for my taste, although America is a world power therefore what I learnt about its politics and humanitarian issues is somewhat relative to my everyday — I still found myself vaguely disinterested, not due to the writing or quality of content just due to my personal taste and interest.

[Josiah Lybbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the author makes a good effort to take a fair and balanced approach, this book is clearly an apologetic for conspiracy belief. The core message of the book I can get behind—that conspiracy believers should be treated with a bit more empathy and respect—but many views expressed in the book leave me a bit more squeamish. The author seems to go as far as advocating that conspiracy views should be tolerated and considered and that conspiracy believers or “truth seekers” as he calls them are an essential element of public discourse. Still, I appreciated the insight I got into the truth seeker mindset that I got from this book.

I think my biggest insight is the difference in mentality between that of a truth seeker and that of a skeptic. A truth seeker says “consider the possibility” while the skeptic says “show me the evidence.” Truth seekers can feel really frustrated when skeptics refuse to consider their claims when their high criteria for evidence are not met.