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Stuff They Don't Want You to Know
The co-hosts of the hit podcast Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know, Ben Bowlin, Matthew Frederick, & Noel Brown, discern conspiracy fact from fiction in this sharp, humorous, compulsively readable, and gorgeously illustrated book.
In times of chaos and uncertainty, when trust is low and economic disparity is high, when political institutions are crumbling and cultural animosities are building, conspiracy theories find fertile ground. Many are wild, most are untrue, a few are hard to ignore, but all of them share one vital there’s a seed of truth at their center. That seed carries the sordid, conspiracy-riddled history of our institutions and corporations woven into its DNA.
Ben Bowlin, Matt Frederick, and Noel Brown host the popular iHeart Media podcast, Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know. They are experts at exploring, explaining, and interrogating today’s emergent conspiracies—from chem trails and biological testing to the secrets of lobbying and the indisputable evidence of UFOs.
Written in a smart, witty, and conversational style, elevated with amazing illustrations, Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know is a vital book in understanding the nature of conspiracy and using truth as a powerful weapon against ignorance, misinformation, and lies.
“Interesting...Bowlin's calmly rational approach to the subject of conspiracy theories shows the importance of logic and evidence.”—Booklist
"A page-turning book to give to someone who believes in pizza pedophilia or that the Illuminati rule the world."—Kirkus Reviews
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
February 5, 2023
Full disclosure: I was given an advance reading copy of this book. However, this did not influence my opinion or review. I simply thought it stunk.
The subject material, “conspiracy theories”, has potential, but the book is marred by the authors’ pervasive left-wing biases.
Several early sections read like the joke New York Times headline, “World Ends: Women and Minorities Hardest Hit”.
The book accepts as established truth that Covid originated naturally in bats, rather than having been engineered in a lab. This has never even come close to being established and seems increasingly unlikely with every passing month and each new piece of information.
The book gets through an entire section on eugenics without once mentioning prominent eugenics advocate and liberal saint Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood for eugenic reasons - to reduce the number of “undesirables” by abortion, sterilization and contraception.
The book parrots as truth the entire discredited Russian hoax, when it was this narrative that was the malicious manufactured disinformation.
The book largely accepts Twitter’s false assertion (pre-Elon-Musk) that it wasn’t censoring or suppressing right wing speech. Musk and others have now revealed Twitter was doing so on a massive scale, often at the direction of left-wing politicians and government agencies.
The book criticizes Trump for killing Iranian Quds Force leader Suleimani, but there is no mention of Obama killing Osama or Obama and Hillary killing Libyan leader Gaddafi.
The book claims Trump “tweeted out a deepfake video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi”. This had been discredited years earlier. Left-of-center media outlet The Hill reported on 8/2/19 that “The videos of Pelosi were not deepfakes, as they did not edit the content of her remarks.”. The book ignores Hillary Clinton and her allies manufacturing every element of the Russia hoax from the dossier onwards.
The chapter on political corruption mentions only Republicans and business, not Democrats and unions. It defies belief that the authors thought no misdeeds by the Clintons, Bidens or Pelosis worthy of mention. The chapter on drugs makes it clear that they like drugs, except when some of the profits go to anticommunist causes like the Contras.
In fact, the only Democrat who is criticized in the entire book is LBJ, over the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. I guess the authors consider 58 years a safe distance.
This could have been a good book. When the subject doesn’t really have a political dimension, as with UFOs, it is OK. But on nearly every other topic the authors’ woke biases are on prominent display.
The subject material, “conspiracy theories”, has potential, but the book is marred by the authors’ pervasive left-wing biases.
Several early sections read like the joke New York Times headline, “World Ends: Women and Minorities Hardest Hit”.
The book accepts as established truth that Covid originated naturally in bats, rather than having been engineered in a lab. This has never even come close to being established and seems increasingly unlikely with every passing month and each new piece of information.
The book gets through an entire section on eugenics without once mentioning prominent eugenics advocate and liberal saint Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood for eugenic reasons - to reduce the number of “undesirables” by abortion, sterilization and contraception.
The book parrots as truth the entire discredited Russian hoax, when it was this narrative that was the malicious manufactured disinformation.
The book largely accepts Twitter’s false assertion (pre-Elon-Musk) that it wasn’t censoring or suppressing right wing speech. Musk and others have now revealed Twitter was doing so on a massive scale, often at the direction of left-wing politicians and government agencies.
The book criticizes Trump for killing Iranian Quds Force leader Suleimani, but there is no mention of Obama killing Osama or Obama and Hillary killing Libyan leader Gaddafi.
The book claims Trump “tweeted out a deepfake video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi”. This had been discredited years earlier. Left-of-center media outlet The Hill reported on 8/2/19 that “The videos of Pelosi were not deepfakes, as they did not edit the content of her remarks.”. The book ignores Hillary Clinton and her allies manufacturing every element of the Russia hoax from the dossier onwards.
The chapter on political corruption mentions only Republicans and business, not Democrats and unions. It defies belief that the authors thought no misdeeds by the Clintons, Bidens or Pelosis worthy of mention. The chapter on drugs makes it clear that they like drugs, except when some of the profits go to anticommunist causes like the Contras.
In fact, the only Democrat who is criticized in the entire book is LBJ, over the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. I guess the authors consider 58 years a safe distance.
This could have been a good book. When the subject doesn’t really have a political dimension, as with UFOs, it is OK. But on nearly every other topic the authors’ woke biases are on prominent display.
June 6, 2023
I find conspiracy theories fun to read about, like ghost stories to me, I don't believe in them, but it's fun to pretend to. This book goes through some of the big and most well-known conspiracy theories and walks through the history of them, and then tackles the truths that we know are behind them or at least sideways adjacent to them. A good conspiracy theory has that stickiness of truth to them; if the government did this, so is it so great of a leap to say that they would also do this other thing? The book was fun, I kind of wanted more crazy theories, but that wasn't the aim of the book.
April 25, 2023
Really interesting premise, and I enjoyed learning some of the true events that have fueled some popular conspiracy theories. But the writing style was slow and I felt unmotivated to read it.
For a more well-written look into why conspiracies gain traction among certain groups, I recommend “Off The Edge” by Kelly Weill. Even though it largely focuses on one conspiracy theory (flat Earth), it better explains the interconnection of many different theories and their real world implications.
For a more well-written look into why conspiracies gain traction among certain groups, I recommend “Off The Edge” by Kelly Weill. Even though it largely focuses on one conspiracy theory (flat Earth), it better explains the interconnection of many different theories and their real world implications.
May 12, 2023
Some good research, interesting stories, but the presentation feels a little slanted. How do you have a chapter about eugenics and not mention Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood? When talking about vaccines, Bill Gates is mentioned with "who knows why he'd care". Even a cursory search would lead to his quote that the planet would be better off with just half the current population. Whether he would actually do anything is the conspiracy theory... But instead that's ignored, we get a history of surveillance (again well researched) and pretty much a dismissal of current concerns. No mention of DuPont when talking about the hemp legislation in the mid 1900s... Incomplete research, and one is left wondering why. Take with a grain of salt, or pass entirely.
December 31, 2022
It wasn’t that long ago that conspiracy theories were kind of entertaining. Now they are threatening — threatening to our political lives for sure, but even more broadly to our sense that we know what’s going on in the world. How did that happen?
It’s easy to blame social media, and there’s some truth in that. Anybody can post their wildest, sometimes intentionally false, claim that something or other just isn’t what it seems. And the more popular the post gets, the more popular it’s going to get, via social media propagation algorithms.
If the conspiracy appeals to biases or interests of some group or other, it’s got a good chance to launch and quickly reach escape velocity
But it all depends on people believing things, things that are usually false, often ludicrously and demonstrably false. So why do people believe these things?
The authors, Brown, Bowlin, and Frederick, have one very good answer, for many popular conspiracy theories. For so many of these theories, there are precedents — something like them have turned out to be true before. And while the authors aren't believers, they see the precedents.
One obvious case is 9/11 conspiracy theories. One is that the US committed the 9/11 attacks on itself, in order to justify an attack on Iraq (and/or other Middle East entities), for long-standing political goals. The authors rightly recall the Gulf of Tonkin incident of 1964, which while largely fictitious, became the justification for retaliation against North Vietnam and set off the US direct and major entry into the Vietnam War.
If they did it once, they could do it again.
Other precedents support other varieties of conspiracy theories. It’s true that the government conducted secret studies of African Americans afflicted with syphilis, we know that the government hid information about UFOs, we know that there are secret or semi-secret societies of the rich and the powerful . . . . so it might also be true that Covid vaccinations are part of a program with some secret goal, that the government is hiding knowledge of alien spacecraft or even alien presence on Earth, or that some group like the Illuminati are really seeking to form a world government.
The simple rationale runs — well, we know x turned out to be true, and y is like x so why shouldn’t y be true too?
The antidote of course is facts and evidence, or lack thereof. But facts are easy. An odd shadow in a picture taken from an Apollo Moon mission. A bit of unignited thermite near or at the site of 9/11. An odd pattern on President Obama’s ring, . . . .
Stringing together facts and speculations into coherent, persistent narratives, and then strengthening those narratives with new facts and speculations as they come along is just part of human thinking, part of how we make sense of the world.
It just happens that some of those narratives are true, and some aren’t, and maybe most contain elements of both truth and falsity. We may be equally invested in true narratives and false ones.
Those narratives are inherently social, too, and our investment in them grows as others invest in them as well. And others bring their powers of fact-finding, fact-fitting, and speculation. A mole-hill can fast become a mountain.
None of these things are new, although magnified and accelerated by social media and the social, political, and financial benefits of leading the parade on some conspiracy theories.
What may be new though is the failure of curation. This is not something that the authors talk about so much here, although they allude to it, and they also practice it in more or less live fashion on their podcast (with the same name as the book’s title).
Once upon a time, rightly or wrongly, Americans depended on television news and newspapers to curate and present valid information, along with identified editorial opinion. Now, not only have Internet sources blitzed those traditional media, sometimes rightly pointing out mistakes and misleading reporting, they have largely abandoned or sidestepped the curation function, leaving a free-for-all. The result is a misinformed public, fragmented by its loyalty to its disparate sources.
Compounding the misinformation and partisan divisions is a process set in motion by competition among new and traditional sources and the fervent following they have gained, a process that has undermined belief in the accuracy and neutrality of any sources. Those traditional sources, once the arbiters of accuracy and neutrality, still exist, but their standing has been undermined by disbelief in the fairness and accuracy of their curation.
As a consequence we swim in crossing, colliding waves of information, misinformation, conspiracy theories, honesty, and dishonesty. Some of us choose our waves more carefully than others, weighing evidence, listening to and constructing arguments critically, and finding a stable path. Others of us find waves that suit our interests or the narrative investments we’ve already made and ride on.
The authors are right to point out that the objects of conspiracy theories — governments, media, celebrities, the rich and powerful, . . .— are, collectively, partly to blame for their own vulnerability, and for our own vulnerability, to otherwise crazy theories. “They” did it before, and maybe “they” are doing it again.
What’s the remedy? The authors don’t really address that question, although their own podcast is one interesting entry into the curation world. Since reading the book, I’ve listened to some episodes (I wasn’t aware of the podcast before reading the book), and I have to admit my first reaction was, why are these guys giving any credence at all to some of these things?
I think they are true to their findings. Crazy and brazen things have happened before. You can’t dismiss the possibility until you look at the evidence. Answering conspiracy theories with dismissal strengthens their believers. Maybe due credence is an approach worth trying.
It’s easy to blame social media, and there’s some truth in that. Anybody can post their wildest, sometimes intentionally false, claim that something or other just isn’t what it seems. And the more popular the post gets, the more popular it’s going to get, via social media propagation algorithms.
If the conspiracy appeals to biases or interests of some group or other, it’s got a good chance to launch and quickly reach escape velocity
But it all depends on people believing things, things that are usually false, often ludicrously and demonstrably false. So why do people believe these things?
The authors, Brown, Bowlin, and Frederick, have one very good answer, for many popular conspiracy theories. For so many of these theories, there are precedents — something like them have turned out to be true before. And while the authors aren't believers, they see the precedents.
One obvious case is 9/11 conspiracy theories. One is that the US committed the 9/11 attacks on itself, in order to justify an attack on Iraq (and/or other Middle East entities), for long-standing political goals. The authors rightly recall the Gulf of Tonkin incident of 1964, which while largely fictitious, became the justification for retaliation against North Vietnam and set off the US direct and major entry into the Vietnam War.
If they did it once, they could do it again.
Other precedents support other varieties of conspiracy theories. It’s true that the government conducted secret studies of African Americans afflicted with syphilis, we know that the government hid information about UFOs, we know that there are secret or semi-secret societies of the rich and the powerful . . . . so it might also be true that Covid vaccinations are part of a program with some secret goal, that the government is hiding knowledge of alien spacecraft or even alien presence on Earth, or that some group like the Illuminati are really seeking to form a world government.
The simple rationale runs — well, we know x turned out to be true, and y is like x so why shouldn’t y be true too?
The antidote of course is facts and evidence, or lack thereof. But facts are easy. An odd shadow in a picture taken from an Apollo Moon mission. A bit of unignited thermite near or at the site of 9/11. An odd pattern on President Obama’s ring, . . . .
Stringing together facts and speculations into coherent, persistent narratives, and then strengthening those narratives with new facts and speculations as they come along is just part of human thinking, part of how we make sense of the world.
It just happens that some of those narratives are true, and some aren’t, and maybe most contain elements of both truth and falsity. We may be equally invested in true narratives and false ones.
Those narratives are inherently social, too, and our investment in them grows as others invest in them as well. And others bring their powers of fact-finding, fact-fitting, and speculation. A mole-hill can fast become a mountain.
None of these things are new, although magnified and accelerated by social media and the social, political, and financial benefits of leading the parade on some conspiracy theories.
What may be new though is the failure of curation. This is not something that the authors talk about so much here, although they allude to it, and they also practice it in more or less live fashion on their podcast (with the same name as the book’s title).
Once upon a time, rightly or wrongly, Americans depended on television news and newspapers to curate and present valid information, along with identified editorial opinion. Now, not only have Internet sources blitzed those traditional media, sometimes rightly pointing out mistakes and misleading reporting, they have largely abandoned or sidestepped the curation function, leaving a free-for-all. The result is a misinformed public, fragmented by its loyalty to its disparate sources.
Compounding the misinformation and partisan divisions is a process set in motion by competition among new and traditional sources and the fervent following they have gained, a process that has undermined belief in the accuracy and neutrality of any sources. Those traditional sources, once the arbiters of accuracy and neutrality, still exist, but their standing has been undermined by disbelief in the fairness and accuracy of their curation.
As a consequence we swim in crossing, colliding waves of information, misinformation, conspiracy theories, honesty, and dishonesty. Some of us choose our waves more carefully than others, weighing evidence, listening to and constructing arguments critically, and finding a stable path. Others of us find waves that suit our interests or the narrative investments we’ve already made and ride on.
The authors are right to point out that the objects of conspiracy theories — governments, media, celebrities, the rich and powerful, . . .— are, collectively, partly to blame for their own vulnerability, and for our own vulnerability, to otherwise crazy theories. “They” did it before, and maybe “they” are doing it again.
What’s the remedy? The authors don’t really address that question, although their own podcast is one interesting entry into the curation world. Since reading the book, I’ve listened to some episodes (I wasn’t aware of the podcast before reading the book), and I have to admit my first reaction was, why are these guys giving any credence at all to some of these things?
I think they are true to their findings. Crazy and brazen things have happened before. You can’t dismiss the possibility until you look at the evidence. Answering conspiracy theories with dismissal strengthens their believers. Maybe due credence is an approach worth trying.
Read
October 13, 2022For someone whose book is titled stuff they don’t want you to know and to act like he knows something that you don’t or can’t find out with a google search is funny.. I learned nothing from this book and they basically try to disprove any modern conspiracy theories with fake facts or reasons as to why this or that happened. Everything they say in here is what you would expect your modern day p.o.s. Politician to say.. example the Tuskegee experiments he basically says that was then and they don’t do that anymore.. and goes on to defend Covid vaccines.. haha what a joke. Feels like the government is actually the ones signing these guys checks.
July 12, 2023
enlightening, funny, serious, speculative, investigative.
i found this book strolling through the local library because the title (and cover) caught my attention. and this was a stellar read. it scratched that secret (albeit known) itch I have of journalism and history.
the authors take an objective view to explore popularized conspiracy theories like biological warfare, human experimentation, surveillance, UFOs, propaganda, politics, secret societies, and drugs. they uncover the truth and present both sides of the story. there were also some really interesting history facts and stories i never knew (like have you heard about freud’s nephew and darwin’s cousin bc that’s a wild piece of history)
after reading this, i feel like i learned a lot and it’s a book i’d actively recommend to anyone and bring up in ordinary conversation.
i also like the messaging of the book to spend time thinking critically and seek to understand people, stories, and the world around us.
…
“the truth behind a story is often much more nuanced than it may appear; that truth can also be much uglier than the sanitized narrative we’re too often taught to accept at face value.”
“the world is both understandable and worth understanding.”
i found this book strolling through the local library because the title (and cover) caught my attention. and this was a stellar read. it scratched that secret (albeit known) itch I have of journalism and history.
the authors take an objective view to explore popularized conspiracy theories like biological warfare, human experimentation, surveillance, UFOs, propaganda, politics, secret societies, and drugs. they uncover the truth and present both sides of the story. there were also some really interesting history facts and stories i never knew (like have you heard about freud’s nephew and darwin’s cousin bc that’s a wild piece of history)
after reading this, i feel like i learned a lot and it’s a book i’d actively recommend to anyone and bring up in ordinary conversation.
i also like the messaging of the book to spend time thinking critically and seek to understand people, stories, and the world around us.
…
“the truth behind a story is often much more nuanced than it may appear; that truth can also be much uglier than the sanitized narrative we’re too often taught to accept at face value.”
“the world is both understandable and worth understanding.”
December 23, 2022
Conspiracy theories are often ubiquitous with being batshit crazy, but Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know was a real and refreshing eye opener.
Many conspiracy theories are completely far fetched, while a few have actually been true, and STDWYTK did a fantastic job at handling both sides of the spectrum with logic, respect, and research. I really enjoyed the organized layout of the book, which made reading much more digestible by breaking things down into sections from coups and corruptions, to drugs, to aliens, to surveillance.
This is the kind of book that is both incredibly entertaining and shocking while also being equally as educational and, honestly, oftentimes infuriating (in a good “screw the system” kind of way).
Aside from the particular examples of conspiracy theories, I also liked the moments in the book that educated readers over how to handle conspiracy theories or theorists. I know I am not the only one who has lost a loved one to the world of conspiracies, and having this footing and advice was very helpful to prevent pushing them away further or get stuck in an illogical conspiracy belief myself.
I really enjoyed this one.
Many conspiracy theories are completely far fetched, while a few have actually been true, and STDWYTK did a fantastic job at handling both sides of the spectrum with logic, respect, and research. I really enjoyed the organized layout of the book, which made reading much more digestible by breaking things down into sections from coups and corruptions, to drugs, to aliens, to surveillance.
This is the kind of book that is both incredibly entertaining and shocking while also being equally as educational and, honestly, oftentimes infuriating (in a good “screw the system” kind of way).
Aside from the particular examples of conspiracy theories, I also liked the moments in the book that educated readers over how to handle conspiracy theories or theorists. I know I am not the only one who has lost a loved one to the world of conspiracies, and having this footing and advice was very helpful to prevent pushing them away further or get stuck in an illogical conspiracy belief myself.
I really enjoyed this one.
Read
October 23, 2022Some chapters were more interesting than others, and gave me a good deal more empathy for how certain ideas that I would write off as mere conspiracy rants have gotten traction over time. I listened to the audiobook at 1.9x the recorded speed and it wasn't a speed at which I felt the facts were coming too fast or furious, so read into that as you will.
December 24, 2022
Written by the architects of one of my favorite podcasts for when I want to get weird. In short, these guys observe the origins of ‘conspiracy theories’ and sort of…bridge the gap between the tinfoil narratives that dominate and the real life origins. My favorite thing about these kinds of books/podcasts is they provide SOURCES lol none of this “trust me bro” nonsense.
October 19, 2022
This was a fantastic audiobook (no surprise given it is an offshoot of a popular podcast), and I really appreciated how they came at the topic of conspiracy theories. They have an empathy for those who fall down the rabbit hole so to speak, and they shine a light on the very true facts that can lead people to these theories of what might be regardless of a complete lack of hard proof (or any proof) beyond these known facts. They encourage critical thinking and research, which are both desperately needed now more than ever. Definitely worth a listen!
November 2, 2022
I wasn’t extremely disappointed after this audio- it really had some good information, but it did leave me feeling a little let down at the lack of other information or topics that could have been covered. Some chapters were more interesting than others, which was to be expected. The narration was great.
December 17, 2022
I was received an arc of this early 2022
It’s interesting to know about what people think about the country/world on conspiracy theories.
I’m not for conspiracy theories but this was an interesting read.
It’s interesting to know about what people think about the country/world on conspiracy theories.
I’m not for conspiracy theories but this was an interesting read.
March 2, 2023
I enjoyed his presentation especially delineating where facts end and the conspiracy theories begin with a whole range of issues.
June 14, 2023
Not unhinged enough.
September 11, 2022
I read an advance reader copy of the book and was very happy to read it. This book gives Ben Bowlin and team a chance to expand on what they discuss on their podcast. I wouldn't call them either skeptics or believers, but rather authors who are willing to give the background on what's involved in the past that makes some current conspiracy theories plausible.
October 12, 2022
Thanks to Libro.fm for an ALC for review! I'll be honest and say that I probably couldn't have made it through this book if I had read, not listened, to it. It's very factual, which is what I would expect from a book handling the topic of conspiracy theories, but it does get a little dense. As someone who doesn't care about politics, those sections were the hardest to get through.
The authors address common conspiracy theories in this book/audiobook, from UFOs (which do exist, but are called UAPs by the government), to chemtrails, to the Kennedy assassination. They don't immediately bash the conspiracy theories, but instead help the reader understand where these misconceptions came from, and why they have such a large following. A few of the discussions are even left open-ended. I definitely learned a lot listening to this audiobook and enjoyed the multiple voices that went into producing it.
Informative and Understandable, this was a Well-researched piece of nonfiction.
The authors address common conspiracy theories in this book/audiobook, from UFOs (which do exist, but are called UAPs by the government), to chemtrails, to the Kennedy assassination. They don't immediately bash the conspiracy theories, but instead help the reader understand where these misconceptions came from, and why they have such a large following. A few of the discussions are even left open-ended. I definitely learned a lot listening to this audiobook and enjoyed the multiple voices that went into producing it.
Informative and Understandable, this was a Well-researched piece of nonfiction.
February 12, 2023
Full disclosure, I was given an advance copy of this book. I apologize to Ben, Noel, and Matt. I thought I wrote this review months ago.
The short version of reviewing this book is that it’s a great introduction to what the guys from Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know call conspiracy realism. In the book they cover several proven conspiracies, ranging from Biological Warfare to UFOs.
If you’re looking for wild, nonsensical conspiracy theories, this book won’t help you. But if you’re looking for more information to whet your appetite for real life conspiracies, you will thoroughly enjoy this carefully curated collection of the most high profile ones that are proven or are at least in the realm of possibility.
If you’d like to see my full review from before the book was released, follow the link below.
https://vocal.media/journal/stuff-the...
The short version of reviewing this book is that it’s a great introduction to what the guys from Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know call conspiracy realism. In the book they cover several proven conspiracies, ranging from Biological Warfare to UFOs.
If you’re looking for wild, nonsensical conspiracy theories, this book won’t help you. But if you’re looking for more information to whet your appetite for real life conspiracies, you will thoroughly enjoy this carefully curated collection of the most high profile ones that are proven or are at least in the realm of possibility.
If you’d like to see my full review from before the book was released, follow the link below.
https://vocal.media/journal/stuff-the...
September 27, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Flatiron Books for an advance copy of this book on conspiracies, UFOs and the truth, maybe, about what is behind them or above them.
The truth is out there, but don't trust anybody. And who is this they that want to control conversations about what is really going on in the world. Am I a trustworthy messenger writing this review, or am I trying to hide the truth in this review by telling people just enough to get people in trouble, but not enough to believe what is really going on. Welcome to the magical world of conspiracies where HAARp and contrails are up, Aliens are below in the hollow Earth, and super smart rich men (it's almost always white men) control everything. And yet there is just enough truth in all of these statements to give everything the ring of truth, which this book hope to revel to us, or maybe not. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know written by Ben Bowlin with Matt Frederick and Noel Brown who are co-hosts of the popular podcast of the same name, have written a guide to all that is needed to understand life in these times of fake news, uncanny valleys and facebook postings.
The book begins with a quick introduction to the world of conspiracies, some of the bigger ones, why people fall in, and how the machine has to keep adding facts to a conspiracy to keep people both locked in, and to gain new believers. From there we hit the highs of contrails in the sky changing weather and human DNA, Plum Island and Lyme Disease. Politics is covered in both assassinations of famous leaders and in political corruption, who gets rich and why. Which leads to the drug war, where crack came from and again who makes the money. Along with things that are common conspiratorial beliefs are real bits of history. the Mk-Ultra CIA dosing people with LSD to see what would happen. Testing chemical attacks on real American cities, just to see what could happen. Tuskegee and the syphilis tests given to African American men which lasted until the 1970's.
The book is very well written detailing where conspiracies can start and how, with the addition of the real incidents or events that makes a person go, hmm. As crazy as something sounds, the truth is usually the hardest on to believe. Smart people allowing or thinking some of these events to happen, in the name of national interest or frankly just to see is astonishing. The writing is good and I guess expanded with more research and up to date news from the podcasts. The illustrations are nice, and help keep the reader engaged. Quite a bit of information is presented, but it never seems overwhelming or even worse dull.
Recommended for fans of the podcast, fans of the Last Podcast on the Left podcasts and for people who might want to try understanding why their crazy uncle is always upset all the time. Conspiracies are a real problem, the lack of understanding our own history does not help, nor the the understanding of how, why or what governments do in the name of protecting the people is also a hindrance. Or am I trying to make you believe what I do. See how easy it is.
The truth is out there, but don't trust anybody. And who is this they that want to control conversations about what is really going on in the world. Am I a trustworthy messenger writing this review, or am I trying to hide the truth in this review by telling people just enough to get people in trouble, but not enough to believe what is really going on. Welcome to the magical world of conspiracies where HAARp and contrails are up, Aliens are below in the hollow Earth, and super smart rich men (it's almost always white men) control everything. And yet there is just enough truth in all of these statements to give everything the ring of truth, which this book hope to revel to us, or maybe not. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know written by Ben Bowlin with Matt Frederick and Noel Brown who are co-hosts of the popular podcast of the same name, have written a guide to all that is needed to understand life in these times of fake news, uncanny valleys and facebook postings.
The book begins with a quick introduction to the world of conspiracies, some of the bigger ones, why people fall in, and how the machine has to keep adding facts to a conspiracy to keep people both locked in, and to gain new believers. From there we hit the highs of contrails in the sky changing weather and human DNA, Plum Island and Lyme Disease. Politics is covered in both assassinations of famous leaders and in political corruption, who gets rich and why. Which leads to the drug war, where crack came from and again who makes the money. Along with things that are common conspiratorial beliefs are real bits of history. the Mk-Ultra CIA dosing people with LSD to see what would happen. Testing chemical attacks on real American cities, just to see what could happen. Tuskegee and the syphilis tests given to African American men which lasted until the 1970's.
The book is very well written detailing where conspiracies can start and how, with the addition of the real incidents or events that makes a person go, hmm. As crazy as something sounds, the truth is usually the hardest on to believe. Smart people allowing or thinking some of these events to happen, in the name of national interest or frankly just to see is astonishing. The writing is good and I guess expanded with more research and up to date news from the podcasts. The illustrations are nice, and help keep the reader engaged. Quite a bit of information is presented, but it never seems overwhelming or even worse dull.
Recommended for fans of the podcast, fans of the Last Podcast on the Left podcasts and for people who might want to try understanding why their crazy uncle is always upset all the time. Conspiracies are a real problem, the lack of understanding our own history does not help, nor the the understanding of how, why or what governments do in the name of protecting the people is also a hindrance. Or am I trying to make you believe what I do. See how easy it is.
February 17, 2023
This was a book I grabbed from the library on a whim, and I am actually happy about its approach to the contents. Unlike a book that I have bought and read several times over that keeps getting rebranded with the same content, DISINFORMATION’s “Everything you Know is Wrong” that I rebought when it was rebranded with a new title and cover with the same info in it, this was a beautiful approach to much of the conspiracy theories that are clouding the last century. Not only are they identified and explained, but they are given context and also examined objectively in terms of where they likely originated from and how they are evolving based on both real and fake events that become a marmalade of nonsense based in some really shocking and solid facts. The book is organized into nine chapters that cover propaganda, drugs, biological warfare, human experimentation, UFOs (which, as I read this, became at the forefront of some shocking national military events that involved surveillance balloons we had no idea were flying over the US for years), coups and assassinations, political corruption, and secret societies. The best part of this was truly the scope of the analysis that goes into not only defining a general (and several spinoff) understanding of the various conspiracy theories, but the methodology they use to find a reasonable, rational, skeptical connection to reality – and they do it well, every time.
Enjoyed this. It was a fast read that explained everything up through most of 2022, so it was relevant, concise, and enjoyable.
Enjoyed this. It was a fast read that explained everything up through most of 2022, so it was relevant, concise, and enjoyable.
March 30, 2023
Nem vagyok nagy összeesküvés-elmélet rajongó, és a szerzőknek pont ezt a podcastját nem is hallgatom, de összességében szeretem a stílusukat, és végig úgy éreztem, hogy kellően szórakoztató módon sikerült egy egészen korrekt összefoglalást adni a témában, ami nagyjából univerzális megoldást jelent a problémára.
A könyv néhány slágertémát dolgoz fel, és igazából meglepően erős párhuzamokkal operál, szinte minden témában ugyanaz a feloldás: nem, az elszabadult elméletek nem igazak (chemtrail, ufók, illuminati), de bizonyos aspektusai nem állnak távol a valóságtól ('50-es évekbeli időjárási kísérletek, '50-es évekbeli katonai repülési kísérletek, a lobbisták hatalma), és jellemzően valós félelmet kóstolgatnak (ezért is működnek).
A könyv egészét végigpörgetve akaratlanul is lesújtó véleménye alakul ki az embernek az államról (elsősorban az USA-ról), hiszen gyakorlatilag bármilyen témában őket tudjuk elsődleges felelősként megnevezni, de persze a maga nemében teljesen reálisnak tűnik az, hogy az állam egyes érdekei nem csengnek össze a lakosság, különösen annak egy-egy rétegének érdekeivel - ilyenkor pedig nem marad más megoldás, mint a csúsztatás, elhallgatás, tagadás?
A könyv néhány slágertémát dolgoz fel, és igazából meglepően erős párhuzamokkal operál, szinte minden témában ugyanaz a feloldás: nem, az elszabadult elméletek nem igazak (chemtrail, ufók, illuminati), de bizonyos aspektusai nem állnak távol a valóságtól ('50-es évekbeli időjárási kísérletek, '50-es évekbeli katonai repülési kísérletek, a lobbisták hatalma), és jellemzően valós félelmet kóstolgatnak (ezért is működnek).
A könyv egészét végigpörgetve akaratlanul is lesújtó véleménye alakul ki az embernek az államról (elsősorban az USA-ról), hiszen gyakorlatilag bármilyen témában őket tudjuk elsődleges felelősként megnevezni, de persze a maga nemében teljesen reálisnak tűnik az, hogy az állam egyes érdekei nem csengnek össze a lakosság, különösen annak egy-egy rétegének érdekeivel - ilyenkor pedig nem marad más megoldás, mint a csúsztatás, elhallgatás, tagadás?
August 11, 2023
Solid but nothing special, and certainly not a 5-star. The final reason it's 4 and not 3 is the sole 1-star rating appears to be from a wingnut.
That said? It's really 3.5, maybe 3.25.
The framing of conspiracy theories versus "conspiracy realism" is good. The basic classifications of conspiracy theories (from a modern, Western, and specifically American) perspective are all good.
But, issues?
One, this book is thin. Under 225 pages with big font and leading.
Two, no index. On bigger books, that's a 1-star ding right there and I reserve the right to adjust this rating.
Three, contra the wingnut reviewer? The chapter on UFOs cut too much in the way of blank checks to Department of Defense ginormous spending because "they" (not aliens, but Russkies, Chinazis etc.) might have "something." That itself is a conspiracy theory and should have been under the PR chapter.
Fourth, getting back to above? Non-Western conspiracy theories, like some sub-Saharan African men and disappearing penises, etc. not discussed at all.
So, 3 star button is hit.
That said? It's really 3.5, maybe 3.25.
The framing of conspiracy theories versus "conspiracy realism" is good. The basic classifications of conspiracy theories (from a modern, Western, and specifically American) perspective are all good.
But, issues?
One, this book is thin. Under 225 pages with big font and leading.
Two, no index. On bigger books, that's a 1-star ding right there and I reserve the right to adjust this rating.
Three, contra the wingnut reviewer? The chapter on UFOs cut too much in the way of blank checks to Department of Defense ginormous spending because "they" (not aliens, but Russkies, Chinazis etc.) might have "something." That itself is a conspiracy theory and should have been under the PR chapter.
Fourth, getting back to above? Non-Western conspiracy theories, like some sub-Saharan African men and disappearing penises, etc. not discussed at all.
So, 3 star button is hit.
May 14, 2024
A balanced look at the world of conspiracy theories, particularly focusing on critical thinking through conspiracy fact’, that is looking at how the theories came to be then delving into the true stories that led to their creation.
It’s an easy read and delivered with the same astute summaries and stories with a dose of tongue in cheek humour. I’m a big fan of the podcast and it definitely captures the feel of the show.
My only issue is it’s just a little light. There’s stories and investigations here that could have been pages of detail that get glossed over in a page or two (the Illuminati or JFK assassination for example). I know this wasn’t a full blown analysis of those conspiracies but I just wanted a little bit more on why they’ve become so prevalent in the YouTube tin foil hat world if 2024.
Overall though it’s nicely presented and easy to get into even for novice sociologists with an interest in why the world is losing its mind down these rabbit holes. The truth is indeed out there, it’s just not what you think it might be!
It’s an easy read and delivered with the same astute summaries and stories with a dose of tongue in cheek humour. I’m a big fan of the podcast and it definitely captures the feel of the show.
My only issue is it’s just a little light. There’s stories and investigations here that could have been pages of detail that get glossed over in a page or two (the Illuminati or JFK assassination for example). I know this wasn’t a full blown analysis of those conspiracies but I just wanted a little bit more on why they’ve become so prevalent in the YouTube tin foil hat world if 2024.
Overall though it’s nicely presented and easy to get into even for novice sociologists with an interest in why the world is losing its mind down these rabbit holes. The truth is indeed out there, it’s just not what you think it might be!
October 24, 2022
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. But I listen to almost every STDWYTK podcast episode that comes out and have been a fan for many years. Ben, Matt and Noel always deliver the relevant information and explore how multiple opinions form.
The introduction is possibly the most important part of this book. Don’t skip it! The definitions they lay out for theory, conspiracy, conspiracy theory and other important terms like thought terminating cliche are so important.
Although I loved this, because I’m a fan and listen to the podcast, I’m not sure much of the information in each chapter felt new. They combined many related topics under the header of each chapter but those topics may have had full podcast episodes previously so if you are a listener, much will feel familiar. It’s still fully worth listening to and I’m probably going to pick up a physical copy for the coffee table.
Love to the guys, thanks for the book!
The introduction is possibly the most important part of this book. Don’t skip it! The definitions they lay out for theory, conspiracy, conspiracy theory and other important terms like thought terminating cliche are so important.
Although I loved this, because I’m a fan and listen to the podcast, I’m not sure much of the information in each chapter felt new. They combined many related topics under the header of each chapter but those topics may have had full podcast episodes previously so if you are a listener, much will feel familiar. It’s still fully worth listening to and I’m probably going to pick up a physical copy for the coffee table.
Love to the guys, thanks for the book!
July 24, 2022
Conspiracy theories are a fascinating subject to explore as they tend to feature wild, out there thoughts as well as traces of fact; parsing out the facts from the whims of fancy that shape perspectives on various topics, frequently with the government at the center, Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know by Ben Bowlin, Matthew Frederick, and Noel Brown presents information regarding some commonly discussed theories and demonstrate how these theories rise and persist.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Presenting information on some oft-discussed conspiracy theories throughout American history and contemporary culture, including chemtrails, UFOs and Men in Black, and secret societies to name a notable few, these chapters are informative as they explore the roots of the theories and written with a critical perspective to point out the factors contributing to how the theory and associated mistrust came to be but with a level of skepticism on the validity of it to allow questions for deeper discussion or exploration on the topic to arise. The format of the book feels a bit like a textbook with the fun comic book style art to lead chapters, pull quotes, and text box callouts that offer a concise message as well as additional context; while the content itself has the potential of being dry if a rote recitation of facts, the way it is presented to readers is enjoyably entertaining and engaging. The writing is accessible and filled with wit, making the information easy to understand, especially if readers may not have been introduced to it previously through school or through a rabbit-hole search, and follow the train of thought described, plus the added bonus of humorous asides in the text that make it feel more conversational or some of the footnotes providing authorial comments or seemingly non sequitur facts to elicit laughs.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Presenting information on some oft-discussed conspiracy theories throughout American history and contemporary culture, including chemtrails, UFOs and Men in Black, and secret societies to name a notable few, these chapters are informative as they explore the roots of the theories and written with a critical perspective to point out the factors contributing to how the theory and associated mistrust came to be but with a level of skepticism on the validity of it to allow questions for deeper discussion or exploration on the topic to arise. The format of the book feels a bit like a textbook with the fun comic book style art to lead chapters, pull quotes, and text box callouts that offer a concise message as well as additional context; while the content itself has the potential of being dry if a rote recitation of facts, the way it is presented to readers is enjoyably entertaining and engaging. The writing is accessible and filled with wit, making the information easy to understand, especially if readers may not have been introduced to it previously through school or through a rabbit-hole search, and follow the train of thought described, plus the added bonus of humorous asides in the text that make it feel more conversational or some of the footnotes providing authorial comments or seemingly non sequitur facts to elicit laughs.
November 1, 2022
A book about conspiracy theories.
I thought this book would be all debunking crazy theories. Although it does provide research disproving some theories, it also explains why people have these theories in the first place. It also opened my mind to part conspiracies that really did occur, and were hidden from the public. So in the end, I don't know if it made me believe in these theories even less. But it was an interesting look at the history and psychology of social phenomena.
The book is divided into short chapters about different subjects. I liked the format, since it's easy to pick up and put down.
P.S. The hardcover version of the book is beautiful. It's has really great graphic design imagines for each chapter, and it's just really enjoyable and easy to read.
I thought this book would be all debunking crazy theories. Although it does provide research disproving some theories, it also explains why people have these theories in the first place. It also opened my mind to part conspiracies that really did occur, and were hidden from the public. So in the end, I don't know if it made me believe in these theories even less. But it was an interesting look at the history and psychology of social phenomena.
The book is divided into short chapters about different subjects. I liked the format, since it's easy to pick up and put down.
P.S. The hardcover version of the book is beautiful. It's has really great graphic design imagines for each chapter, and it's just really enjoyable and easy to read.
June 4, 2023
A safe, accessible tour through the most popular conspiracy theories just palatable enough for a casual reader. I'd even go so far as to say this book is squarely mainstream (even normie at times) in its approach. There are of course a hundred things conveniently left out of the book that could/should have been included, which only leaves the reader wondering why. I can speculate that it has much to do with the political realities of getting a book published in 2022, but it doesn't matter. This book, like most any book I've read recently based on a podcast, is thin and lacking in real substance. It is a toothless, low-risk coffee table book that is probably good for sparking light conversation but not provoking much else. It's ok.
July 11, 2023
Based on a podcast of the same name and written by the same guys, this is a “slightly deeper than surface but not deep enough to find the bodies” generalized guide to conspiracy theories, UFO’s, propaganda, human experimentation, and everything else you may or may not believe in regards to the government; you almost want to see Mulder and Scully show up at some point. Bowlin and company do their best to talk about what people believe and why, and if it’s as bad as we think (sometimes) or much worse (that too). Ultimately, it’s a “voice of reason” meets “call to action” book that is very rationally laid-out. Overall, I’m glad to have read it. I imagine it pairs nicely with “A People’s History of the United States.” Just sayin’…
July 30, 2022
This book has everything! Chemtrails, genetic experimentation, surveillance, you name it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Stuff They Don't Want You to Know in July 2022.
Here's where it gets crazy...
I've been listening to the podcast from its earliest days, starting on my iPod video classic. I loved the guys in high school and have learned a lot from them since (I'm in my 30s now). This book brings together the best parts of their perspectives on conspiracy theories—curious but rational, empathetic but critical. Highly recommended read if you're interested in learning more about the conspiracies that animate many parts of our society and drive human behavior.
Here's where it gets crazy...
I've been listening to the podcast from its earliest days, starting on my iPod video classic. I loved the guys in high school and have learned a lot from them since (I'm in my 30s now). This book brings together the best parts of their perspectives on conspiracy theories—curious but rational, empathetic but critical. Highly recommended read if you're interested in learning more about the conspiracies that animate many parts of our society and drive human behavior.
December 2, 2022
Overall worth it.
An excellent written book. Some of the die-hard Conspiracy Realists will notice Ben's writing so well that you can almost literally hear him reading the book to you.
My only beef with it is the outdated slant at the end where they nearly state outright that marijuana is completely and utterly safe. I suggest anyone reading this to check out Alex Berenson's Tell Your Children. The info we base this fallacy on is from studies done on far, far less potent forms of the drug than are currently available. The dose makes the poison.
Beyond that, this is an excellent and highly readable as well as educational book. I recommend it.
An excellent written book. Some of the die-hard Conspiracy Realists will notice Ben's writing so well that you can almost literally hear him reading the book to you.
My only beef with it is the outdated slant at the end where they nearly state outright that marijuana is completely and utterly safe. I suggest anyone reading this to check out Alex Berenson's Tell Your Children. The info we base this fallacy on is from studies done on far, far less potent forms of the drug than are currently available. The dose makes the poison.
Beyond that, this is an excellent and highly readable as well as educational book. I recommend it.
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