How to Slay a Wizard

Owen Benjamin explores the mechanics of manipulation and deception in this book about what he calls "spells" cast on modern society. He traces his own education—from learning about nuclear survival to being taught evolutionary theory and cosmology—before becoming a comedian. How to Slay a Wizard examines the people who orchestrate manipulation, the techniques they use, and the fundamental lie underlying every spell. The book is neither political nor religious, but rather an analysis of how manipulation works and why it requires participation from those being deceived. Benjamin works from the dictionary definition of "wizard" outward through hypnotic language, fiat currency economics, con psychology, propaganda architecture, and the spiritual aspects of deception. He argues that all spells share the same structure and require the same ingredient: the audience's participation. The book explains the difference between wizards and alchemists, describes how spells are structured like jokes without punchlines, identifies a forbidden word in America, and teaches readers how to recognize lies before they take hold. Benjamin claims that once readers understand these mechanisms, they will recognize these patterns everywhere and become resistant to deception.