Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

Name: Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
Price: 2.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (628 reviews)
Author: Michael Shermer

by Michael Shermer

Nonfiction Self Help

4.2 (628)

4.2 stars from 628 reviews. Top 94% of Nonfiction books we track.

306 pages~5.1 hr readPublished by TBS/GBS/TransworldPublished 1997-01-01

$2.99Deal81% off peak

Last checked: Jun 15, 2026

Price history: $2.99 – $15.54

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Price range: $2.99 – $15.54

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Perfect for you if...

You're curious about how smart people fall for nonsense and want to understand the psychology that makes conspiracy theories so sticky.
You're frustrated by pseudoscience in your social circles and want ammunition to think critically about bogus claims.
You enjoy popular science writing that doesn't condescend and actually makes you question your own beliefs.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for a how-to guide on persuading believers to change their minds; this is diagnosis, not prescription.
You prefer books that are more narrative-driven than exploratory; this is essayistic and jumps between topics.
You're deeply attached to alternative spirituality and aren't ready to examine why it appeals to you.

About this book

In this revised and expanded edition, Michael Shermer examines why people believe in mind reading, past-life regression, New Age ideas, and alien abduction despite scientific advancement. The book challenges popular superstitions and explores the human reasons behind attraction to otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults. A new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," focuses on scientists and luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler who blend spiritual beliefs with scientific language. Shermer also addresses dangerous manifestations of illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, and the satanic ritual abuse scare. The book serves as a resource for understanding gullibility and protecting against it.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$2.99 – $15.54

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 81% off peak. Price has dropped 3 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 42 days. Typically stays discounted for 96 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #652K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Climbing the charts — 36% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.2★ from 628 reviews

Gaining approximately 2 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.2 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $15.54.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.