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

Jul 6, 2026

A revised and expanded edition of Michael Shermer’s work that examines why people accept pseudoscience and superstition, blending philosophical reflection with case studies and structured critique. The book frames skepticism as a balance between rigorous doubt and openness to new ideas, then surveys cognitive mistakes, paranormal claims, near-death experiences, alien abductions, witch panics, and ideological cults. It also addresses creationism and evolution, challenges pseudo-history, and considers denialism and race narratives through evidence-based rebuttal, supported by references and index.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages367

Reading Time15 h 25 min

Foreword

The Positive Power of Skepticism

Introduction to the Paperback Edition

Magical Mystery Tour

Part 1: Science and Skepticism

A Skeptic's Manifesto

The Difference Between Science and Pseudoscience

Twenty-five Fallacies That Lead Us to Believe Weird Things

Part 2: Pseudoscience and Superstition

The Normal, the Paranormal, and Edgar Cayce

Near-Death Experiences and the Quest for Immortality

Encounters with Aliens

Medieval and Modern Witch Crazes

Ayn Rand, Objectivism, and the Cult of Personality

Part 3: Evolution and Creationism

An Evening with Duane T. Gish

Twenty-five Creationist Arguments, Twenty-five Evolutionist Answers

Evolution and Creationism at the Supreme Court

Part 4: History and Pseudohistory

History, Censorship, and Free Speech

An Overview of a Movement

Debunking the Deniers

An African-Greek-German-American Looks at Race

Part 5: Hope Springs Eternal

Can Science Find the Best of All Possible Worlds?

Why Do People Believe Weird Things?

Why Smart People Believe Weird Things?

Bibliography

Index

WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS PSEUDOSCIENCE, SUPERSTITION, AND OTHER CONFUSIONS OF OUR TIME REVISED AND EXPANDED Michael Shermer Foreword by Stephen Jay Gould A W. H. Freeman / Owl Book Henry Holt and Company New York Henry Holt and Company, LLC Publishers since1866 115 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011 Henry Holt® is a registered trademark of Henry Holt and Company, LLC. Copyright © 1997, 2002 by Michael Shermer All rights reserved. Distributed in Canada by H. B. Fenn and Company Ltd. "Science Defended, Science Defined" originally appeared in the journal Science, Technology, and Human Values, 16, no. 4 (Autumn 1991), 517-539. All artwork and illustrations, except as noted in the text, are by Pat Linse, are copyrighted by Pat Linse, and are reprinted with permission. For further information on the Skeptics Society and Skeptic magazine, contact P.O. Box 338, Altadena, CA 91001. 626-794-3119; fax: 626-794-1301. e-mail: [skepticmag@aol.com](skepticmag@aol.com). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shermer, Michael. Why people believe weird things: pseudoscience, superstition, and other confusions of our time / Michael Shermer; foreword by Stephen Jay Gould.—Rev. and expanded. p. cm. "First Owl Books edition"—T.p. verso. "An owl book. " Includes bibliographical references and Index. ISBN 0-8050-7089-3 (pbk.) 1. Pseudoscience. 2. Creative ability in science. I. Tide. Q172.5.P77 S48 2002 133—dc21 2002068784 Henry Holt books are available for special promotions and premiums. For details contact: Director, Special Markets. First published in hardcover in 1997 by W. H. Freeman and Company First Owl Books Edition 2002 AW. H. Freeman / Owl Book Printed in the United States of America 7 9 10 8 6 To the memory of Carl Sagan, 1934-1996, colleague and inspiration, whose lecture on "The Burden of Skeptícism" ten years ago gave me a beacon when I was intellectually and professionally adrift, and ultimately inspired the birth of the Skeptics Society, Skeptic magazine, and this book, as well as my commitment to skepticism and the liberating possibilities of science It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas. If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you. You never learn anything new. You become a crotchety old person convinced that nonsense is ruling the world. (There is, of course, much data to support you.) On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of sceptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish useful ideas from the worthless ones. If all ideas have equal validity then you are lost, because then, it seems to me, no ideas have any validity at all. —Carl Sagan, "The Burden of Skepticism,"Pasadena lecture, 1987 CONTENTS FOREWORD The Positive Power of Skepticism ix by Stephen Jay Gould * INTRODUCTIONTOTHEPAPERBACKEDITION xiii Magical Mystery Tour The Whys and Wherefores of Weird Things PROLOGUE Next on Oprah 1 PART 1: SCIENCE AND SKEPTICISM 11 1. I AM THEREFORE I THINK 13 A Skeptic's Manifesto 2. THE MOST PRECIOUS THING WE HAVE 24 The Difference Between Science and Pseudoscience 3. How THINKING GOES WRONG 44 Twenty-five Fallacies That Lead Us to Believe Weird Things PART 2: PSEUDOSCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION 63 4. DEVIATIONS 65 The Normal, the Paranormal, and Edgar Cayce 5. THROUGH THE INVISIBLE 73 Near-Death Experiences and the Quest for Immortality 6. ABDUCTED! 88 Encounters with Aliens 7. EPIDEMICS OF ACCUSATIONS 99 Medieval and Modern Witch Crazes 8. THE UNLIKELIEST CULT 114 Ayn Rand, Objectivism, and the Cult of Personality PART 3: EVOLUTION AND CREATIONISM 125 9. IN THE BEGINNING 127 An Evening with Duane T. Gish VIII Contents 10. CONFRONTINGCREATIONISTS 137 Twenty-five Cre

FAQs

What balance does the book argue for when evaluating claims?

It calls for an exquisite balance between skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses and openness to new ideas. Pure skepticism blocks learning, while pure gullibility cannot distinguish useful ideas from worthless ones.

How does the book distinguish science from pseudoscience?

It presents a focused comparison that is developed through subsequent chapters, including analysis of common reasoning errors that lead people to accept strange beliefs.

What major topics are covered beyond pseudoscience and superstition?

The book expands into evolution vs. creationism, pseudo-history and denialism, as well as explanations for why people—especially smart people—continue to believe weird things.

Jul 6, 2026

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