Michiko Kakutani
In his lively new book, Voodoo Histories, the journalist David Aaronovitch uses Occam's razor to eviscerate the many conspiracy theories that have percolated through politics and popular culture over the last century…Aaronovitch, who is a columnist for The Times of London, deconstructs a dizzying array of conspiracy theories in these pages with unsparing logic, common sense and at times exasperated wit.
—The New York Times
Library Journal
In this impressive new study of contemporary conspiracy theories, British journalist Aaronovitch (London Times) analyzes a plethora of explanations that have surfaced over the past several decades for such mysteries as who shot the Kennedy brothers, how Marilyn Monroe died, whether our astronauts really landed on the moon or were part of a huge NASA scam, and what was the real 9/11 plot. Beyond providing a systematic analysis of both how conspiracy theorists present their cases and what the actual facts are, as they are known in 12 different historical cases, Aaronovitch delves into the psychology of what makes conspiracy theories attractive in the first place. Humans always seek comfort in knowing exactly what has happened, and the absence of certainty (because of the way history is) makes us susceptible to those who think they know more than we do. There is comfort in thinking that historical events cannot have random causes but must operate instead from some preconceived (and often diabolical) notion. VERDICT This is fascinating stuff and absorbing reading that gives us a better understanding of why conspiracy theories are so popular and what the facts—in fact—indicate. Recommended.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Kirkus Reviews
An Orwell Prize-winning British journalist examines a dozen conspiracy theories and why they matter. Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Was Marilyn Monroe murdered? Did the U.S. government bring down the Twin Towers? Conspiracy theories, writes The Times (UK) columnist Aaronovitch (Paddling to Jerusalem: An Aquatic Tour of Our Small Country, 2000), are invariably unlikely and implausible, but they often seep into the popular culture and meet real needs. The author describes the key proponents and tenets of each conspiracy theory and the "evasions, half-truths, and bad science" on which most are based. Readers may grow impatient with his detailed explications-the theories are well-known nonsense-but they allow him to show how fringe thinking can spread through the Internet and mass media and color our understanding of historical events. Aaronovitch notes that the Arab world still widely invokes The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fraudulent document claiming that the world will be ruled by a supreme Jewish autocrat, and that by the 1970s the young and educated in the United States and Europe believed in a Kennedy assassination conspiracy. The writes that conspiracy theorists have much in common. They always cite similar earlier conspiracies, insist they are simply raising disturbing questions, rely on endorsements from celebrities and academics with exaggerated credentials and claim that they are being watched by authorities. "The government has been trying to sell us a pack of lies," said one woman about 9/11. Unfortunately, such charges enjoy a patina of credence because of genuine U.S. government coverups, including Watergate and the Iran-Contra Affair. But the real reason educated,middle-class individuals circulate conspiracy theories is the human need for a story, writes the author. We crave order, cannot tolerate the chaos of random events and are quick to insist that "they" (Jews, communists, big corporations, etc.) are responsible. Sometimes rambling, but helps explain our fascination with the proverbial crock. Agent: Georgia Garrett/AP Watt
From the Publisher
"Aaronovitch tackles the intriguing question of why well-educated, reasonable people sometimes believe 'perfectly ridiculous things.'" —NPR
"Lively... In most cases, Mr. Aaronovitch notes, conspiracy theorists would rather tie themselves into complicated knots and postulate all sorts of improbable secret connections than accept a simple, more obvious explanation." —The New York Times
"Every reader will have his favorite crank." — The New York Times Book Review
"Meticulous in its research, forensic in its reasoning, robust in its argument, and often hilarious in its debunking... a highly entertaining rumble with the century's major conspiracy theorists and their theories." —John Lahr, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Tennessee Williams
"Terrifying, hilarious, irreverent and addictively compelling, Voodoo Histories is an instant classic that should be read by everyone—a brilliant, witty and devastating analysis of, and guide to, the big lies of modern history by our most brilliant commentator" – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin and Stalin: The Court Of The Red Tsar
"A brilliant, sparkling and witty demolition of numerous conspiracy theories—not only dotty but sometimes, as in the case of the fabricated Protocols of the Elders of Zion—highly dangerous and an analysis of why otherwise intelligent people are so ready to believe in them" – Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler and To Hell and Back
MAY 2010 - AudioFile
We often wonder if any of the wild conspiracy theories we continually hear about have validity. It turns out that most of them don't, yet we still wonder: "What if . . . ?" In this serious yet entertaining book, Aaronovitch looks at some of the most important conspiracy theories, how they are constructed, and how they change the way we look at the world (even if we know they're wrong). James Langton provides a leisurely reading, with his tone and narration well adapted to the serious nature of the book. However, the stereotypical accents he adopts when reading quotes from non-English speakers are not successful. Nevertheless, Langton's pace is ideal—slow enough to follow complex discussions yet lively enough to maintain interest. K.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
