Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think

Drawing on his experience as a philosophy professor, the author offers new ways to evaluate information in an increasingly post-fact society. While the book is largely theoretical, I found it fascinating. It covers the history of philosophy and the search for truth going back to Socrates. It discusses some of the reasons for the current breakdown in rational discourse, from confirmation bias to the dubious notion that "everyone is entitled to their opinion." Told from a humanist perspective, it imagines a world where people are taught as a matter of course to question everything they believe. Overall, I found the book to be mostly balanced and inclusive. There are a few areas where I think this work could be expanded on, either by this author or someone else. First, most people aren't as interested in logical discourse as this author is. Most people base their decisions on emotion rather than on rationality, even if they convince themselves otherwise. Second, like many humanists, the author doesn't seem to understand the human impulse toward religion. Spirituality isn't about logic—it's about mystery. It's about joy and awe and wonder. There doesn't seem to be any place for mystery in the vision the author describes. Third, how will these ideas be put to work? These ideas won't go anywhere unless they're incorporated into school curricula, business training, and public policy organizations. We could all benefit from the ideas in this book. The next step is to put them into action. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.