EasterBlack-owned or founded brands at TargetGroceryClothing, Shoes & AccessoriesBabyHomeFurnitureKitchen & DiningOutdoor Living & GardenToysElectronicsVideo GamesMovies, Music & BooksSports & OutdoorsBeautyPersonal CareHealthPetsHousehold EssentialsArts, Crafts & SewingSchool & Office SuppliesParty SuppliesLuggageGift IdeasGift CardsClearanceTarget New ArrivalsTarget Finds#TargetStyleTop DealsTarget Circle DealsWeekly AdShop Order PickupShop Same Day DeliveryRegistryRedCardTarget CircleFind Stores

Confidence Men - by Harrison Fluss & Landon Frim (Paperback)

Confidence Men - by  Harrison Fluss & Landon Frim (Paperback) - 1 of 1
$19.95 when purchased online
Target Online store #3991

About this item

Highlights

  • Uncovers the irrational philosophy behind today's "confidence men" - from Jordan Peterson, to Elon Musk, Andrew Tate, and beyond.
  • About the Author: Landon Frim is an associate professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • 350 Pages
  • Political Science, History & Theory

Description



Book Synopsis



Uncovers the irrational philosophy behind today's "confidence men" - from Jordan Peterson, to Elon Musk, Andrew Tate, and beyond.

Why do millions of Americans support a system that is making them poorer, sicker, and less secure every day? If modern capitalism routinely exploits working people, then why do so many flock to its most reactionary defenders in personalities like Jordan Peterson, Elon Musk, and Andrew Tate? Or, as the philosopher Baruch Spinoza asked, why do we fight for slavery as if it were our salvation? Confidence Men: The Duping of the American Mind provides a compelling answer to those questions.

Mere journalistic accounts of these hucksters have pointed out their many lies and inaccuracies, their personal failings and rank hypocrisy. Confidence Men does something different. Instead of treating these sensational figures as individual bad actors, it identifies a common philosophy that animates them all. Each of them are, in their own ways, irrationalists - believing in the power of a strong will to overcome ordinary reality (and ordinary people). Objective facts, nature, and even "human nature" melt away before the creative genius or the mystical hero. Today's "confidence men" are the cheerleaders of hierarchy and domination, where the supreme value is one of unhinged belief in oneself. As against reactionary forms of self-help, Confidence Men proposes a rationalist alternative - neither wishing our problems away, nor "manifesting" success - but instead, understanding the world so that we can change it for the better.



About the Author



Landon Frim is an associate professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. He focuses on ethics, politics, and religion, and the legacy of the Radical Enlightenment. He has written for popular outlets, including Inside Higher Ed, Radical Philosophy, and The New Republic.

Harrison Fluss is a philosophy professor at St. John's University in NYC. He is a corresponding editor for Historical Materialism, and his writing has appeared in Jacobin Magazine, The New Republic, and Salvage. He loves reading Hegel and spending time with his wife and cat.

Dimensions (Overall): 8.5 Inches (H) x 5.31 Inches (W)
Weight: .81 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 350
Genre: Political Science
Sub-Genre: History & Theory
Publisher: Repeater
Format: Paperback
Author: Harrison Fluss & Landon Frim
Language: English
Street Date: January 20, 2026
TCIN: 93632449
UPC: 9781914420665
Item Number (DPCI): 247-04-2315
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 5.31 inches width x 8.5 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.81 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.

Related Categories

Get top deals, latest trends, and more.

Privacy policy

Footer

About Us

About TargetCareersNews & BlogTarget BrandsBullseye ShopSustainability & GovernancePress CenterAdvertise with UsInvestorsAffiliates & PartnersSuppliersTargetPlus

Help

Target HelpReturnsTrack OrdersRecallsContact UsFeedbackAccessibilitySecurity & FraudTeam Member Services

Stores

Find a StoreClinicPharmacyTarget OpticalMore In-Store Services

Services

Target Circle™Target Circle™ CardTarget Circle 360™Target AppRegistrySame Day DeliveryOrder PickupDrive UpFree 2-Day ShippingShipping & DeliveryMore Services
PinterestFacebookInstagramXYoutubeTiktokTermsCA Supply ChainPrivacyCA Privacy RightsYour Privacy ChoicesInterest Based AdsHealth Privacy Policy