The United States of Paranoia - by Jesse Walker (Paperback)

About the Book

"Conspiracy theories aren't just a feature of the fringe. They have been a potent force across the political spectrum, at the center as well as the extremes, from the colonial era to the present. In this book the author explores this rich history, arguing that conspiracy stories should be read not just as claims to be either believed or debunked but also as folklore. When a tale takes hold, it reveals something true about the anxieties and experiences of those who believe and repeat it, even if the story says nothing true about the objects of the theory itself."--Page [4] of cover.

Book Synopsis

Jesse Walker's The United States of Paranoia presents a comprehensive history of conspiracy theories in American culture and politics, from the colonial era to the War on Terror.

The fear of intrigue and subversion doesn't exist only on the fringes of society, but has always been part of our national identity. When such tales takes hold, Walker argues, they reflect the anxieties and experiences of the people who believe them, even if they say nothing true about the objects of the theories themselves.

With intensive research and a deadpan sense of humor, Jesse Walker's The United States of Paranoia combines the rigor of real history with the punch of pulp fiction.

This giftable edition includes primary-source documentation in the form of archival photographs, cartoons, and film stills selected by the author.

"First there was A People's History of the United States. Now there's a paranoid's history, with Jesse Walker revealing that normal, sensible citizens have been conspiracy nuts ever since our nation's beginning."--Debbie Nathan, author of Sybil Exposed

From the Back Cover

Conspiracy theories aren't just a feature of the fringe. They've been a potent force across the political spectrum, at the center as well as the extremes, from the colonial era to the present. In The United States of Paranoia, Jesse Walker argues that conspiracy stories should be read not just as claims to be believed or debunked but also as folklore. When a tale takes hold, it reveals something true about the anxieties and experiences of those who believe and repeat it, even if the story says nothing true about the objects of the theory itself.

Stretching from the seventeenth century to today, Walker's book lays out five conspiracy narratives that recur in American politics and popular culture. With intensive research and a deadpan sense of humor, The United States of Paranoia combines the rigor of real history with the punch of pulp fiction.

Review Quotes

"A superb analysis of American paranoia...terrific, measured, objective." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Prepare to be amazed." -- Jeet Heer, author of In Love with Art

"Free-floating fear and half-baked ideas about what's really going on have been a more significant part of American history than is generally accepted, according to Jesse Walker's thorough, meticulously researched book." -- Vice

"Oddly entertaining...Walker quickly demolishes [Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics]. It's all too rare to come upon a writer willing to attack the sacred cows of the right and left with equal amounts of intelligence and flair." -- Los Angeles Times

"First there was A People's History of the United States. Now there's a paranoid's history, with Jesse Walker revealing that normal, sensible citizens have been conspiracy nuts ever since our nation's beginning." -- Debbie Nathan, author of Sybil Exposed