This is a fun look at the origins of conspiracy theories. I liked how the book debunks the theories but then goes on to discuss facts that illustrate how these theories get started in the first place, and why the are hard to completely dismiss. There are interesting historical anecdotes and overall it was just thought provoking.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Flatiron Books for an advance copy of this book on conspiracies, UFOs and the truth, maybe, about what is behind them or above them.

The truth is out there, but don't trust anybody. And who is this they that want to control conversations about what is really going on in the world. Am I a trustworthy messenger writing this review, or am I trying to hide the truth in this review by telling people just enough to get people in trouble, but not enough to believe what is really going on. Welcome to the magical world of conspiracies where HAARp and contrails are up, Aliens are below in the hollow Earth, and super smart rich men (it's almost always white men) control everything. And yet there is just enough truth in all of these statements to give everything the ring of truth, which this book hope to revel to us, or maybe not. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know written by Ben Bowlin with Matt Frederick and Noel Brown who are co-hosts of the popular podcast of the same name, have written a guide to all that is needed to understand life in these times of fake news, uncanny valleys and facebook postings.

The book begins with a quick introduction to the world of conspiracies, some of the bigger ones, why people fall in, and how the machine has to keep adding facts to a conspiracy to keep people both locked in, and to gain new believers. From there we hit the highs of contrails in the sky changing weather and human DNA, Plum Island and Lyme Disease. Politics is covered in both assassinations of famous leaders and in political corruption, who gets rich and why. Which leads to the drug war, where crack came from and again who makes the money. Along with things that are common conspiratorial beliefs are real bits of history. the Mk-Ultra CIA dosing people with LSD to see what would happen. Testing chemical attacks on real American cities, just to see what could happen. Tuskegee and the syphilis tests given to African American men which lasted until the 1970's.

The book is very well written detailing where conspiracies can start and how, with the addition of the real incidents or events that makes a person go, hmm. As crazy as something sounds, the truth is usually the hardest on to believe. Smart people allowing or thinking some of these events to happen, in the name of national interest or frankly just to see is astonishing. The writing is good and I guess expanded with more research and up to date news from the podcasts. The illustrations are nice, and help keep the reader engaged. Quite a bit of information is presented, but it never seems overwhelming or even worse dull.

Recommended for fans of the podcast, fans of the Last Podcast on the Left podcasts and for people who might want to try understanding why their crazy uncle is always upset all the time. Conspiracies are a real problem, the lack of understanding our own history does not help, nor the the understanding of how, why or what governments do in the name of protecting the people is also a hindrance. Or am I trying to make you believe what I do. See how easy it is.