The Conspiracists
Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging
by Noelle Cook
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Jan 06 2026 | Archive Date Not set
Talking about this book? Use #TheConspiracists #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
"In this empathetic debut study, ethnographer Cook explores the rise of "conspirituality," a mix of new age spirituality and far-right, anti-government conspiracy, among middle-aged white American women."
--Publishers Weekly
“A large and compelling part of the book follows two disparate women, Tammy and Yvonne, who were both convicted and jailed for their actions on January 6. . . . Their involvement in the world of conspiracy moves into the realm of conspirituality, a mash-up of conspiracies, New Age philosophies, and white supremacist ideas. Cook explores their beliefs with curiosity and open-mindedness in this thoughtful and timely book."
—Booklist
How do ordinary women become extremists?
Leafing through photos from the January 6 insurrection, extremist researcher Noelle Cook was struck by how many women looked like her: middle-aged white women in puffy coats. Women were not on the fringes of the extreme right, she realized. They were radicalizing each other, and the pandemic was changing them. So who were the women of J6? And why did some of them believe in shape-shifting reptilians and the health benefits of colloidal silver?
This is the world scholars call conspirituality, in which New Age religion, online wellness culture, and extremism blend and become laced with antisemitic and racist theories. With acute attention to the emotional lives of women and research on conspiracism, Cook introduces us to Tammy, who believed storming the Capitol would help take down a global cabal of pedophiles. We also meet Yvonne, convinced she is a starseed destined to lead others into the fifth dimension. We visit a trade show where vendors hawk everything from quantum healing devices to government cover-ups, and trace the movement's roots to a nineteenth-century mystical philosophy.
With arresting detail, The Conspiracists draws us into the lives of conspiratorial women to explore how and why women are becoming radicalized. Women are crafting entire worlds, Cook argues, and we ignore these worlds at our own peril. As misinformation spreads and extremism intensifies, The Conspiracists does not seek to excuse women's conspiracism but rather to understand it. Otherwise, we have no hope of countering its force.
Advance Praise
“For anyone who has wondered how so many women went down the QAnon rabbit hole, Cook’s deep dive into two women’s stories is a must-read. A compelling, eye-opening account of the vulnerabilities and vitriol that have dragged so many women into unimaginable beliefs.”
—Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, author of Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism and professor and founding director of Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL), American University
“Insightful, nuanced, and thoughtful, The Conspiracists offers a refreshing take on the complex and often misunderstood world of conspirituality. It expertly blends empathy and honesty with captivating storytelling.”
—Eviane Leidig, author of The Women of the Far Right
“As conspiracy theory belief becomes more mainstream and acceptable, it becomes that much more important to understand what it offers believers. Through empathy and curiosity, The Conspiracists reveals how two women sought community, personal success, meaning, and a higher purpose to their many traumas in the delusions of QAnon and the false promises of gurus—leading to them going to prison for storming the Capitol. This is a deeply reported and highly compelling examination of a problem we are only just starting to grasp.”
—Mike Rothschild, journalist, conspiracy theory expert, and author of The Storm Is Upon Us and Jewish Space Lasers
“A richly detailed, lucid, and compassionate account of the world of conspiracism. Through the personal journeys of two women, The Conspiracists casts an essential light on the appeal and endurance of conspiracy theories in a time of polarization and political extremism.”
—Cécile Simmons, author of CTRL, HATE, DELETE
“The Conspiracists shows that when belonging and identity are on the line, facts are negotiable and the unbelievable feels like home. Drawing on years of inside access, Noelle Cook weaves a research-rich narrative about the overlooked force driving modern American conspiracism: women who channel their hurt into politics-shaping crusades.”
—Travis View, cohost of the QAA podcast
“The Conspiracists is a thought-provoking and timely look into the complexities of the emotional lives of women who participated in the Capitol insurrection. Through deep analysis of real-life cases, Cook explores the human side of misinformation, the trauma behind those stories, and what drew some people away from their conspiracy theories. This powerful study illuminates the common danger of conspiracy theories.”
—Dr. Christine Sarteschi, LCSW, professor of social work and criminology
Marketing Plan
National and online publicity campaign targeting news media, political media, and those covering extremism and the rise of conspiracy theories
Social media campaign targeting current affairs nonfiction readers, those interested in politics and social justice, and progressives
Trade and library advertising
Librarian and independent bookseller outreach
Giveaways via Goodreads and Library Thing
Author launch team
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9798889832423 |
| PRICE | $28.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 197 |