The United States of Paranoia - A Conspiracy Theory

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

About the author

Jesse Walker is the books editor of Reason magazine and the author of Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and their two daughters.

Summary

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

Product details

• Authors: Jesse Walker, Walker Jesse
• Publisher: Harper Perennial USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 14.10.2014
• EAN: 9780062135568
• ISBN: 978-0-06-213556-8
• No. of pages: 464
• Dimensions: 137 mm x 205 mm x 30 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Research, HISTORY / World, HISTORY / Modern / 21st Century, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / General, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, Social and cultural history, United States of America, USA, General and world history, Political science and theory, Social research and statistics, HISTORY: United States / 21st Century, HISTORY: AMERICAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL SCIENCE: Conspiracy Theories, HISTORY: Modern / 21st Century, POLITICAL SCIENCE: POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE: History & Theory, SOCIAL SCIENCE: Media Studies, SOCIOLOGY: POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL SCIENCE: Research, Sociology / Political Sociology, History / American