They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent (Hardcover)

Description

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“The pathos of truth-seeking left me thinking of Herman Melville. I can't remember the last time I read a book where every sentence delivered." —Timothy Snyder

The truth may hurt—but the lies will kill us.

In They Knew, New York Times best-selling author Sarah Kendzior explores the United States’ “culture of conspiracy,” putting forth a timely and unflinching argument: uncritical faith in broken institutions is as dangerous as false narratives peddled by propagandists. Conspiracy theories are on the rise because officials refuse to enforce accountability for real conspiracies.

They Knew discusses conspiracy culture in a rapidly declining United States struggling with corruption, climate change, and other crises. As the actions of the powerful remain shrouded in mystery – like the Jeffrey Epstein operation – it is unsurprising that people turn to conspiracy theories to fill the informational void. They Knew exposes the tactics these powerful actors use to placate an inquisitive public.

In Kendzior’s signature whip smart prose and eviscerating arguments, They Knew unearths decades of buried American history, providing an essential and critical look at how to rebuild our democracy by confronting the political lies and crimes that have shaped us.

About the Author

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Sarah Kendzior is the New York Times bestselling author of Hiding in Plain Sight and The View from Flyover Country. She is known for her reporting on St. Louis, her coverage of the 2016 election, and her academic research on authoritarian states. She is the co-host of the acclaimed podcast Gaslit Nation with Andrea Chalupa and was named by Foreign Policy as one of the “100 people you should be following on Twitter to make sense of global events.” Her reporting has been featured in many publications, including Politico, Slate, The Atlantic, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, TeenVogue, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times. She lives in St. Louis.

Praise For…

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“The pathos of truth-seeking left me thinking of Herman Melville. I can't remember the last time I read a book where every sentence delivered." —Timothy Snyder

Previous Praise for Sarah Kendzior

“Flat out fantastic.” —Don Winslow

"This fucking rocks." —Tori Amos

"I recommend… especially if you have any doubt about what's at stake." —Connie Schultz

"One of the few journalists who grasps what is happening." —David Cay Johnston

“You can’t look away.” —Alex George

"Dazzling" —The Chicago Daily Herald

"Prescient and honest." —NPR

“Looks unflinchingly at what ails the country." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A call to arms." —The Village Voice

"From Russia to flyover country… the voice we need." — Columbia Journalism Review

"A crystalline voice of reason and appraisal in a world that shifts further into unrecognizable territory minute-by-minute." —Booklist

“Read her.” —The Wire

“That rare writer with an analyst’s brain and an empath’s heart.” — St. Louis Magazine