Escaping the Rabbit Hole Book


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Description
In Escaping the Rabbit Hole, author Mick West shares over a decade’s worth of knowledge and experience investigating and debunking false conspiracy theories through his forum, MetaBunk.org, and sets forth a practical guide to helping friends and loved ones recognize these theories for what they really are.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, the most successful approaches to helping individuals escape a rabbit hole aren’t comprised of simply explaining why they are wrong; rather, West’s tried-and-tested approach emphasizes clear communication based on mutual respect, honesty, openness, and patience.

West puts his debunking techniques and best practices to the test with four of the most popular false conspiracy theories today (Chemtrails, 9/11 Controlled Demolition, False Flags, and Flat Earth) — providing road maps to help you to understand your friend and help them escape the rabbit hole. These are accompanied by real-life case studies of individuals who, with help, were able to break free from conspiracism.


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Extra's and Samples:
 
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Congrats on the book deal! You've really done a good thing with metabunk and a book will further the work you've started here. You've made a meaningful contribution to an important dialectic and that's no small thing.
 
Mick, I'm thrilled to hear about your upcoming book. If you are interested in more firsthand stories, I would be happy to share some and/or answer any questions, as a 30-something who within the last year has dug himself out (with help from friends and strangers) of quite a few rabbit holes, some discovered during college, some inherited from parents, some never previously questioned and some which I'd been in and out of over the years -- including chemtrails (with the recent help of ContrailScience.com), alternative medicine, organic/anti-GMO food, chemophobia, vaccine denialism, and 9/11.

I especially appreciate your statement that there's a blurry line between real and false conspiracy theories -- too few debunkers, in my opinion, acknowledge this -- and I personally remain suspicious (though agnostic) of a few I haven't studied closely, including electronic vote hacking, TWA 800, CIA-drug trafficking/alliances, and the 1960s assassinations (JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X). These are often treated as dismissively as 9/11 and chemtrails, but I suspect at least some of these deserve better. And there are others which I'm rather certain are well-documented and not directly disputed, but are too often ignored. (For each of these categories, I can recommend specific books, articles, or websites if you're interested.) Of course this eventually bleeds into normal corruption in politics, business, and the media.
 
Hi Mick new member here, just pre-ordered your book on Amazon, can't wait till Sept. to read it! Thank you for writing it!!
 
Hi Mick, just found out about your book and I'm looking forward to it.
Your unwavering patience with people, even when throwing lies and abuse at you is admirable.

I see a audio CD version is listed. Do you know if it will it be available for download?
I much prefer an audio book to listen to.
 
I see a audio CD version is listed. Do you know if it will it be available for download?
I much prefer an audio book to listen to.
Yes, there will be a downloadable audio. I think it's just not showing up right in Amazon etc. yet.
 
Stephen Fry obviously heard the latest episode of The Skeptic Zone :).

Mick, you really do come across well in an audio format. I haven't heard you interviewed on any of the skeptical podcasts about your book. Do you need some of us to do some nudging?
 
Stephen Fry obviously heard the latest episode of The Skeptic Zone :).

Mick, you really do come across well in an audio format. I haven't heard you interviewed on any of the skeptical podcasts about your book. Do you need some of us to do some nudging?
Sure, I’m always up for a podcast. Nudge away!
 
Hi Mick,

I received your book a few days ago and have read most of it already, with a focus on the general subjects (parts one and three) and specifically chemtrails in part two, as this is my mother's favorite conspiracy, plus of course most theories left of her demarcation line. That concept was a real eye opener by the way. I think your book is great and everyone with an interest in the subject and most certainly everyone who has a friend or loved one who believes in bunk absolutely needs to get a copy. My brother will read it next and then I would like my mother to read it. Will report back in the appropriate thread.

Thanks for a great book Mick

Best regards from Germany

Stefan
 
Hi Mick,

I received your book a few days ago and have read most of it already, with a focus on the general subjects (parts one and three) and specifically chemtrails in part two, as this is my mother's favorite conspiracy, plus of course most theories left of her demarcation line. That concept was a real eye opener by the way. I think your book is great and everyone with an interest in the subject and most certainly everyone who has a friend or loved one who believes in bunk absolutely needs to get a copy. My brother will read it next and then I would like my mother to read it. Will report back in the appropriate thread.

Thanks for a great book Mick

Best regards from Germany

Stefan

Thanks! I look forward to hearing their reactions.
 
The book looks really cool. I like how it uses the word "respect" in the title. A lot of inexperienced debunkers such as people in the comments on youtube videos, don't seem to have that skill. Is the only way to get the book on Amazon? Or is there a bookshop/chain that might sell it here in the UK? Thanks
 
The book looks really cool. I like how it uses the word "respect" in the title. A lot of inexperienced debunkers such as people in the comments on youtube videos, don't seem to have that skill. Is the only way to get the book on Amazon? Or is there a bookshop/chain that might sell it here in the UK? Thanks
They didn't get much physical distribution in the UK, but you can order it from booksellers like Waterstones.
https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/escaping+the+rabbit+hole
 
i need to read this book, is available in Chile?
Definitely worth a read!

It should be available through Amazon.
If you set up an account, it will display the items available to you.

I helped a friend in Chile build a PC, and some hardware I linked him to in Amazon did not even show up under his account.
 
I’ve already said thanks in my first post but thought it would be appropriate to repeat that again here. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying your calm, witty and well thought out book with my friend who’s been climbing out of a scale 10 rabbit hole. My gratitude is multilayered: knowing relevant stories of similar people has significantly helped my friend, knowing that there are people out there decoting time to help unravel the convoluted written electronic ties of online community and knowing that there are people who’ve escaped the rabbit hole. Keep up the good work.
 
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