A riveting tour through the landscape and meaning of modern conspiracy theories, exploring the causes and tenacity of this American malady, from Birthers to Pizzagate and beyond. – Metropolitan Books
Praise for Republic of Lies:
“With restrained but eloquent prose, Merlan unblinkingly documents our age of conspiracy.” – Talia Lavin, The Nation
“For the uninitiated, Merlan’s book is a riveting tour through the tangles of some of the most prominent conspiracy theories in circulation today. Blending first-person reporting from a variety of conspiracist gatherings with a measured survey of the existing research on conspiracy theories, she explores why and how demonstrably untrue ideas germinate. Behind each quack theory she finds groups of people who feel powerless or alienated in some significant way.” – JC Pan, The New Republic
“A riveting, deeply-reported safari through the American fringe” – Blair Stenvick, Portland Mercury
“A lucid, well-researched look at a slippery topic.” – Kirkus Reviews
Anna Merlan 