They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent
Sep 2022 · Flatiron Books
3.9star
7 reviewsreport
Ebook
272
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About this ebook
FINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE
“Every sentence delivered. The pathos of truth-seeking left me thinking of Herman Melville."
—Timothy Snyder, #1 New York Times bestselling author of On Tyranny
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author Sarah Kendzior delves into the difference between conspiracy and conspiracy theory, "deftly separat[ing] fact from fiction in a conspiracy-addled nation" (VANITY FAIR).
Conspiracy theories are on the rise because officials refuse to enforce accountability for real conspiracies. Uncritical faith in broken institutions is as dangerous as false narratives peddled by propagandists.
The truth may hurt—but the lies will kill us.
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—“From Norman Baker to Jeffrey Epstein, Iran-Contra to January 6" (VF)—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.
Here, for the first time, Kendzior blends her signature whip-smart prose and eviscerating arguments with lyrical and intimate examinations of the times and places that haunt American history. "America is a ghost story," writes Kendzior, as she unearths decades of buried history, providing an essential and critical look at how to rebuild our democracy by confronting the political lies and crimes that have shaped us.
“Every sentence delivered. The pathos of truth-seeking left me thinking of Herman Melville."
—Timothy Snyder, #1 New York Times bestselling author of On Tyranny
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author Sarah Kendzior delves into the difference between conspiracy and conspiracy theory, "deftly separat[ing] fact from fiction in a conspiracy-addled nation" (VANITY FAIR).
Conspiracy theories are on the rise because officials refuse to enforce accountability for real conspiracies. Uncritical faith in broken institutions is as dangerous as false narratives peddled by propagandists.
The truth may hurt—but the lies will kill us.
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—“From Norman Baker to Jeffrey Epstein, Iran-Contra to January 6" (VF)—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.
Here, for the first time, Kendzior blends her signature whip-smart prose and eviscerating arguments with lyrical and intimate examinations of the times and places that haunt American history. "America is a ghost story," writes Kendzior, as she unearths decades of buried history, providing an essential and critical look at how to rebuild our democracy by confronting the political lies and crimes that have shaped us.
Ratings and reviews
3.9
7 reviews
Nate Robert
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May 16, 2025
blah blah waste of 20 minutes I can't get back ... I still haven't reached a conclusion whether she believes the JFK murder is conspiracy theory or actual conspiracy? whether she believes COVID was a actually a conspiracy and not a theory I'm so confused she goes one way with it just to come back in the end and act like she thinks the opposite of the past 10 minutes of blabbering about one way it's a total mess. not a fan. I have it a shot tho
Christopher Maddy
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October 23, 2022
Sarah is my go to for information about our crumbling Democracy and what we can do to repair it. Whether I'm reading one of her Books or listening to Gaslit Nation, I know that the knowledge she shares will light the path forward, no matter how rocky it is. I chose the audiobook for "They Knew" because my reading time has been cut short due to matters at home. She is such a good narrator that I plan to repurchase "Hiding in plain Sight" in audio. "They Knew" moves like a Crime Drama because, it is. From the introduction of Norman Baker to the Epilogue, Sarah takes you on a journey through the darkest parts of our Country's History. She's a skilled Journalist who fills your mind with just the right ammunition to take down the Puppets of Autocracy. First you must ask yourself, do you want the Red Pill or the Blue Pill?
moontalker moontalker
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September 26, 2022
I AM A FAN OF LIBERAL AMERICAN VALUES,, I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR TRUMP DICTATORSHIP.
About the author
Sarah Kendzior is the New York Times bestselling author of Hiding in Plain Sight and The View from Flyover Country. She has a PhD in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, where she researched propaganda and state crimes in authoritarian regimes. 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 NBC News, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, TeenVogue, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times. She lives in St. Louis.
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