From 9/11 conspiracy theories to Holocaust denial, creationism to alternative medicine, there is an epidemic of demonstrably untrue descriptions of the world. This book demonstrates that unless the defenders of enlightenment values fight back soon, the counterknowledge industry has the potential to create political, social and economic disasters.

'Powerful, compelling and necessary - Thompson takes a blowtorch to sloppy thinking and stands up for enlightenment values with dash, authority and aplomb.' Michael Gove

Counterknowledge is killing common sense. From conspiracy theories about 9/11 that get turned into bestselling movies, to the endorsement by the NHS of homeopathic medicine, the chatter of credulity has grown uncomfortable loud. So persuasive have the peddlars of false information become, and so gullible are the people who buy it, that universities now offer degree courses in 'creation science', while respected publishers unashamedly promote tenuous sensationalist theory about Mary Magdelene as 'history'. In Counterknowledge, Damian Thompson reveals just how far the cult of the absurd has spread, and just how dangerous the consequences could be. His hand-grenade of book delivers a fatal blow to the gowing monster that is counterknowledge.

'Counterknowledge is more than just a thoroughly enjoyable demolition job of every type of modern quackery. Damian Thompson shows how apparently harmless pseudo-science breeds nationalism, race hatred and disease.' Nick Cohen

'The few hours it will take you to read this passionate, angry, wise and witty book will be well spent. You will have a lot of fun and at the same time be armed to the teeth against the many modes of quackery that are abroad today and the ethos that has permitted them to flourish.' Raymond Tallis