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The Other Pandemic
- How QAnon Contaminated the World
- Narrated by: Ned Rudkins-Stow
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
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Summary
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist James Ball takes us into the depths of the internet to trace the origins and rapid ascent of QAnon, the movement that mutated from a niche online conspiracy theory into the world’s first digital pandemic.
Imagine a deadly pathogen that, once created, could infect any person in any part of the globe within seconds. No need to wait for travellers, trains, or air traffic to spread it, all you need is an internet connection. In this gripping investigation, Pulitzer Prize winner James Ball decodes the cryptic language of the online right and with a surgeon’s precision tracks the spread of QAnon, the world’s first digital pandemic.
QAnon began as an internet community dedicated to supporting President Trump and intent on outing a global cabal of human traffickers. A short, cryptic message posted by an anonymous user to a niche internet forum in 2017 was the spark that ignited a global movement. What started as a macabre game of virtual make-believe quickly spiralled into the spread of virulently hateful, dangerous messaging – which turned into tragic, violent actions.
Incoherent, chaotic, free from agendas: QAnon is a one-size-fits all cult conspiracy. From a standoff at the Hoover Dam, to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on 6 January 2021, to protesting COVID-19 lockdowns, this digital pandemic has spread globally and shows no signs of stopping. In The Other Pandemic Ball takes us into the niche pathways through which these digital pathogens spread, mutate and infect people all across the globe – but he also argues that the prognosis doesn’t have to be dire. He shows us that it is possible to treat and cure this virus in order to build up our digital immune systems, and be better prepared to survive the next wave.
Critic reviews
"Utterly fascinating" (Dom Joly)
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- N. Dyne
- 03-08-23
a red pill antidote - recommended
a really valuable book on the growth of conspiracy theories which widens into a look more generally at the causes of maladaptive thought. Given I have a close relative who has jumped down the rabbit hole I was fascinated to read of how the accretion of conspiracy theories has taken place. it would be interesting to hear some further info on what creates the fertile ground for minds to believe this bs, how involved is big oil and other businesses in helping perpetuate it for their benefit (Eg climate change) and more advice on how to help people who think they have 'done their own research', which usually get confirmation from the biased.
the narration is not intrusive and is secondary to the story.
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- Goldfinch
- 16-08-23
Required listening
If you're concerned about the damage that unmoderated mass many-to-many internet enabled communication is doing to public debate and our democratic and political systems this is required listening.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-09-23
Really excellent listen
It’s practical pragmatic and insightful. A good listen full of interesting and engaging points that really unpacks and recontextualises the circumstances that brought about QAnon. Essential reading.
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- Emma
- 04-08-23
Engaging new persepctive
The author clearly understands the places online where q anon started and describes the conditions that allowed it to spread. A look at the roots and evolution of the disease rather than looking at the symptoms only as other works do. A really good listen.
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- Andrew Fisher
- 09-08-23
The Other Pandemic
This is a very well explained, thought provoking and quite frightening book. It is well written and narrated. Highly recommend this to people who have taken either coloured pill…
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- Jackie C
- 02-05-24
Really good & ‘scary’ content
It’s a very good established written word of what is currently being ignored by powerful people who could help to stop the vicious spread of some of the content that is spoken about in this concise book. It is scary to know that this is happening at all. It took me a while to get used to the guys voice who’s reading it but it actually matches the seriousness of the topics in it.
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