Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense

The simplest way to explain Saad's book is to say that it is an informed argument against wokeism. Saad shows the multifaceted assault on society by the cultural elites that have taken political correctness to new levels of idiocy. Saad approaches the cultural dilemma from a scientist's point of view and from a basic reasonable perspective. Additionally, Saad has a sense of humor and a sarcastic edge that alleviates any textbookishness or bore from his writing. Anyone who has watched one of his videos from the safe space under his desk knows his humor and cutting wit. I have listened to several podcasts featuring Saad, so I have heard much of this content from his previously; however, it is articulated and codified well in this book to inform and entertain. Most of all, this book encourages readers to speak up and stand up for what we know is true and right. It is a worthy read during these times. One note of ironic criticism is Saad's approach to evolution v. creationism or intelligent design theories. He seems to apply the cancel culture process that he undermines in this book to academics or people in general that disagree with natural evolution / Darwinism without any room to disagree with his view that is popularly promoted among academics. However, there is a strong case to be made for intelligent design of the universe over and against natural evolution, especially in light of an ever increasing amount of fine tuning evidence. In this case, Saad has a huge blind spot from what I have gathered.

Incredibly insightful book, everyone needs to read this

A fantastic read, might make a few people made because of the truth found in these pages. But it’s definitely a worthy use of your time and money!

The basic thesis here is that certain ideas—in this case specifically bad ideas, though the same can also be said of good ideas—can transmit themselves from person to person as metaphorical pathogens and parasitize the minds of otherwise sane and intelligent people. It’s not an idea that’s original to this book or this author, and several other works have explored similar terrain, but that doesn’t mean the author’s own presentation is redundant or unoriginal. He treats the subject here through two primary frameworks: first, his professional experience as an evolutionary psychologist and, second, his personal experience having grown up as a Lebanese Jew during the Lebanese Civil War. Both of these perspectives, separately and together, make the author’s insights into the topic unique and, in many cases, particularly haunting. When I started reading it, I expected a deeper treatment of the subject from the perspective specifically of evolutionary psychology. Such material is covered in this book, but it’s less about the psychology of these idea pathogens and instead more a criticism of the bad ideas themselves, albeit from a psychologist’s perspective. In that sense, I didn’t quite get the book I was expecting to read, but it was still fascinating to explore the various topics (most of which were already known to be but some of which caught even me off guard). In many ways, less than a scientific work, this is more of a political call to action which grounds its reasoning in both science and history. For such a book, it’s excellent. One might quibble that the calls to action could be provided with some more practical advice, but that is indeed just quibbling. The topics the book covers are important and even if one disagrees with the author’s opinions on some of the issues—as will be inevitable because no one agrees with another person about everything—it’s well worth considering why he’s come to the conclusions he has. However, it’s also a book very much of its moment. Because it does focus so heavily and so directly on current events rather than on the specific processes by which these pathogenic ideas spread, its long-term relevance is questionable. I do recommend it, but if you’re going to read it, you should read it now. Ten or twenty years in the future, I’m sure, we’ll have an entirely different crop of pathogenic ideas to worry about.

Five stars for the content—that’s included—but one star for the publishing company. This edition ends abruptly on page 176, and is missing approximately 70 pages of text and the appendix.

I love this Professor. He speaks logically, gives concrete examples, and has a sense of humor while doing it. It shows the mind virus plaguing the globe and destroying Western Civilization, and ways to combat this mind plague logically.

This book explores how ideological "mind pathogens"belief systems that reject logic and reason—have taken hold of academia, media, and politics. Saad argues that these mind viruses, such as postmodernism, identity politics, and radical activism, undermine critical thinking and the pursuit of objective truth. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, he illustrates how these parasitic ideas spread and how they pose a threat to individual freedoms and open discourse. Saad's writing is both accessible and engaging, blending humor, personal anecdotes, and rigorous scientific analysis. He calls for a return to reason, evidence-based thinking, and the defense of free speech to counteract these harmful ideologies. Overall, The Parasitic Mind is a passionate and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to critically evaluate the cultural forces shaping their beliefs.

The book is a big disappointment as it presents the views of an anti-science and anti-common sense person. It’s all sounds like the kind of stuff that one hears nowadays from Trumpian “conservatives”, alt-right or downright neo-fascists. It’s a waste of money and time to read silly propaganda like that.

The world is going mad and common sense is going right out of the window. We live in a world where we have to be careful what we say online or in our social environments, opinions are only accepted if they fit the narrative and people agree with them (god forbid you go against the grain and have an opinion of your own). We live in a world where political correctness has become something of a "Frankenstien's Monster" and Dr Saad does a very good job highlighting some of the absurd arguments that are ongoing in today's society that when read will make your head go numb (some really are THAT absurd) This was a great read from beginning to end and a great introduction (for me) to Dr Saad work.

Understand your enemy is the first step to become the honey badger you deserve to be. Fight fight fight. Rage against the dying of the light.

Excellent Book - Excellent Author - Super Written And Easy To Understand.