The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science—and Reality Audiobook

Bestselling author Chris Mooney uses cutting-edge research to explain the psychology behind why today’s Republicans reject reality—it’s just part of who they are. From climate change to evolution, the rejection of mainstream science among Republicans is growing, as is the denial of expert consensus on the economy, American history, foreign policy, and much more. Why won’t Republicans accept things that most experts agree on? Why are they constantly fighting against the facts? Science writer Chris Mooney explores brain scans, polls, and psychology experiments to explain why conservatives today believe more wrong things, appear more likely than Democrats to oppose new ideas and less likely to change their beliefs in the face of new facts, and sometimes respond to compelling evidence by doubling down on their current beliefs.  

Certain to spark discussion and debate, The Republican Brain also promises to add to the lengthy list of persuasive scientific findings that Republicans reject and deny.

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"This book explains the psychology behind the various political ideologies and is essential in understanding the behavior of the political parties. The researchers proved through scientific studies that people who identify themselves as conservatives have a much lower degree of openess to new ideas and information and they are much more loyal. In other words, they identify with a group or team and only accept facts which supports that team. Liberals on the other hand are much more likely to accept new information and change their political opinions. They don't have as much loyalty as conservatives and they are more likely to criticise their own groups and politicians according to new information. This explains why the conservative movement is in lock and step with each other and how liberals and democrats are more fractured. Party unity allows them to be stronger politically and to get things done but the ideological basis tends to be more delusional and divorced from reality. The author suggests that the different psychological traits may be genetic which means that party affiliation is partially hard coded into people's brains. The conservative trains may have been beneficial in paleolithic times when humans were organized into small bands and tribes where loyalty was more important than creative thinking. My own idea to add would be to discuss why some liberals are so loyal to their own group and politicians regardless of what they do. It suggests that there is a mixture such that openess may be applied to conservatives and vice versa in many situations, but less than the average. This book is essential to understanding the fundamental behavior of the various political parties and ideologies."

— Ob-jonny (4 out of 5 stars)