The West’s commitment to freedom, reason, and true liberalism have become endangered by a series of viral forces in our society today. Renowned host of the popular YouTube show, The Saad Truth, Dr. Gad Saad exposes how an epidemic of idea pathogens are spreading like a virus and killing common sense in the West.

Serving as a powerful follow-up to Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life, Dr. Saad unpacks what is really happening in progressive safe zones, why we need to be paying more attention to these trends, and what we must do to stop the spread of dangerous thinking.

A professor at Concordia University who has witnessed this troubling epidemic first-hand, Dr. Saad dissects a multitude of these concerning forces (corrupt thought patterns, belief systems, attitudes, etc.) that have given rise to a stifling political correctness in our society and how these have created serious consequences that must be remedied - before it’s too late.

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Listening Length

7 hours and 36 minutes
Author

Gad Saad
Narrator

Jim Meskimen
Audible release date

October 6, 2020
Language

English
Publisher

Blackstone Publishing
ASIN

B0899M293Y
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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From the manufacturer

Listening Length	7 hours and 36 minutes
Author	Gad Saad
Narrator	Jim Meskimen
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 06, 2020
Publisher	Blackstone Publishing
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0899M293Y
Best Sellers Rank	#54,748 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #90 in Political Freedom (Books) #128 in Conservatism & Liberalism #335 in Political Freedom & Security

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

4,186 global ratings

5 star		84%
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P. Young

Letter to Author. Couldn't find email so posted as a review. Kinda long. "p" = page

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 6, 2022

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A few days ago, my introduction to you happened via your Epochtimes interview. I liked what I heard and picked up The Parasitic Mind ("TPM"). Much of what you say resonates with me. I especially appreciate your ideals of freedom and truth.

A disconnect I'm having is with your presentation of "truth." After perusing TPM, I used Kindle's search function on "truth," "science," a few other words, etc., to dig out your stated ideal. This is what I’m seeing:

General
p11 the truth ideal
defense of truth
uncover the truth
p12 quest for truth
p13 true knowledge
pursuing and defending truth
p18 objective truths
fundamental truths
search for truth

positive context
p1 reason, science and logic
p12 This is precisely why science is so liberating. It offers a framework for auto-correction because scientific knowledge is always provisional. An accepted scientific fact today might be refuted tomorrow. As such, the scientific method engenders epistemic humility.
p13 scientific truth
p19 truth and science
evidentiary rules of science and logic
p20 commitment to reason and the scientific method
commitment to reason, science and the values of the Enlightenment
p23 the truth as he (scientist) sees it
only one thing matters and that is the facts
p24 scientific testing
p29 facts and not feelings
p30 evidentiary threshold for uncovering scientific truth
truth or falsehood of one's position
p38 scientific facts
p56 scientific truths and natural laws
p60 only one truth and we find it through the scientific method
p63 truth and adherence to reality
p66 theory of evolution - a scientific truth that is as incontrovertible as the existence of gravity
p71 self-evident truths
p72 objective universal truth
p143 empirical truth
p145 pantheon of core knowledge
p153 universally true

negative context
p14 anti-science lunacy
p16 science denialism
p19 pet ideology
one's dogma
p21 shackles of the thought police
anti-intellectualism, anti-reason, anti-science and anti-liberal sentiment
p23 deeply held beliefs
p28 forbidden knowledge
p29 political correctness
p57 no revealed truths in science
p66 political or religious beliefs
p69 knowledge is relative (no objective truth)
p71 my truth
p82 banal scientific truths
p142 truth of his beliefs
p20 cultural and moral relativism

iffy
p169 Tribe of Truth

negators
p12 This is precisely why science is so liberating. It offers a framework for auto-correction because scientific knowledge is always provisional. An accepted scientific fact today might be refuted tomorrow. As such, the scientific method engenders epistemic humility.

p66 One’s political or religious beliefs cannot supersede accepted scientific knowledge (though we must remember that such knowledge remains provisional and open to falsification)

It seems to me that you are championing "truth" - specifically of the "objective" sort. You reject "relativism" culturally and morally. Your main argument seems to be that objective truth is only "scientific" in nature. Yet, by stating unequivocally that such knowledge is always provisional, aren't you then saying that scientific knowledge is likewise "relativistic" ultimately? If not, how then is "scientific" truth objective?

p76 Since postmodernism purports that reality is subjective, one person’s parody is another’s gold mine of meaning. With this epistemological sleight of hand, postmodernists are able to extract meaning from the most meaningless of texts.

p129 Before I delve into some of these supposed causes, it is worth noting that the obfuscation starts with the use of fantastical euphemisms and misdirection in referring to the terror attacks.

There was a time, not very long ago, when “absolute truth” was culturally, morally and scientifically acceptable. Concomitantly, the primary way the West thought about “truth” was as antithesis, allowing for “absolute truth.” In the late 18th, early 19th centuries, European intellectuals embraced a new methodology, sometimes referred to as Hegelian dialectic, a system wherein truth is no longer based on antithesis but on synthesis. This came out of the emerging humanist enlightenment – which placed man as the ultimate authority, supplanting the Church (God and absolute truth), i.e., no God, no revelation.

Chapter 2, opens with the Geivett/Shermer debate on the existence of God. Geivett’s view of truth is clearly antithesis. Shermer, not so obviously – dialectic/synthesis. Whether there is a God or not was not settled by Shermer’s levity. But, Shermer apparently succeeded with his sleight of hand / misdirection and obfuscated the question of methodology.

Jesus’ words from John’s gospel “the truth will set you free” are given in a context. “My teachings” v31, “speak just what the Father has taught me” v28, “and what I have heard from him I tell the world” v26. Jesus’ “truth” that sets free are not the facts of a scientific methodology. Jesus says they are “revealed truths”passed on from God through him. These are “truth claims” – not “the folklore and mythology of indigenous people.” However, if tribalism (Tribe of Truth) becomes acceptable consider that your kinsman, Paul, said “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.” (Romans 3:1)

As you pointed out, “because scientific knowledge is always provisional. An accepted scientific fact today might be refuted tomorrow” ultimately means that if ”science” is your only source, your journey will never arrive at your ideal.

Looking for a stronger and better you!

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

A Cogent Book Exposing the Ridiculousness of Current Cultural Mandates

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2022

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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.

12 people found this helpful

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Steven M Hug

What is truth, asked Pontius Pilate

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 21, 2021

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Professor Saad begins the book with the following paragraphs;
“In describing a debate on the existence of God with Doug Geivett, currently a professor of philosophy at the Talbor School of Theology of Biola University, my good friend and founder of The Skeptics Society of Michael Shermer remarked:
Geivett concluded his initial presentation by explaining that we are confronted here with an either-or-choice: Either God exists or He does not; either the universe was created or it was not; either life was designed or it was not; either morality is natural or it is not; either Jesus was resurrected or he was not.”
Following this, Professor Saad writes, “I [Shermer] opened up my rebuttal by explaining that there are only two types of theories: Those that divide the world into two types of theories, and those that do not.”
Professor Saad characterized Shermer’s reply as “brilliant levity”.
While levity it might have been, but brilliant it was not. In fact, it did not address the either-or contradicting facts that Geivett had proposed. And Shermer’s statement about scientific theories was wrong. Theories may or may not divide the world, but division of society is not how scientists, or almost everybody, judge theories. Theories find their value in the estimation – are they right or wrong, do they comport with the facts found by observation, or do they not.
Failure to see that some facts are true and therefore that the opposite is not true is evidence of mushy thinking. If the Sun is hot, it not also cold.
Either-or-choices tell a lot about the world. By use of common sense, reason and logic, they provide a method to find the truth. Either one must choose the obvious error, or the clear truth. Throughout this book Professor Saad advocates for seeking the truth.
A few more that Professor Geivett might have offered are:
Either the universe started as a singularity, or it did not. (One theory and three facts say that it did. The General Theory of Relativity requires that it did. That the universe is undergoing accelerating expansion, that a background 1.7 K heat residue exists and that the universe is isotropic and homogeneous on the large scale indicate that it did).
Either entropy always increases in the universe, or it does not.
Either the Second Law of Thermodynamics is true, or it is not.
If we accept that the Second Law as true and that entropy always increases in the universe, then we are compelled to conclude that a Creator created the universe, or he did not. (The book, How the Second Law of Thermodynamics Shows that God is real, by Jon Rod Christie, makes the case that because the original singularity was perfect order, the universe had to have been created).
Either there is objective truth, or there is not.
Either truth descends from a greater source, or it does not. (The Founders thought it does)
Either truth, individual liberty and right to life constitute the core of an absolute trinity, or they do not.
Either the universe that we see is all there is, or not.
Either there is a Creator invested in a Spiritual World, or not.
Either natural morality (the knowledge of right and wrong, etc) finds its source from within the material world, or not. Or it finds its source from a Spiritual world that is real or it does not.

14 people found this helpful

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david cairo

I love it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 9, 2023

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Fantastic read

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Gad this is Good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 16, 2020

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I am a teacher dealing with increasingly unrealistic wokeness in the workplace. I found reading this book cathartic to the soul. Most of the arguments I was already familiar with but I liked Gad's outline of strategies for interacting with SJW idiots. Even so some people just dont want to hear the truth

79 people found this helpful

Sorrowful investigator

Just another anti-woke rant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 16, 2020

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I was looking forward to reading this. I thought there would be new insights into neuroparasitology and innovative links with the madness of woke culture. But it turns out to be a highly repetitious critique of political correctness, postmodernism, etc. I am interested in all this but Saad spends far too much time trotting out very well-known examples of the culture wars. As an additional drawback, he constantly refers to himself, to his 'good friend (insert famous person)', introduces coinages and makes weak jokes that he deems hilarious. The topic is important but Saad adds nothing to it here. Disappointing.

40 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Phenomenal Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 9, 2020

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If you're feeling lost in today's world because of social media "outrage", identity politics, cancel culture, gender identity politics, woke-folks, victim olympics, virtue signalling, CRT, hurt feelings, anti-science, anti-reason, anti-objectivity & other postmodernism nonesense, then this book is for you to help you detox your mindset from the complete & utter lunacy coming from the left. Gads sense of humour is a blessing when it comes to talking about such matters in his book & you'll love him for it. He will show you how to grow a pair, Invoke your inner Honey Badger & to become fearless online in the face of fake outrage. Remember, the outrage brigade have about as much sense of humour as a cardboard box...learn to have some fun with them. Cheers, Gadfather, from Scotland.

35 people found this helpful

SamGibbo

One of he most important book of our time!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 22, 2020

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This beautifully written book is an unarguably accurate description of the viruses infecting many minds around the world. When reading it I can almost hear Prof Saad in my head. I could go in for ages, highlighting just how important this book is, but my description Neill not do it justice.
Just buy it, read it, absorb it and relax in the knowledge that common sense is not yet dead and buried. D.I.E. theories will be beaten.

35 people found this helpful

Annie

Hey “journalists”: Political correctness kills the truth!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 14, 2020

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I loved this book! I will now identify as 65 years old, even though I am mid career, so that I can retire immediately and escape the mandatory DIE trainings imposed by my employer and my regulator!

I challenge everyone participating in DIE trainings to discuss this book with their group! I will!

This book is a must read for managers, administrators, and regulators (especially those regulating teachers, lawyers, and doctors) that sheepishly require DIE trainings. These trainings are presented as settled science even though there is no evidence that they make people less racist.

My favourite take away from the book is that political correctness kills the truth... you hear that “journalists”!

73 people found this helpful

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