“When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real.”
In today’s age of misinformation, it’s harder than ever to separate fact from fiction. From fake news and media manipulation to disinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories, misinformation spreads rapidly – especially online. Whether it’s political propaganda, biased reporting, or the viral nature of social media, false information has real-world consequences. But how does misinformation work, and why do people believe in it so strongly? Today at What We Reading, we’re curating the best books about misinformation, insightful reads that break down media bias, digital propaganda, and the psychology behind fake news. These books offer deep dives into how false information spreads, the dangers of social media manipulation, and how to develop media literacy in a post-truth world. Whether you want to understand political misinformation or combat disinformation, these must-read books will challenge your perspective and help you navigate today’s information landscape.
The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread – Cailin O’Connor And James Owen Weatherall
First up on our list of books about misinformation is The Misinformation Age by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall, a fascinating exploration of how false beliefs spread and misinformation persists – even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Unlike traditional views that blame ignorance or deception, the two authors make the case that misinformation thrives because of social dynamics and the way we share knowledge.
Using insights from network science, social epistemology and history, they demonstrate that people don’t form beliefs in isolation – we rely on social trust and group consensus. This same process that allows for scientific progress can also lead to the rapid spread of fake news, conspiracy theories and propaganda. The book examines real-world examples, from climate change denial to anti-vaccine movements, demonstrating how misinformation takes root and why it’s so hard to correct.
LikeWar: The Weaponization Of Social Media – P.W. Singer And Emerson T. Brooking
LikeWar is a book about misinformation that explores how social media has become a battlefield, shaping politics, warfare, and public opinion in ways never seen before. P.W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking argue that platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have transformed into powerful tools for manipulation, where misinformation spreads as fast as viral trends.
Drawing from real-world conflicts, political campaigns and cyber warfare, the book examines how terrorist organisations, foreign governments and even regular internet users utilise social media to sway public opinion, sow discord and shape reality itself. By blending history, technology, and politics, LikeWar paints a chilling portrait of a world where digital influence is as potent as traditional warfare. The book serves as both a warning and a guide, urging readers to become more critical of the information they consume in an age where truth and lies compete on an algorithmic battlefield.
This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures In The War Against Reality – Peter Pomerantsev
In This Is Not Propaganda, journalist and media analyst Peter Pomerantsev explores how disinformation, propaganda, and media manipulation have evolved in the digital age. Unlike traditional authoritarian regimes that rely on censorship, today’s information wars are fought through overload, confusion and psychological warfare – where the goal isn’t to suppress the truth, but rather drown it in a sea of competing narratives.
Blending investigative journalism with personal history, Pomerantsev takes readers on a journey across Russia, the Philippines, Mexico and beyond, uncovering how governments, political operatives and extremist groups use social media, bots and digital propaganda to shape reality. He interviews activists fighting for truth, political operatives engineering mass deception, and individuals caught in the chaos. At its heart, This Is Not Propaganda is an unsettling look at how facts become fluid, reality is up for grabs, and trust in institutions is being deliberately eroded.
The Paranoid Style In American Politics – Richard Hofstadter
First published back in 1964, The Paranoid Style in American Politics by historian Richard Hofstadter remains a seminal work on conspiracy thinking, political extremism and the role of paranoia in American democracy. Hofstadter exposes how fear, suspicion, and a sense of persecution have fuelled political movements throughout US history, from anti-Masonic crusades and McCarthyism to contemporary conspiracy theories.
The book’s title refers to a recurring pattern in American politics, where groups or individuals believe shadowy elites are working against them, leading to reactionary movements driven by exaggeration, heated rhetoric and apocalyptic warnings. Revised and reissued, The Paranoid Style remains eerily relevant today, offering valuable insights into fake news, political misinformation and the rise of conspiracy movements in the digital age. It is a must-read misinformation book for those looking to understand the historical roots of political paranoia across America.
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A Lot Of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism And The Assault On Democracy – Nancy L. Rosenblum And Russell Muirhead
In A Lot of People Are Saying, political theorists Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead examine how conspiracy thinking has evolved in the modern era, shifting from traditional conspiracy theories to what they dub ‘new conspiracism’. Unlike classic conspiracies, which depend upon hidden evidence and complex narratives, the new conspiracism thrives on repetition, assertion and the erosion of truth itself. It spreads through social media, political rhetoric and viral disinformation, often weaponised by those in positions of power.
The book explores how conspiracy without theory has undermined trust in institutions, fuelled polarisation and reshaped democratic politics. The phrase ‘A lot of people are saying’ becomes a tool for casting doubt without proof, reinforcing suspicion rather than seeking evidence. From birtherism to election denialism, Rosenblum and Muirhead reveal how this new wave of conspiracism is designed to destabilise democracy by attacking expertise, delegitimising opponents and fostering chaos.
The Death Of Truth: Notes On Falsehood In The Age Of Trump – Michiko Kakutani
In The Death of Truth, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Michiko Kakutani explores how disinformation, propaganda and the rejection of objective facts have reshaped modern politics and society. Focusing on the Trump era, she examines how post-truth culture, ideological tribalism and manipulation of language have eroded trust in institutions, journalism, and even reality itself.
Drawing from history, literature and philosophy, Kakutani traces the rise of fake news, conspiracy theories and the war on expertise, tying them to authoritarian tactics, relativism in postmodern thought, and the influence of social media echo chambers. She connects Trump’s rhetorical strategies to those of historical demagogues, showcasing how gaslighting, repetition, and media attacks create an environment where truth is malleable and partisanship trumps reason. Part critique, part call to action, The Death of Truth is one of the most essential books about misinformation, about how democracies falter when facts lose their meaning – and why defending truth is more crucial than ever.
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy Of The Mass Media – Edward S. Herman And Noam Chomsky
Manufacturing Consent by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky is a groundbreaking analysis of how mass media serves the interests of powerful elites rather than the general public. The authors argue that the media is not an independent force but rather a system controlled by a handful of corporate giants and government entities, which use it to manufacture consent for policies and agendas that underpin their own interests.
Through a critical assessment of news coverage, the book explores how economic pressures, government influence and corporate ownership shape the way information is presented to the public. Herman and Chomsky introduce the concept of the ‘propaganda model’, showing how the media acts as a tool for propagating the viewpoints of the powerful while marginalising dissenting voices.
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The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story Of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds And Our World – Max Fisher
Another one of the essential books on misinformation, journalist Max Fisher delves into the profound ways social media has reshaped human behaviour, politics and society in The Chaos Machine. Fisher examines the psychological and social impact of platforms like Twitter, unveiling how they exploit human emotions and biases to fuel engagement, often to the detriment of our well-being.
Focusing on how social media has created a new, chaotic information ecosystem, Fisher argues that platforms were designed to prioritise outrage, division and sensationalism to maximise profits. He explores the algorithmic manipulation that drives these platforms and their unintended consequences, from polarisation and misinformation to the rise of extremism. With in-depth interviews, case studies and historical analysis, The Chaos Machine paints a sobering picture of how social media has rewired our minds, making us more vulnerable to manipulation and less connected to the truth.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
