Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think

Description

Title: Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think
Author: Andy Norman; foreword by Steven Pinker
Publisher: Harper Perennial / HarperCollins Publishers, 2025
Format: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN-13: 9780063476622

Mental Immunity by Andy Norman is a timely nonfiction book about misinformation, irrational beliefs, cognitive vulnerability, and the search for better ways to think. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and the emerging field of cognitive immunology, Norman asks why some people are deeply affected by false or destructive ideas while others are more resistant.

The book explores “mind-parasites”, ideas that spread through communities and distort judgement, identity, trust, and public debate. It examines conspiracy thinking, denialism, polarisation, online influence, and the weaknesses in ordinary critical thinking when information environments become overwhelming.

With a foreword by Steven Pinker, this paperback offers readers a framework for strengthening mental resilience, improving reasoning, and recognising harmful patterns of thought. It is suitable for readers interested in psychology, philosophy, media literacy, critical thinking, politics, and self-improvement.