Our review of Andy Norman's Mental Immunity explores the spread of "bad ideas"—false, harmful beliefs—in the public sphere. He proposes cognitive immunology, a new discipline studying how minds resist bad ideas, drawing parallels to the body's immune system. The book examines past failures to combat irrationality (reason, science, critical thinking) and suggests a more effective approach focusing on responsible belief, dialogue, and the "way of inquiry." Norman argues for strengthening our "mental immune systems" by fostering a culture that values evidence, accountability, and the willingness to change one's mind in the face of good reasons. This involves understanding how ideologies exploit cognitive biases and weaken the social norms that uphold rational discourse.

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