Misguided
Where Misinformation Starts, How It Spreads, and What to Do About It
We live in an age of information abundance — and yet false beliefs are everywhere. Misguided explores the social, psychological, and structural forces that make misinformation so sticky: why it spreads through networks, why identity shapes what we're willing to believe, and why debunking alone so often fails.
Drawing on sociology, psychology, and network science, the book offers an accessible framework for understanding how misinformation works — and practical strategies for individuals, educators, journalists, and policymakers who want to push back.
Challenging approaches that focus solely on education, Misguided emphasizes the important role identities and social ties play in the complex interplay of forces that lead people to believe things that are not true.
"In this timely and important book, Facciani takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the world of dangerous misinformation and how to best counter it at-scale. If you want to help fight misinformation, read this book!"
Sander van der Linden — author of Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity
"Facciani approaches the misinformation problem from a fresh perspective as a social scientist, explaining how our social networks and our political identities work against us to blind us to false claims. Showing how to combat misinformation through education and media literacy, he paves a path toward building resilience to one of society's most urgent threats."
Barbara McQuade — author of Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
"Why are we so prone to believing misinformation? Matthew Facciani's Misguided explains how our identities, networks, and biases shape what we accept as truth, and gives us strategies to stay sharp in an age of misinformation."
Jay Van Bavel — author of The Power of Us
"An essential guide to understanding the bewildering origins of misinformation — including pseudoscience about vaccines — with helpful tools for combating the viral spread of lies."
Seema Yasmin — author of What the Fact?! Finding the Truth in All the Noise
"An engaging exploration of misinformation that effectively reframes the conversation around beliefs and provides tools for engagement. With its appeal and utility across audiences, I can commend the work to prospective readers."
Critical Studies in Media Communication
Misguided is well-suited for courses in sociology, communication, media studies, public health, and political science. If you'd like an examination copy or want to discuss course adoption, please get in touch.
Companion media literacy tools to help readers put the book's ideas into practice. Free and publicly available.