BY KAREN BOSSICK

What made a prominent conspiracy theorist finally see that 9/11 was not a hoax? Can a nation rise to the occasion with empathy in an age of dangerous conspiratorial thinking?

David McRaney, a science journalists fascinated with brains, minds and culture, will discuss his book “How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

McRaney, the September Writer-in-Residence at The Community Library’s Hemingway House, delved into the latest research of psychologists and neuroscientists to explore the science of reasoning, the power of groupthink and the effects of deep canvassing.

His book traipses through cult members, conspiracy theorists and political activists--from picketers from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., to LGBTQ campaigners in California.

He learned that the ability to change our minds and entertain other points of views is one of our greatest strengths. And, he says, he learned some surprising psychology behind how people modify and update their beliefs, attitudes and values.

A book signing with Iconoclast Books will follow the talk.

To see the talk in person, go to https://thecommunitylibrary.libcal.com/event/14958525.

The program will also be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/5388326 and available to watch for a month on the Library Archive.

McRaney is also the author of “You Are Not So Smart” and “You Are Now Less Dumb.”