Your Brain On Antisemitism

If you’ve ever wondered why antisemitism never disappears, even in progressive societies, Your Brain on Antisemitism offers the disturbing—but essential—answer.

What you’ll learn

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    Why antisemitism feels intuitive — how the brain turns complex problems into simple villain stories.

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    The psychology of pattern-seeking — why people connect unrelated dots and “discover” hidden cabals.

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    How old myths adapt — from medieval blood libels to modern claims about banks, media, Gaza, and AIPAC.

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    Why rational people fall for irrational ideas — the cognitive shortcuts that make conspiracy theories feel logical.

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    The emotional payoff — how scapegoating provides meaning, purpose, and even a sense of heroism.

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    Why it never goes away — the reflexive nature of antisemitism and why it thrives in both conservative and progressive spaces.

Lesson Examples

Lesson 1

Antisemitism isn’t just hate—it’s psychology.
Readers will discover how antisemitism functions less like a fringe prejudice and more like a cognitive reflex hardwired into the human brain. The book explains how ordinary psychological shortcuts—like pattern-seeking, confirmation bias, and the search for simple explanations—make conspiracy theories about Jews feel intuitive, even to otherwise rational and well-meaning people

Lesson 2

Ancient myths, modern masks.
The book traces how the same antisemitic narratives have reinvented themselves for every era—shifting from religious accusations in medieval Europe to financial conspiracies in the 20th century, and now to the language of activism and social justice online. Readers learn why phrases about “globalists,” “media elites,” or “colonizers” are not new ideas but recycled prejudices wearing modern clothes

Lesson 3

Why understanding matters.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that fighting antisemitism requires more than memorizing definitions—it requires recognizing the psychological mechanisms that keep it alive. By showing how antisemitism offers false clarity, a sense of purpose, and even the feeling of moral righteousness, the book equips readers to spot these patterns in themselves and others, and to resist their pull

And so much more…

Limited Enrollment

Limited Enrollment

Testimonials

  • “Kirsch shows how antisemitism taps into old psychological reflexes, and how recognizing those patterns can help us grow into more thoughtful, balanced humans. It’s a book about prejudice, but also about becoming more aware of ourselves.”

    Laurie Payton

  • “Your Brain on Antisemitism is equal parts history, psychology, and mirror. I saw how easy it is for anyone—myself included—to slip into dangerous patterns of thought. It’s the most eye-opening and unsettling book I’ve read in years, and also the most necessary.”

    Jamie Kokot

  • “Finally, a book that makes sense of why antisemitism keeps resurfacing, even in circles that see themselves as progressive. Kirsch shows the psychology behind the hatred without shaming the reader, which makes the lessons land even harder.”

    Lindsey Beumer

  • “This book helped me see antisemitism not just as history’s prejudice, but as a window into how our minds search for order and blame. Kirsch makes you think about humanity as a whole.”

    Keith Finley