Seeing double.

Naomi Klein's latest book, "Doppelganger: A trip into the mirror world," explores the concept of a mirror world, which refers to the realm of conspiracies, the alt-right, and the wellness right. The book is inspired by Klein's personal experience of being mistaken for another writer named Naomi Wolf, who has become a prominent disseminator of medical misinformation. The fascination with doppelgängers and doubles stems from our desire to challenge the singularity of the self and find stability in an uncertain world. Conspiracy culture has gained traction in recent times due to moments of rupture, such as the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, as people seek explanations and stories to make sense of these events. While conspiracy influencers may believe what they say in the moment, their beliefs are also profitable. Conspiracy culture taps into a genuine feeling of the system being rigged against individuals, but it ultimately detracts from addressing systemic inequalities and injustices. To tackle this issue, real solutions to underlying inequalities and a broken system are needed, rather than scapegoating vulnerable groups. Despite the rabbit holes explored in her book, Klein remains calm and hopes for a calm summer, although she acknowledges that the world may not become much calmer. [Extracted from the article]