{"title":"Andy Thomas","description":"\u003cp\u003eAndy Thomas explores the crossroads of belief, identity, and the unknown, weaving themes of religion and spirituality into thought-provoking narratives. His works invite readers to reconsider tradition and confront the new heresies shaping modern thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a compelling blend of science, nature, and personal development, Thomas offers insights that challenge and inspire growth. His books are suited for those curious about the deeper currents that influence both the self and the wider world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-new-heretics-by-andy-thomas-9781786785763","title":"The New Heretics","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the most balanced and well-reasoned investigation available into why people believe today's highly divisive conspiracy theories, from COVID and QAnon to 5G scares, fake news, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough their part in some huge controversies, conspiracy theorists are being branded the Number One Enemies of our times - the new heretics. They are seen to threaten the very fabric of modern society, spreading doubts and fears that result in Washington Capitol invasions, transmission mast burnings, or the spread of anti-vaxx material. Yet the theorists prefer to call themselves \"truth seekers\" and see the mainstream establishment as the real disruptor, treating its increasingly harsh censorship as direct validation of their views.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn truth, the new heretics, whose numbers are swelling, are symptoms of a wider polarization splitting apart much of the world in ideological divisions. Many have lost trust in politicians and the media, while nuanced debate is crushed and information overload and manipulation breed uncertainty, civil unrest, and mental health issues. How does the age-old strategy of divide-and-rule play out in such an environment?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsing his extensive experience of negotiating disputes between cynics and truth seekers, Andy Thomas explores the proliferation of conspiracy thinking, peeling back unhelpful layers of biased thinking on all sides to find more insightful ways to bridge the polarised divides and create a better way forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Random House New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46342787596524,"sku":"9781786785763","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4386673482824.jpg?v=1743942636"},{"product_id":"strange-by-andy-thomas-9781786789372","title":"Strange","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis highly accessible book on unexplained phenomena by expert investigator Andy Thomas takes a new and important look at this ever intriguing area with brand new analysis to make the case that paranormal experiences are far more common than acknowledged and urgently need to be re-evaluated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery day, very ordinary people are having extraordinarily strange experiences. In one of the most insightful investigations ever published, using the most up-to-date evidence and refreshingly open-minded approaches, \u003cem\u003eStrange\u003c\/em\u003e reveals previously unrecorded true-life tales like these:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeetings with Ghosts:\u003c\/strong\u003e A new husband haunted by his predecessor... a woman receiving a visit from her friend, not knowing the friend is now dead... a child's face peering out from a sofa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEncounters with UFOs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Police pursuing balls of light in a car chase across country roads... Nuclear power station workers watching craft arise from beneath the sea... A couple \"called\" into their garden to witness an uncanny display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePsychic Experiences:\u003c\/strong\u003e A soldier whose out-of-body experience enables him to be retrieved alive from battlefield carnage... A psychic experiment so intense that a glass smashes against a wall... A military officer whose premonition saves his colleagues from being caught in an invasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBizarre Happenings:\u003c\/strong\u003e A woman whose car is unexpectedly flown into the sky by an invisible force... Crop circles that materialise unseen just metres away from bystanders... A timeslip that sends a delivery truck back into the early 1900s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSceptics dismiss all such encounters - but what if they are wrong? What unconventional causes could be behind such astounding experiences and what are the huge implications? Will new AI-enhanced revelations turn humanity's entire understanding of reality upside down? \u003cem\u003eStrange\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates that it is time to take an important new look at anomalous phenomena.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Random House New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46547261784300,"sku":"9781786789372","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4422763482824.jpg?v=1749872928"},{"product_id":"christmas-by-andy-thomas-9781782407805","title":"Christmas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an intriguing and entertaining journey, this book uncovers the fascinating background to one of the biggest festive seasons. From the ancient ceremonies celebrating Midwinter to festivals of Sol Invictus, and from Constantine's establishment of a Christian festival to medieval 'misrule', the time around the solstice has long been an opportunity for people to come together and rejoice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese festive traditions have developed in many directions around the world. \u003cem\u003eChristmas\u003c\/em\u003e tells the fuller story behind the sparkle and the merriment, and shows why, despite all the modern commercialism, Christmas has survived and still has meaning for us today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47485996597484,"sku":"9781782407805","price":22.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781782407805-christmas.jpg?v=1775720640"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/andy-thomas.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}