Are we living in the golden age of stupidity? This new book takes a deep dive

When Stuart Jeffries saw people turn their backs on science during the pandemic, and watched Trump legitimise a loathing for expertise, he had an idea for a book. He talks to Suzanne Harrington about his short history of stupidity

US President Donald Trump speaking to the media at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. Picture date: Monday June 16, 2025.

Are we living in a golden age of stupidity? Certainly, all the signs are there.

Across the human spectrum, from climate breakdown (caused by us) to incompetent dictators (elected by us) to the anti-science movement (created by us), we appear to be having a prolonged wallow in deep stupidity. No matter how much we develop, it seems our stupidity develops right alongside us, mutating to keep up.