Digital Beliefs
How we see the world through digital filters and why we end up in different realities
What shapes what you believe — and the decisions you make because of it?
Dr Michelle Joosse explores how the lens through which we see the world influences who we trust, how we interpret information and what we come to believe.
Two intelligent people can encounter the same information and reach completely different conclusions. Digital Beliefs explores why.
It provides a framework for separating feeling from evidence, certainty from understanding, and strongly held beliefs from sound decisions — while asking us to become more aware of the influences shaping our own thinking.
What you'll take away
A more thoughtful way to respond to information
Pause before you react
Recognise when emotionally charged digital content is influencing your response and create space to think before you believe, react or share.
Look beyond what reinforces what you already believe
Recognise how algorithms, familiar sources and repeated messages can strengthen what you already think — and become more curious about what you may be missing.
Stay open to perspectives that challenge you
Explore opposing views with curiosity rather than defensiveness, without feeling that changing your mind means compromising who you are.
Know when evidence is enough
Consider whether you have sufficient evidence to support a decision — or whether an existing belief may be influencing your judgement more than the facts.
Begin reading while you wait for the book
Pre-order Digital Beliefs and receive Chapter 1
The physical edition of Digital Beliefs is on its way.
If you pre-order now, you will receive a downloadable copy of Chapter 1 immediately, so you can begin exploring the ideas behind the book before your printed copy arrives.
Chapter 1 introduces the question at the heart of Michelle's research:
How can two intelligent people look at the same information and come away with completely different conclusions?
Early responses to Digital Beliefs
“Digital Beliefs encourages us to combine curiosity, critical thinking and self-reflection to better understand not only why we see the world differently, but how our own information engagement habits shape what we believe and share.”
“Digital Beliefs reveals the fascinating interplay between our minds, our identities and the digital world that increasingly shapes what we see, trust and believe.”
“I loved this book. It opened my eyes to how I consume information and how it affects those around me. More importantly, it left me feeling hopeful. Highly recommend.”
“I find Michelle's work fascinating as we all seek to navigate the ever-increasing levels of information the world throws at us each day. Her bringing in our human characteristics and our approach to trust to rethink the way we navigate this information, gives me pause to reconsider how I take in information and form my own beliefs in response.”
“This might just be the book of original thought that stimulates you to question your own fundamental belief systems. Comprehensive, academic, yet beautifully articulated, Dr Joosse’s proposals make it easy to understand the many ways in which information is ‘fed’ to us in a multitude of formats that may not have our individual best interests at heart. This is not a book of solutions, but of thought provoking perspectives designed to encourage readers to take accountability for their own ideas and cognitive processing.
A timely reminder that facts, in whatever format they may be presented, may indeed not be the truth.
With today’s exponential growth in the number of ubiquitous influencers, Digital Beliefs is indeed a book for our times. A must read for ‘thinking people’ of our generation.
(A straightforward but profoundly thought provoking text for modern day thinkers)”
About the author
Why Dr Michelle Joosse wrote Digital Beliefs
Dr Michelle Joosse is a researcher, business leader and advocate for better thinking.
Her work explores the intersection of trust, identity, human behaviour and the digital age — particularly how the information we encounter influences what we believe, how we decide and who we trust.
Her research began with questions about other people's beliefs. It gradually became something more personal.
She realised that none of us sits outside the forces influencing judgement — including her. That insight became central to Digital Beliefs.
It is an invitation to become more aware of how beliefs are formed, why certain information feels convincing and when our own certainty deserves another look.
About Dr Michelle JoossePre-order Digital Beliefs
Sometimes the most useful question is the one we ask ourselves
Digital Beliefs invites us to pause before reacting, look beyond information that confirms what we already think, remain open to perspectives that challenge us and make more considered decisions.
At the centre of the book is one question:
Do I have enough evidence to support my decision — or am I simply being driven by the belief itself?
Pre-order your copy and begin with Chapter 1 today.
Pre-order $27.95
Usual price $34.95 Pre-order price until the 10 November launch