You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was a very jarring read given the age of the book. OBL pre September 11th, young Alex Jones, and above all else, so much lizard person talk.
If you’re into what makes fringe thinkers tick, you might enjoy this. The chapters on Thom Robb and his new age KKK were just incredible head scratchers.
I wasn’t familiar with Ian Paisley, in fact I don’t know much about The Troubles at all, but that chapter upset me more than any other in the book.
If you’re into what makes fringe thinkers tick, you might enjoy this. The chapters on Thom Robb and his new age KKK were just incredible head scratchers.
I wasn’t familiar with Ian Paisley, in fact I don’t know much about The Troubles at all, but that chapter upset me more than any other in the book.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Coming before 9/11, this book remains relevant. Although, the white supremacists now read as less zany and more terrifying.
Brilliant, neurotic journalism. It's easy to relate to Ronson as he frets but digs deeper into disparate individuals believing in the supposed New World Order. These pieces are political, humorous, and undeniably smart.
This book was a hilarious adventure through the lives of various extremists. I love Jon Ronson's comical outlook upon life and how he tackled the narratives of these people, while insanely bizarre, without making too much of a fool out of them. Of course, I do not agree with what they say or think and think they are nuts, however, I like when a journalist can take a neutral stance on a topic. An example of how Ronson does this is when he keeps away the information that he is Jewish, as both a form of protection and trying not to influence the way people act around him (as it can be seen in the first narrative that it has a significant affect).
I felt at times that the stories were trying to be linked, and I don't know if its because I read this during the height of my covid related sickness, but I found it confusing and thought narratives would have been left better unlinked.
I felt at times that the stories were trying to be linked, and I don't know if its because I read this during the height of my covid related sickness, but I found it confusing and thought narratives would have been left better unlinked.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Had its funny moments. Some of this probably has a bit of truth to it, but it is interesting to see what people will believe or even what will upset people.
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Jon Ronson investigates the New World Order conspiracy from very diverse but strangely similar political perspectives.
I can see where Chris Morris got some ideas for Four Lions (the lion king, inept islamic militant fundamentalists) and This Day Shall Come (fbi etc going the whole hog on catching someone + killing others for a crime that never would have happened without the government taking part in it)
I like the way JR includes himself as quite a pathetic character in his stories, its quite funny. I also admire the openmindedness/willingness to listen (going as a Jew to the Aryan Nations to interview people was certainly a Choice) , he isn't exactly the most intellectually rigorous though, although maybe everything is a lot more obvious with hindsight (2000s era Alex Jones InfoWars was a surprise)
I can see where Chris Morris got some ideas for Four Lions (the lion king, inept islamic militant fundamentalists) and This Day Shall Come (fbi etc going the whole hog on catching someone + killing others for a crime that never would have happened without the government taking part in it)
I like the way JR includes himself as quite a pathetic character in his stories, its quite funny. I also admire the openmindedness/willingness to listen (going as a Jew to the Aryan Nations to interview people was certainly a Choice) , he isn't exactly the most intellectually rigorous though, although maybe everything is a lot more obvious with hindsight (2000s era Alex Jones InfoWars was a surprise)
It was good, though at times it seemed he could've pressed his interview subjects a little harder. Very funny though.
I only recently started discovering Jon Ronson so somehow I thought this book would be more current.... as it is of course a very current topic. So imagine my surprise to find out that it barely even touches 9/11 as the bulk of it was written prior to it.
And yet, a lot of the people in this book are still of tremendous importance these days. We just see them in the beginning of their careers e.g. Alex Jones.
Whatever topic Ronson approaches, he always seems to do so with a very open mind. As such it was actually refreshing to see it acknowledged when certain "extreme" points of view occasionally do make sense and also when some of the groups working against those extremists end up spinning their own at times barking mad campaigns that accidentally just end up giving their opponents more exposure.
As it is still a very important topic, I would have loved to see a couple of updated chapters but even as it is this is a work of great historical importance to at least partially understand where a lot of our current predicaments originated from.
And yet, a lot of the people in this book are still of tremendous importance these days. We just see them in the beginning of their careers e.g. Alex Jones.
Whatever topic Ronson approaches, he always seems to do so with a very open mind. As such it was actually refreshing to see it acknowledged when certain "extreme" points of view occasionally do make sense and also when some of the groups working against those extremists end up spinning their own at times barking mad campaigns that accidentally just end up giving their opponents more exposure.
As it is still a very important topic, I would have loved to see a couple of updated chapters but even as it is this is a work of great historical importance to at least partially understand where a lot of our current predicaments originated from.