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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Started and finished date - 25.11.25 to 27.11.24.
My rating - Two Stars.
I like this book but I didn't love, I found this book interesting read but I found this book to be bit boring. The writing was fine. The paced of plot was bit slow my liking and I thinking this book better if it was shorter also the cover of book was stunning.
My rating - Two Stars.
I like this book but I didn't love, I found this book interesting read but I found this book to be bit boring. The writing was fine. The paced of plot was bit slow my liking and I thinking this book better if it was shorter also the cover of book was stunning.
Somehow Ronson manages to tie together many different elements in a way that makes sense.
What I really liked was the way Ronsen descibed how many of the books subjects thinking worked, and how they became trapped in conspiracy mindset.
Basically a conspricay theory for some is like a swiss army knife, ready made to fit into whatever they are passionate about. Combine this with sloppy or worse broken reasoning and some add in paronia for a particularly toxic mix.
A fun an interesting read.
What I really liked was the way Ronsen descibed how many of the books subjects thinking worked, and how they became trapped in conspiracy mindset.
Basically a conspricay theory for some is like a swiss army knife, ready made to fit into whatever they are passionate about. Combine this with sloppy or worse broken reasoning and some add in paronia for a particularly toxic mix.
A fun an interesting read.
Ronson mixes with various right wing extremists, including leaders of Klan factions, Ian Paisley, Bo Gritz, Alex Jones and David Icke, a former BBC sportscaster who became famous after he discovered that the world is ruled by a cabal of giant lizards from outer space. The interviews with Randy Weaver and the family members that survived Ruby Ridge were the most interesting to me, as was the peek at the festivities in the Bohemian Grove. This book was written in 2000 and 2001, based on interviews and meetings during the late 1990s. The other takeaway is that these people continue to recycle the same conspiracy theories over and over. Back then Alex Jones was screaming about secret sex rings from the spare bedroom that was his internet radio studio. Now we have a President who fawns over Jones and panders to his listeners. What a country.
A fun and charming book about an understated Brit meeting a lot of lunatics. Reads even better if you've heard Ronson read before and can hear him in your head as you go.
Only Jon Ronson could make me almost feel a slight bit of empathy for a Klansman. But no one could ever make me feel empathy for Alex Jones. Not even Jon Ronson.
Very interesting book investigating conspiracy theories over secret groups running the world.
Very interesting book investigating conspiracy theories over secret groups running the world.
Arguably Ronson's magnum opus Them is an incredibly enjoyable non fiction book charting The author's 'adventures with extremists'. From happy-go-lucky islamists advocating for a violent overthrowal of the west with a smile on their face to sympathetic preppers, klansmen that won't say The n word and Monuments of crazy like Alex Jones or David Icke we get to see an entire panoply of extremists through the inquisitive, humorous prism that forms Ronson characteristic style. A worthwhile read in these times of increased polarization on both fringes of the spectrum this is perhaps as honest a hearing as any sane man can give to Extremists of every stripe.
Despite the fact that this book is obviously an attempt by the global elite (the very men in the secret room that Ronson claims to be attempting to expose) to deflect interest and suspicion in their world-ruling activities, "Them" is an entertaining, amusing, informative and at time eye-opening book.
Conversely, "Them" shows that the ways in which the world works, and the conspiracy theories we use to call those ways into question, are both more complicated and less sinister than they seem.
Ronson straddles the line between arm-waving and clear thinking pretty nicely in "Them," providing an interesting look behind the tinfoil-hat theories for the non-believers, and frustration and more fodder for true believers.
Conversely, "Them" shows that the ways in which the world works, and the conspiracy theories we use to call those ways into question, are both more complicated and less sinister than they seem.
Ronson straddles the line between arm-waving and clear thinking pretty nicely in "Them," providing an interesting look behind the tinfoil-hat theories for the non-believers, and frustration and more fodder for true believers.
Is this guy a regular journalist, or is it all a farce?