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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
interesting insight into these groups. the book as a book logistically could’ve been written and organized better, i found it to be clunky at times and transitioning btwn chapters wasn’t very smooth. was kinda over it by pg 250 lmao but idk if that was me, the writing, or the topic
There is a popular school of thought that says a secret cabal of furtive persons rule the world.
Well, I say popular. It's only a small number of people, it's just they're really loud.
The fact people think this baffles me – I mean, if it's true, they doing a really shit job.
What actually does shock me is that this book, which has never been more relevant, was written in 2001.
Starting out talking to a Muslim extremist (Omar seems quite delighted to be so known), Jon Ronson happens upon the secret cabal theory, and before you know it he's on a quest to find out where they meet.
On his way, he spends time with David Icke, the aforementioned Omar, a little-known radio show host called Alex Jones (wonder what happened to him....) and – for reasons that are not immediately clear – the Rev Ian Paisley.
Oh, and some lovely racists who run various Klan factions.
What we learn through Jon's journey is that some of these people, while bonkers, are essentially harmless. Others are scary as all hell.
The one thing they have in common is they are certain they are right.
Them asks a lot of questions, not least what the hell was Ronson thinking hanging out with the Klan, but answers are harder to come by because what you learn is perspective is key.
Those fighting antisemitism are certain David Icke is a racist. Now, I'm not here to call that either way because I have deliberately stayed clear of his mad blitherings, but reading this book you soon realise that while his words can be interpreted one way there's also a very real chance that he does believe lizards rule the world.
Jon reaches conclusions as he goes, but he also lets the reader form their own – and what could be a hard slog of a book is kept light and engaging thanks to Ronson's writing style.
What could have been a dark, heavy book is light, gripping and thoroughly entertaining but will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
But then, that's what they want to happen.....
Well, I say popular. It's only a small number of people, it's just they're really loud.
The fact people think this baffles me – I mean, if it's true, they doing a really shit job.
What actually does shock me is that this book, which has never been more relevant, was written in 2001.
Starting out talking to a Muslim extremist (Omar seems quite delighted to be so known), Jon Ronson happens upon the secret cabal theory, and before you know it he's on a quest to find out where they meet.
On his way, he spends time with David Icke, the aforementioned Omar, a little-known radio show host called Alex Jones (wonder what happened to him....) and – for reasons that are not immediately clear – the Rev Ian Paisley.
Oh, and some lovely racists who run various Klan factions.
What we learn through Jon's journey is that some of these people, while bonkers, are essentially harmless. Others are scary as all hell.
The one thing they have in common is they are certain they are right.
Them asks a lot of questions, not least what the hell was Ronson thinking hanging out with the Klan, but answers are harder to come by because what you learn is perspective is key.
Those fighting antisemitism are certain David Icke is a racist. Now, I'm not here to call that either way because I have deliberately stayed clear of his mad blitherings, but reading this book you soon realise that while his words can be interpreted one way there's also a very real chance that he does believe lizards rule the world.
Jon reaches conclusions as he goes, but he also lets the reader form their own – and what could be a hard slog of a book is kept light and engaging thanks to Ronson's writing style.
What could have been a dark, heavy book is light, gripping and thoroughly entertaining but will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
But then, that's what they want to happen.....
adventurous
dark
reflective
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
Well…… this started off good. It had humour, it made me chuckle while also taking you into the mind of a Muslim extremist. However once the chapter ended with the Muslim guy, it became a story that made little sense and was very disjointed. It felt like ramblings that seemed pointless. The only other part of the book that I felt took you into how an extremist thinks was the chapter the met with the ku klux klan. That contained some very disturbing comments and belief systems. Some quite upsetting. However other the. The two chapters mentioned, it was like a random conversation between the author and whomever he happened to be hanging out with. I failed to see any real extremism in the other chapters as the dialogue made little sense. The thing I would draw from this book is that extremists are all mad! I doubt I will ever understand a view such as anyone of the certain colour is less than you 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t get it. Everyone is human, they treat me ok, I treat them ok. So the way the klansmen spoke was deranged. However overall this book was boring, I was dragging myself through and it felt very disjointed and made little sense. I don’t like leaving poor reviews yet sadly I have nothing hugely positive to say. I wouldn’t recommend it unfortunately.
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
"One thing you quickly learn about the extremists is that they really don't like being called extremists. In fact they often tell me that we are the real extremists. They say that the Western liberal cosmopolitan establishment is itself a fanatical, depraved belief system. I like it when they say this because it makes me feel as if I have a belief system."
Džon Ronson je podjednako lud koliko je i hrabar. Napisano sa strašnim smislom za humor, Ronson ovde „izveštava“ kako je pričao sa neo-nacistima, islamskim ekstremistima, ljudima koji veruju u guštere vanzemaljce itd itd, i uočio da svi oni veruju u jednu malu kliku ljudi koji odredjuju planetarne sudbe iz jedne male zamračene prostorije u sred ničeg. Posmatranja su mu neretko inteligentna, uvek smešna, a umeju i da ostave bez teksta. Sve u svemu, jako dobra knjižica za usputno čitanje.
4+
Džon Ronson je podjednako lud koliko je i hrabar. Napisano sa strašnim smislom za humor, Ronson ovde „izveštava“ kako je pričao sa neo-nacistima, islamskim ekstremistima, ljudima koji veruju u guštere vanzemaljce itd itd, i uočio da svi oni veruju u jednu malu kliku ljudi koji odredjuju planetarne sudbe iz jedne male zamračene prostorije u sred ničeg. Posmatranja su mu neretko inteligentna, uvek smešna, a umeju i da ostave bez teksta. Sve u svemu, jako dobra knjižica za usputno čitanje.
4+
Most of the book was, IMO, 2 out of 5. The Randy Weaver and KKK spots were more like 4 out of 5 though for the humor and interesting approach.
Fantastic book, very well written with lots of good information on the current thinking of people in the world.
A funny run through the alternate reality of outsiders - the KKK, Dr Ian Paisley, American militia - who all believe (in different ways) that the world is run by a secret cabal. A good holiday read.