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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
This was my second try at this book. Trump's election has made me more interested in understanding these nutcases.
informative
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
The premise of the book was intriguing enough for me to pursue it, but ultimately, I was disappointed by it. Ronson travels the world (the U.S., UK, and Cameroon) to meet with extremist leaders and what he learns from them. At turns, extremist groups look like a bunch of buffoons (Bakti), lunatics (Icke) or downright scary (Neo-Nazis). Ultimately, Ronson's conclusion is something that could have been derived from his opening statements about extremist groups.
Overall, the book felt choppy -- the sequence of visitations, with the exception of the two KKK branches, didn't feel like it had any real rhyme or reason to it. The subject matter kept me interested, but unfortunately, the conclusions weren't worth the trip getting to them.
Overall, the book felt choppy -- the sequence of visitations, with the exception of the two KKK branches, didn't feel like it had any real rhyme or reason to it. The subject matter kept me interested, but unfortunately, the conclusions weren't worth the trip getting to them.
Another amazing Ronson book, made even better by his narration on the audiobook. It's amazing that 21 years after its publication it feels very pertinent to where we are right now. If this were written today, Q Anon would fit right in.
The way Ronson describes the mannerisms and minute actions of the extremists he becomes close to is so humanising. It doesn't make them likable but it makes them feel like real people rather than the caricatures we might imagine them as.
The way Ronson describes the mannerisms and minute actions of the extremists he becomes close to is so humanising. It doesn't make them likable but it makes them feel like real people rather than the caricatures we might imagine them as.
Least favorite jon ronson book. Maybe this topic is just too sensitive for me after all. But as always great work
Another reminder that believing in conspiracy theories is an easy way to avoid facing the reality that sometimes life is hard, sometimes unfair - but nobody is out to get you specifically. Also: solving real problems takes a lot more work than spouting idiocy. Too many of us are making poor, lazy choices in this area.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
The biggest triumph of the book is that Ronson effectively discovered Alex Jones years before he became famous globally. It was fascinating reading about his characteristics a long time before I knew who he was.
It is clear Ronson was still honing the craft that he would perfect in his later books but the levity that he is known for is already on show through this book. I laughed out loud a few times even though the subject matter shouldn't have been funny.
It is clear Ronson was still honing the craft that he would perfect in his later books but the levity that he is known for is already on show through this book. I laughed out loud a few times even though the subject matter shouldn't have been funny.
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
I really appreciate Ronson’s humor and insight as he throws himself into different groups to see what makes them tick. This is even better almost 25 years later, as you can look up and see where these people are today.