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Them

Them: Adventures With Extremists

by Jon Ronson

3.79 out of 5 (12 ratings)

Format:
Paperback 
Pages:
352 
Publisher:
Pan Macmillan 
Publication Date:
02 February 2002 
Category:
Popular Beliefs & Controversial Knowledge 
ISBN:
9780330375467 

Description

THEM began as a book about different kinds of extremists, but after Jon had got to know some of them -- Islamic fundamentalists, neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen -- he found that they had one oddly similar belief: that a tiny, shadowy elite rule the world from a secret room. In THEM, Jon sets out, with the help of the extremists, to locate that room. The journey is as creepy as it is comic, and along the way Jon is chased by men in dark glasses, unmasked as a Jew in the middle of a Jihad training camp, and witnesses international CEOs and politicians participate in a bizarre pagan ritual in the forests of northern California. THEM is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of extremism, in which Jon learns some alarming things about the looking-glass world of 'them' and 'us'. Are the extremists on to something? Or has Jon become one of THEM?

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Showing 1-4 out of 14 reviews. Previous | Next

  • Them takes us on tour of the world's extreme conspiracy theorists, to see what they have in common.As an armchair conspiracy theorist myself (who wishes the REALLY crazy ones would stop ruining the credibility of real conspiracies), I found this a fun look at some really wacky people.The author takes us to David Icke, who believes the world is being run by giant green lizards. We go to the Jewish Anti-Defamation League, who thinks David Icke is anti-semitic (giant lizard is code for Jew). We go to a branch of the KKK who sees itself as the kinder, gentler KKK. We follow the author as (himself a Jew) almost gets killed in an Aryan camp. We follow him as he sneaks into the world-dominating Builderberg Groups secret camp and video tapes a ritual.This book neither contributed nor detracted from my belief that conspiracies may exist. It did give me a better understanding of conspiracy theories, and the kooks behind them. It was also very fun to read.

    5.00 out of 5

    lunaverse

  • I wasn't sure what to expect from this book; the subject matter has the potential to be very disturbing. But I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite readable. Ronson's writing is often light-hearted, but this is no lightweight book. There is plenty to think about here.

    5.00 out of 5

    vivaval

  • I wasn't sure what to expect from this book; the subject matter has the potential to be very disturbing. But I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite readable. Ronson's writing is often light-hearted, but this is no lightweight book. There is plenty to think about here.

    5.00 out of 5

    aviva4

  • Nearly perfect. I came to this book after hearing the author read the first chapter on public radio's "This American Life". Jon has a funny way of flatly and simply reporting the statements and circumstances surrounding the big conspiracies. Yes, the leaders of the world do get together to worship a stone owl in the woods, but no, they aren't plotting all that much. It's a trip through cynicism and paranoia and is surprisingly laffy all the way.

    4.50 out of 5

    snarkhunt

Reviews provided by Librarything.

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