Them: Adventures With Extremists

by Jon Ronson

The author, an intrepid reporter, details his interviews and meeting with several extremists of the world, including a London-based Muslim whose goal is the overthrow of all secular Western governments; Randy Weaver (who seems to be a fairly normal guy, actually — the feds really, tragically fucked up on that one); a KKK Grand Wizard who’s trying to polish the KKK's image, some very humorless Aryan Nations skinheads; radio personality Alex Jones — who's made out in the book to be a paranoid lunatic — and David Icke, who believes that the New World Order is run by aliens who can transform into giant lizards. (Many people believe that this is Icke’s code for "Jews," but Ronson’s dealings with the man seem to indicate that he really thinks they’re alien lizards).

Ronson’s a very funny writer, and as he transforms his subjects into hypocrites and buffoons, he makes the bizarre seem mundane. The book’s climax shows Ronson, who has already interviewed a member of the mysterious Bilderberg Group, infiltrating the completely stupid Bohemian Grove owl-burning ceremony, a quasi-druidical ritual at a retreat for the wealthy that’s half Iron John and half frat boy drinking club. Excellent reading, and Ronson’s got the right mix of level head and humorous suspicion to alternate the reader into bouts of panic — do the Bilderbergs really control the world? — and bouts of laughter, as he makes another extremist out to be a ignorant, short-sighted fool. Good stuff, though it’s pretty sad how many people — my people, in a sense, Americans — are so stupid and deluded about the "Jewish menace." I mean, as horrible as Islamo-fascism is, their beef with Israel is understandable. The USA’s policy with Israel really is biased; Israel really does behave abominably to Palestinians. But some stupid bigot in Idaho whining about Jews running the New World Order and UN helicopters, that’s just sad and stupid. 

five stars