Amazon.com Review
In the first half of this entertaining guide to contemporary paranoia, Jonathan Vankin introduces us to some of the leading figures in modern conspiracy, from self-styled political leader Lyndon LaRouche to Kerry Thornley, co-creator of the underground religion Discordianism and a possible "second Oswald." Then, in part two, he puts together all the disparate strands of conspiracy theory into one overarching narrative that includes the Freemasons, Nazi occultists, CIA-brainwashed assassins, the Mafia... you name it, Vankin's probably found a way to fit it into the puzzle. The point is not that this is the secret history of the world order, but, as he writes, "civilization is a conspiracy against reality." In order for the world to run smoothly, and for us to be "normal" participants, Vankin argues, we have to accept a lot of things on faith. Conspiracy theorists refuse to do that, and consequently are usually dismissed as mentally unbalanced. But what if they are right and what we've been led to believe turns out to be wrong? A fascinating and provocative book that may well lead you to never trust the newspapers and nightly broadcasts again.