Them: Adventures with Extremists

By: Jon Ronson

Narrated by: Jon Ronson

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

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?

©2012 Jon Ronson (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"A funny, superbly controlled account of [Ronson’s] wanderings through the wonderland of fanaticism and delusion." (Brian Appleyard, New Statesman)

"This book is chilling and hilarious by turns. Ronson’s trademark laid-back attitude is a delight." ( Independent)

"A funny and compulsively readable picaresque adventure through a paranoid shadow world." (Louis Theroux, Guardian)

"Ronson plays up to his charming buffoonery... But he is an acute social commentator. He is compelling." ( Times Literary Supplement)

Undercover Jewish writer lifts the lid on global conspiracy

I'd write more, but I'm afraid my reviews are being monitored by 10ft tall alien lizards from the Bilderberg group. Wake up sheeple! Buy this book before they suppress it!

A look into extremism

This is a great look into the minds of extremists. I had just watched a film called The Conspiracy, and they must have surely borrowed from Jon Ronson in the depiction of the Bilderberg Group. I love Jon Ronson's narration.

Jon Ronson is a Genius

Would you listen to Them: Adventures with Extremists again? Why?

Yes, I have listened to it 3 or 4 times, I enjoy Jon Ronson's books so much I wish they would release all his books on audiobook.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jon, the intrepid journalist.

Any additional comments?

Please release more of his books on audiobook.

Honestly a little terrifying

If you could sum up Them: Adventures with Extremists in three words, what would they be?

Insightful, Humorous, terrifying

Who was your favorite character and why?

Honestly Ron Jonson as he gets himself into situations that are really quite scary. His recounting the often terrifying and of sometimes somewhat bumbling attempts to get to the truth behind THEM. Great story teller.

What about Jon Ronson’s performance did you like?

He is a wonderful writer and does his work justice by reading it!

If you could give Them: Adventures with Extremists a new subtitle, what would it be?

This is a fascinating book. Seeing the very personal side of people, who are often portrayed as cold calculating monster in the mainstream media, is often even more terrifying. Realizing that these folks are essentially average people with extreme beliefs and willing to take drastic measures.

A nice hidden gem

A nice hidden gem. I love books and documentaries on these subjects but they can sometimes be rehashing the same information. This book had an engaging approach that made it feel fresh.
It did drag at times but was still worth it especially the last hourish.

HAHA HAHA

I love John's stories , I love his laugh even better .
I fell off my chair with laughter a few times .

awesome!

I loved it. The alex jones chapter is funny and so relevant, as well as exploring conspiracy candy extremist culture in general.

Jon Ronson is wonderful

This is the second book I've listened to by Jon Ronson. He is a magnificent storyteller, and his narration picks up the hilarious nuances one might miss while reading.

Wonderful addition to the Ronson canon

Jon Ronson's distinctive voice, both written and oral, makes this an enjoyable book to listen to. Stories that were written over 15 years ago are a bit dated, but nonetheless shed light on events of the time. My only complaint is that one or two of the accounts just seem to stop, without fully resolving the story they tell. Otherwise, I highly recommend this collection of Ronson's accounts.

Fantastic

What made the experience of listening to Them: Adventures with Extremists the most enjoyable?

Jon Ronson's narration. Typically I speed up my audible narrations, but this is more like a performance. Ronson gave a TED talk where you can sample his performance style (re: the Psychopath Test) if you're on the fence.

What did you like best about this story?

The writing and narration. I wish I could articulate this better, but the way Ronson interacts with his subjects is wonderful. His approach is gentle and inquisitive which opens his subjects up to be who they truly are--the result of which is we're able to connect* and identify with people we'd otherwise compartmentalize as crazy or, per the namesake of the book, 'them'.

For instance there's a great scene where an Islamic radical, Omar, describes his daughter's name as translating to 'The Black Flag of Islam'. Ronson is taken slightly aback, prompting Omar to claim that their cultures will never understand each other. Five minutes later they're watching The Lion King on VHS while Omar bounces his daughter on his knee singing 'Hukuna Matata'.

(*We're able to connect in small doses)

Which scene was your favorite?

There is a scene where a KKK member is speaking in public and attempting to promote white love instead of black hate--re-branding if you will. However 'attempting' is the operative word because after he's met with the sneers of protesters his vitriol bubbles up and spills out in a diatribe of bigotry which may not seem all that funny (after proof reading this review I'm suspicious how well I've sold it) but Ronson absolutely nails it. I've forced friends to listen to this scene alone.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Sure.