Trust the Plan

The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America

By: Will Sommer

Narrated by: Joe Knezevich

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

"A story so bizarre, only Will Sommer could report it.”—Molly Jong-Fast

The definitive book on QAnon from the reporter knows them best; Will Sommer explains what it is, how it has gained a mainstream following among Republican lawmakers and ordinary citizens, the threat it poses to democracy, and how we can reach those who have embraced the conspiracy and are disseminating its lies.

The Storm is Coming. Trust the Plan. WWG1WGA. You’ve seen the letter Q on TV and in the news–it’s been everywhere from Trump rallies to the January 6th insurrection. “QAnon” used to sound vaguely familiar, somewhat ominous, but not quite mainstream. But what was once a fringe conspiracy theory has now become a household name and its symbols recognizable around the world. How did this happen, who is actually involved, what do they believe, and what do they want?

Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer has been on the ground with Q’s followers since day one, and in Trust the Plan Sommer has written the definitive book on the movement—who started it and who grew it, what they really believe is going on, and what they want to see “the Storm” accomplish on the day of its reckoning. At once a character study and a journalistic exposé, Sommer lets his cast of characters do the talking as he visits them around the world, from their makeshift compounds to the rallies they are still holding.

The great tragedy of this story is ultimately the legitimization of this ideology by mainstream politicians eager to gain access to a large and growing cohort of voters. Though 2020 brought the end of Trump’s presidency, his following within the QAnon community has simply pivoted and grown stronger. Trust the Plan shows us in granular detail who we’ll be up against for years to come, in the US and abroad. Understanding why and how something like Q happens is an indispensable exercise, and in showing us how we got here we can chart a path out.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 William Sommer (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

5-Star Reporting, 1-Star Narration

Strange to give a five-star review to an audiobook I stopped listening to so early, but voiceover artist Joe Knezevich's narration is just unbearable. He narrates Sommer's book like he's doing a parody of a voiceover in a 1990s-era spy thriller. "In a world where Q begins its rise ..."

My response? I stopped listening to the audiobook and immediately ordered the hard copy, so I could continue listening to Sommer's extraordinarily compelling, deeply reported, first-person perspective of one of our nation's most important and horrifying political movements.

Sommer's writing and reporting is the best of what journalism aims to be. And I wasn't going to let Knezevich's gratingly cheesy comic persona and phony dramatic pauses block me from accessing Sommer's electrically engaging narrative.

Strange, too: I heard Sommer discuss his book on "Fresh Air," and he had a beautiful voice and an easy way with the spoken word. Why he turned down the opportunity to narrate his own book is a mystery. Regardless, I'm so excited for the hardcover to arrive, so I can complete my journey through his awesome book.

Will Sommer is one of perhaps five or six journalists who understand what’s happening right now.

The current state of American political discourse often denies reality for the sake of argument or simplicity. Very few journalists will understand what’s going on in 2025 when Trump/DeSantis inevitably claim they won the 2024 presidential election. They’ll say “no one could have seen this coming” or “it was impossible to stop this” but only a handful of people - Will Sommer, Kelly Weill, Julian Feeld, Travis View, and a few others have been here from the start and know what’s happening and why.

Insightful

Great piece dissecting the madness. Good style and incredibly direct. No frills just dense and accessible information

makes you think

a wake call to how conspiracy theories are all not new and not going away

Love it!

I love Will’s podcast Fever Dreams, and I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for a while. It did not disappoint. I thought I knew all there was to know about the Q cult, but there are a ton shocking and crazy revelations in these pages that frankly blew my mind. I don’t think I’ve experienced this many deep, frustrated sighs in a long time. Every 10 minutes I let out a “what!! Oh my god! What?” Great read, or in this case listen. Highly recommended. Narrator was fantastic as well.

The most comprehensive to date

I don’t believe we’ve heard the last of Qanon and this book is a must read for anyone aware of its real presence, a wise one for anyone who isn’t. Well researched, first hand accounts and insights brings this strange American online cult into the light, in an easy, fascinating read.

Finally

Somewhat of an explanation. I don’t think anyone could really understand all the whys. Your solution is definitely a winner though. Thank you.

Compelling Read (or listen)

This is a well researched and organized overview of a number of conspiracy theories and movements with emphasis on QAnon. The author's haunting conclusion is such movements will continue to emerge and/or evolve. I'm afraid he's right.

Unbiased fact finding mission

Genuine attempt to understand the movement while not poking fun at its adherents or believers

Detailed but not definitive

A good listen, Trust the Plan is informative and crisply written. But if you really want to dive into this subject, be sure to read/listen to "They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency" by Malcolm Nance. In comparison, as informative as Trust the Plan is, it's a primer.