Them: Adventures with Extremists

By: Jon Ronson

Narrated by: Jon Ronson

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)

Silly, but Serious

Any additional comments?

I've been a huge fan of Louis Theroux for many years, and to me Jon Ronson's book strikes the same tone as one of Louis' shows.

By building a rapport with people who have very extreme beliefs and opinions, they are humanized. One can even empathize to a degree. This is a much more productive policy than simply demonizing or disregarding them.

In most extremists there is a grain of something real that should be considered and built in to our own thinking. However, that is not to overlook the fact that many of these people are essentially delusional and even dangerous.

That is the most important aspect of Jon's book and Louis' shows - whilst opening our minds to empathize and relate, they also illuminate where the reasonable become unreasonable and the understandable become outrageous. And best of all this demarkation is often hilarious and self-evident when exposed by a reasonable person repeating the ludicrous words back to the ludicrous people who just spoke them.

It is genius and a service to the world in my opinion.

I am sure that Jon's book would have lost much of the humor and nuance had it been read by another narrator, so well done Jon.

Interesting

I found this book a fun way to look at the things from the other perspective. I still believe most of these people are crazy but it was interesting to see some of their suspected ideas were true.

Always excellent

I've never been disappointed by the content of a Jon Ronson book and he's also very pleasing to listen to. I read this book several years ago and it is still relevant, interesting, informative, and darkly funny on occasion.

Insight into the not-quite-so-crazy extreme

After "Shamed" I had to hear more Ronson, and this was another fascinating set of stories. This time he goes semi undercover into the heart of Islamic jihadist organization, the spectrum of white supremacist groups, am elite world of Jewish movie moguls, he shadows a mysterious wealthy eccentric, and visits what appears to be a secret drunken summer camp for would--be and world leaders. He's personable and only semi under cover -- most of the time he reveals himself as a journalist. Extremists of all stripes seem generally to like him, which makes these encounters more intimate and revealing.

Ronson's perspective on all this is measured, balancing nuances pro and con all the way. He puts himself in the most uncomfortable places protected by nerves of steel and a good heart. And he can tell a good story.

I gave it 4 because I found fewer parallels and connections between the stories, as I did moreso with "Shamed." It was an enlightening listen, and entertaining, with food for thought. I'm looking forward to hearing more from Jon Ronson; he has a unique gift.

X-treme education on extremists!

Where does Them: Adventures with Extremists rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

THEM ranks in the top 10 of all the audiobooks I have listened to.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I couldn't believe what Jon was willing to do to get an inside look at extremists. Would YOU go to the Aryan Nation Compound in Idaho or the Ku Klux Klan headquarters in the South and meet with their leaders if you were Jewish? No. Nor would I. He has courage that borders on insanity!

Which character – as performed by Jon Ronson – was your favorite?

Best moment in the book, bar none, is Jon's description of Thom Robb, the Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and his failed rally. My husband and I were both listening to the book and we laughed so hard we had tears rolling down our cheeks.

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

I definitely wanted to keep going.

Any additional comments?

This quote from the Wikipedia article about THEM says it best: "Ronson documents his journeys through the world with extremist tour guides and “the result is a funny, superbly controlled account of his wanderings through the wonderland of fanaticism and delusion".