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Them: Adventures with Extremists

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Them: Adventures with Extremists

By: Jon Ronson
Narrated by: Jon Ronson
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About this listen

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 Social Sciences Funny Thought-Provoking Witty Middle East

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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)
All stars
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I love Jon Ronson & this is a clever and well researched. The narration is great -Jon is never mocking of his sometimes bizarre subjects

Brilliant, bizarre & true

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Jon Ronson's voice and manner of speech suits his work far better than other narrators. I loved this book.

Enjoyable

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I really enjoyed this book and like Ronsons style. He spends years researching his subject material and presents a non inflammatory relatively rounded view of extremism.



Essentially this a a good listen and kept me interested and laughing till the end.

Classic Ronson

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I love Jon’s work and while the story had me both intrigued and laughing aloud in parts it’s quite light touch and slightly outdated now.

Interesting, but not his best work

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I'm gradually going through all Jon Ronson's books on Audible and they are all fantastic.

Another great from Ronson

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a document of a world now gone, before the towers fell, before the eternal war in the middle east started, before half of what the people in this book believed turned out to be true. I listened to a younger Jon Ronson speak to younger versions of people we now consider fully mental, all saying things that turned out to be true in the end. It made me sad and angry all at the same time. These guys were full on bat guano crazy, but in the light of recent history you suddenly arent sure. What else isnt to be trusted?

Bought to laugh at the lunatics, left with no center and a sense of dread.

10/10 would conspire again.

What did you like best about this story?

Historic document or lunatic fringe?

What about Jon Ronson’s performance did you like?

Jon Ronson Reading Jon Ronson is very Jon Ronson, smooth and erudite.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Book scared me. bought 10 gallons of water and pasta.

Any additional comments?

Trust no one.

Eery and Scary!

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All the better for being read by the author in his distinctive, engaging voice, with just a hint of wry judgement, but never overpowering or sneering.

Endlessly funny and fascinating

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Jon Ronson is incredibly thorough in his research and sources so much so that it takes a while to get through to the best stuff here. Really enjoyed the book, especially hearing Jon's first hand account, as he's narrating. Definitely for anyone that's ever been into conspiracy about who runs the world but also lifting a lid on the madness behind some of the world's most well known extremists. Is also quite funny and farcical throughout.

slow to start but thrilling finish!

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I am a big fan of Ron’s work, so I came to this audiobook really looking for an amusing ride. What I found was an eye opening account of extremists in all their forms talking about evil plots and Jewish conspiracies. Ronson’s writing humanises them, he doesn’t belittle them and he discovers they all have similar qualities - they’re enigmatic, care little for facts and they all believe a secret group of people are ruling the world. Ronson’s journey concludes in quite bizarre circumstances. A great listen, and makes you think about Trump’s America. The guys Ronson describes are not bad people, they’re misguided and don’t understand the impact of their words. The extremists today seem a lot more dangerous than Ronson’s subjects of enquiry.

Ronson uncovers incompetent and shouty extremists

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Another great book by Jon Ronson.
Highly recommend if you enjoy his style of witty journalism. I enjoyed it very much.

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