Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies

Christopher Hodapp · Alice Von Kannon

Feb 2011 · Sold by John Wiley & Sons

About this ebook

What do Skull and Bones, the Kennedys, and UFOs all have in common? They’re all shrouded in mystery and conspiracies

Entering the world of conspiracy theories and secret societies is like stepping into a distant, parallel universe where the laws of physics don't apply and everything you know is wrong: black is white, up is down. If you want to understand what's really going on — from fluoridated water and chemtrails to alien autopsies, free electricity, and more — you need a good reference book, and that's where Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies comes in.

Whether you're a skeptic or a true believer, this fascinating guide, packed with the latest information, walks you through some of the most infamous conspiracy theories — such as Area 51, the assassination of JFK, and reptilian humanoids — and introduces you to such mysterious organizations as the Freemasons, the Ninjas, the Illuminati, the Mafia, and Rosicrucians. This behind-the-curtain guide helps you separate fact from fiction and provides insight into the global impact these mysterious events and groups have had on our modern world. Discover how to:

• Test a conspiracy theory
• Spot a sinister secret society
• Assess the Internet's role in fueling conspiracy theories
• Explore world domination schemes
• Evaluate 9/11 conspiracy theories
• Figure out who "they" are
• Grasp the model on which conspiracy theories are built
• Figure out whether what "everybody knows" is true
• Distinguish one assassination brotherhood from another
• Understand why there’s no such thing as a "lone assassin"

Additionally, you can read about some conspiracy theories that turned out to be true (like the CIA's LSD experiments), theories that seem beyond the pale (such as the deliberate destruction of the space shuttle Columbia), and truly weird secret societies (Worshippers of the Onion and nine more). Grab your own copy of Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies and decide for yourself what is fact and what is a conspiracy.

Ratings and reviews

2008: Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing. The subject matter is immensely fascinating and the work itself surely fed my interest in these wonderful subjects. The authors are definitely biased against "conspiracists" -- those who believe in conspiracy theories. This strong bias detracted from the work; a more neutral tone could have served it better. The authors definitely have an axe to grind and though they accuse "conspiracists" of projecting, maybe they are projecting onto "conspiracists". I felt sometimes they went too far in condemning the "conspiracists". Nevertheless, I love how engrossing and informative the book was.

About the author

Christopher Hodapp is also the author of The Templar Code For Dummies and a Freemason who has traveled extensively reporting on global Masonic practices. Alice Von Kannon is an author and historian.