Conspiracies and Secret Societies

June 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-Patrons interested in conspiracy theories and the paranormal will fly through this riveting tome. It's written in an accessible, entertaining style and is chock-full of engrossing and provocative articles that range from a few paragraphs to several pages in length, many accompanied by black-and-white photos. There are no internal citations or reference lists, though websites and sources are sometimes mentioned within the text. However, since this is a dossier of conspiracy theories, the lack of credible reference sources is understandable. Topics are arranged alphabetically and vary from coverage of popularized conspiracy theories such as those around JFK's assassination, Obama's birth certificate, and Roswell to conspiracies that may be less well-known to teens such as Maria Monk's assault on Catholicism, the nefarious Mothman, and Morgellons disease. The pyramids and the Sphinx are included, but Stonehenge, a common research topic for students, is not. Also missing is an entry on the Georgia Guidestones, theories surrounding which have been around for decades and are a current buzz on some social media sites. Despite these minor oversights, Conspiracies offers a fascinating look at enigmas, intrigues, and oddities. While this work may offend, enrage, and even frighten some, it's sure to be a hit with conspiracy enthusiasts and certainly won't be a shelf-sitter.-Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2012
If you're not already paranoid, you may be after reading this book. This primer hits the highlights of murder plots, suicides, extraterrestrials, government cover-ups, and religious mysteries throughout the centuries. Assassinations of public figures, conspiracies surrounding presidents, and other historical events deemed suspicious and controversial are covered, along with secret societies such as the Freemasons, Knights Templar, and the Ku Klux Klan. This second edition has approximately 40 more entries than the first (published in 2006), including a new entry on the British Petroleum oil spill in 2010. The entriesfrom AIDS to the Zionist Occupation Governmentare concise and largely well written, although some entries are more difficult to follow than others. In some cases, the conspiracy involved was not always clear. For example, Y2K was a prediction and not a conspiracy, leading one to wonder why it was included, but the Mayan end-of-the-world prophecy is not covered. The index is detailed and helpful, but reference lists at the conclusion of each individual entry would have been preferred rather than listing and interfiling them together in the lengthy Works Cited and Further Reading appendixes. The volume could have also benefited from more graphics to add visual appeal and break up the text. As the authors readily admit, it's up to the reader to decide whether the book is entertainment or enlightenment. Overall, this reasonably priced primer is recommended for public library reference collections and may circulate in the regular collection as well.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)