Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies

Christopher Hodapp, Alice Von Kannon

John Wiley & Sons, Feb 4, 2011 - Social Science - 384 pages

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.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies: 9
• Conspiracism and the Origin of Modern Conspiracy Theories: 19
• Building the Perfect Beast Secret Societies through the Ages: 33
• Everybody Knows About It The Worlds: 47
• JFK and Other Presidents The Conspiracies Behind the Guns: 67
• The World Ends Monday Racial: 95
• Not of This Earth Innocent: 117
• Not of This Earth Innocent Pawns in an Intergalactic Imbroglio 117 Chapter 8 Tracking the Evolution of the 911 Conspiracy Theories: 137
• Secret Societies and Societies with Secrets: 157
• Secret Societies and Societies with Secrets 157 Chapter 9 The Freemasons The Worlds: 159
• Rosicrucians and the Evolution of Occult Secret Societies: 183
• The Illuminati The Bavarian Boogeymen: 207
• Secret Societies of Terror and Death: 219
• Frolicsome Fraternalism and Nefarious Foes of Freedom: 249
• Thugs Mugs and Lugs The Mafia: 267
• Banks and Super Committees: 297
• Ten Conspiracy Theories That Skirt the Edge of Madness: 317
• Ten Conspiracies That Were Absolutely True: 329
• Ten Weirdest Secret Societies of All Time: 343
• Index: 351

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.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies
• Authors: Christopher Hodapp, Alice Von Kannon
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2011
• ISBN: 1118052021, 9781118052020
• Length: 384 pages
• Subjects: Education / Teaching / Subjects / Social Science; History / General; Social Science / Conspiracy Theories