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The Storm Is Upon Us
The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything | Mike Rothschild
7 posts | 6 read | 15 to read
The definitive story of QAnon from an expert on cult and fringe culture: how it started, what it is, and its growing power to destabilize society and promote conspiracy. What does QAnon want, and what comes next? On October 5th, 2017, President Trump made a cryptic extemporaneous remark in the State Dining Room. He called this gathering of top-ranking military officials "the calm before the storm," and refused to elaborate as journalist and politicos inquired further. But on the infamous message boards of 4chan, elaboration began all on its own. In the days that followed, an anonymous poster spun a yarn inspired by Trump's remarks that rivalled Tom Clancy and satisfied the deepest desires of MAGA-America. Did any of it come to pass? No. Did that stop people from clinging to every word they were reading, expanding its mythology and promoting the theory for years? No. How did this happen, who are these followers, and how do these adherents reconcile their worldview with the America they see around them? Mike Rothschild, a journalist specializing in conspiracy theories, explains all--taking readers from the earliest posts on 4Chan to its embrace by right-wing media, and the game that Donald Trump has played with its followers. As rabid adherents to the theory show no sign of calming--with Baby Boomers especially susceptible to its messaging--families are being torn apart and politicians are starting to openly espouse the ideology in their campaigns. It's time to figure out what QAnon is, because QAnon explains everything you need to know about American politics and global fear after Trump.
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review
The_Book_Ninja
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Mehso-so

The ‘93 suicide of Vince Foster, Chris Ruddy‘s “investigation” of his death & the nascent interweb, birthed the right wing nut job, punting conspiracy theories, on-line hate & alt-right bollocks. This book looks at the mysterious QAnon noticeboard posts & their influence on Trump/MAGA followers, duped into swallowing new bullshit conspiracies that resulted in the events of 6th Jan 21. Gripping & crazy but often repetitive. Needed a good editor

Aimeesue That sounds like a very sad read. Infuriating, too, but all the fear driving the anger is just sad to me. 2y
The_Book_Ninja @Aimeesue it is sad that families lose loved ones to this grifter‘s cult. Once people go down that path it‘s hard to turn back. 2y
Aimeesue @The_Book_Ninja Been there, unfortunately. It's stunning. 2y
The_Book_Ninja @Aimeesue ah I‘m so sorry to hear that 2y
17 likes4 comments
review
Maria514626
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Pickpick

This was just plain bonkers. Scary, fascinating, unnerving, enraging.

The refrain: Huh? That‘s bonkers. No one believes that, do they? Say again? Oh man, we‘re in for it.

This book will help you understand more about a movement that makes no sense.

review
britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enlightening isn‘t the right word. Bizarre. Preposterous. Horrifying. Rothschild details the inception, progression, and eventual silence of the group whose propaganda fueled the Jan 6th attack. These Trump extremists believed and pushed so much bullshit, it‘s truly incredible. I‘ll never understand how conspiracy theorists navigate their daily lives. It must be exhausting residing in that headspace.

Prairiegirl_reading It must be exhausting! 💯💯💯 all of that anger, hatred, fear. I would imagine there is never a moment of peace. 3y
britt_brooke @Prairiegirl_reading Exactly! I‘m worn out just thinking about it. 3y
Lauram I worked with someone who was photographed in the Capitol building on January 6th. She lost her job and her professional license for an ethics violation. I could only tell others that asked that she was really good at her job, that I cared about her, and hoped she was ok. (edited) 3y
See All 7 Comments
Lauram I just don‘t understand how she could live with so much hate. 3y
britt_brooke @Lauram OMG, that‘s wild! I‘ll never understand what provokes people to go to these extremes. It‘s sad. 3y
Cinfhen Excellent review 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Thank you! ☺️ 3y
82 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
britt_brooke
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Just introverting, enjoying a High Noon, and learning about the delusional folks of QAnon. It‘s the perfect wind down after a hot, soccer-filled weekend.

#cheers #booksandbooze

Maria514626 @britt_brooke Oh. This looks good. Well not “good.” Have you read Strongmen? Holy moly. Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Putin, Trump. Traits they have in common. Their reigns. Etc. Fascinating. Horrifying. (edited) 3y
britt_brooke @Maria514626 😂 I know exactly what you mean. I haven‘t read that one, so thank you for the rec! Will definitely stack it. 3y
Megabooks This was a good book 👍🏻 3y
britt_brooke @Megabooks It‘s bonkers, but really well done! 3y
83 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
keithlafo
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Pickpick

For those who have ever wondered why QAnon is popular, or what led to the insurrection, this is the book to pick up. A well-researched and enlightening read.

10 likes2 stack adds
blurb
nitalibrarian
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#bookmail

This whole QAnon movement is so wild and fascinating (in a how do people believe this stuff? type of way). I watched the HBO documentary and listen to the QAnon Anonymous podcast and pre-ordered this book.

vivastory This is the second post I've seen about this book today. I think I'll add it to my TBR 4y
Megabooks Yes! Just finished this within hours of getting it! A fascinating, fast read!! 4y
29 likes4 stack adds2 comments
review
Megabooks
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Pickpick

Cultish 🔗⬇️, which I read a few days ago, discussed Q and the language of cults briefly. Then, this book showed up as a #NewRelease on my Instagram. Mike went into cult comparisons in part 3 of this book, after discussing the history of Q, but it struck me that Q believers remind me of those interpreters of Nostradamus where the most vague things are linked to events that don‘t fit to make a gauzy (and dangerous) abstract picture of the world.

Leftcoastzen Thanks for the review! Trying to figure out if I can handle it .😟🍕 4y
Cinfhen This one isn‘t grabbing me 🤷🏼‍♀️but I do want to read 4y
See All 9 Comments
ravenlee Do you follow Heather Cox Richardson? Her newest podcast with Joanne Freeman is QAnon, Cults, and Cutlery. 4y
Megabooks @Leftcoastzen Oh golly, hearing it all reviewed in an 8 hour audiobook was crazy! 4y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I think you‘d like cultish better. 4y
Megabooks @ravenlee No, but I‘ll have to look that up! 4y
ravenlee I should have said the latest podcast episode; the podcast itself is called Now & Then. apple.co/2SVfx9J if you use Apple. I haven‘t heard the podcasts, but I follow her on Facebook and I think she‘s great. 4y
Megabooks @ravenlee from the description, it seems to cover a lot of the same ground as this book. Since I read this book so quickly, I think I‘m going to give myself a couple of days before more Q (because yikes!), but I‘ve downloaded it. Thanks!! 4y
82 likes3 stack adds9 comments