The Elephant in the Room

As Others See Us--

When I finish an audiobook and I get to the, "Audible hopes you enjoyed this...", I can usually say yes or no. At the end of "The Elephant in the Room", however, I found myself quite simply shuddering.
This is a stunning and terrifying account of some bits and pieces of the Trump campaign. It might be unpopular, but everything is taken from the words and sayings of Trump and Alex Jones themselves. Ronson goes to great lengths to clarify what actually is on record, in his usual inimitable style. As depressing and astounding as some of it is, the book is often funny. Even though I cringed mightily, Ronson had me smiling.
Make no mistake. The Left comes off as hateful as the Right, with knee-jerk dismissals, taunting, and even violent behavior. Still, what we've gotten into is bleak.
The book is short, but it's oddly poignant, and Ronson narrates with sublime and hilarious ease. Definitely worth the time, definitely worth the money.
But God Almighty! I'm ready for a bleach dip...

40 of 49 people found this review helpful

Short but Good

This is an interesting, enjoyable listen, like Jon's books. It's a short essay on a topic surrounded by misinformation, half truths, apologists, etc.. Jon has a unique perspective and style, and his writing comes across as an exploration of that topic rather than a veiled agenda being pushed on the reader. For that reason alone, this essay is worth a listen. His take on Jones, Stone etc. are particularly good. My only complaint is that I finished the book wishing for a more in-depth exploration of the topic.

9 of 14 people found this review helpful

In a Parallel Reality

Jon Ronson is an eternal optimist who looks at the United States with an outsider's awe and an amusing feigned naïveté. Take "The Men Who Stare at Goats" (2004), his exploration of the US Army's attempt to get all touchy-feely in the 1980's and explore psychics. No, not psychological warfare. They were trying for mind control. Ronson's take on that colossal waste of resources was innocent wonder, accompanied with quiet debunking.

Ronson resurrects his guileless alter ego in "The Elephant in the Room: A Journey into the Trump Campaign and the Alt-Right" (September 27, 2016) to explore a group of presidential candidate Donald Trump's more visibly radical supporters: nativists, racists and climate change deniers, loosely inspired by Alex Jones of Info Wars dot com. Ronson was in a unique position to do that: in 1999, Ronson and Jones infiltrated Bohemian Grove, an elite camp for the ultra wealthy and powerful, bluffing their way in by the super spy technique of wearing J. Crew clothes and acting like they belonged. That took an admirable amount of chutzpah.

Jones trusts Ronson - well, as much as an actual raving conspiracy theorist can trust anyone, which is not so much. Until I listened to "The Elephant in the Room" I thought 'Infowars' was a concept, like 'psy-ops.' It turns out that Jones runs a group that married extreme conservative political ideology with beliefs in extraterrestrials and divine intervention, and that empire gave birth to nuclear war survival kits, Bill Clinton Rape Whistles, and Hillary for Prison T-Shirts. A lot of what Jones says in his videos and radio broadcasts comes out of Trump's mouth a few days later, unfiltered. I'd wondered where some of Trump's more extreme ideas and beliefs came from. Now I know.

Ronson's piece prompted me to take a look at Jones' website and watch a few of Jones' videos. Jones is a walking, talking paranoid delusion - but he's oh, so, persuasive. This is no smear job of Jones, though. It is a nightmare inducing, deeply disturbing look at the Alt-Right that he inspires.

Ronson is frightened by the potential that someone so controlled by the radical right could become president, but he was comforted by no great missteps by Hillary R. Clinton. That was before October 28, 2016, when FBI director James Comey channeled J. Edgar Hoover to try to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Ronson does his own narration, and he's great - as usual.

(The title of the review is a quote from a Slate Magazine article published on November 5, 2016, discussing how Trump perceived Barrack Obama's reaction to a heckler.)

18 of 30 people found this review helpful

Terrifying Must-Read for Trump's New Order

This short trek behind the scenes of the 2016 RNC reveals how organized hate has become institutionalized power. Trump's love affair with "deplorables" was not an accident but an intentional effort to draw the media attention to him and to win the presidency. The response of the left and its online hate also receives its deserved critique. I found myself learning to appreciate Glenn Beck of all people.

6 of 11 people found this review helpful

Buckle up, kiddies. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

The last two minutes say it all. But do yourself a favor and just listen to this short, interesting tale of Jon's. If you're a fan of Jon's, as I am, you know you're in for a narrating treat. He was a great, quirky voice. And, yeah ok, the British accent that American's love is there, too. But it's the story you need to hear. Trump supporters, the honest ones, and you know who you are, please listen and reflect on what you hear. We are all still American's first. For now. And let us all pray that remains to be true. For the record, I was a Bernie guy but voted for Hillary. If this audiobook doesn't scare you, please write in your review why not. I'm looking for a reason not to worry about my country. Help me out. Thanks.

6 of 11 people found this review helpful

Chilling, Enlightening, Required Reading

If you're like me and never even heard the term "alt-right" until this wretched election cycle, this book is for you. I recommend it without hesitation. Fortunately, due to its brevity, you'll be able to finish it well before Election Day, when you will make possibly the most important choice you've ever had to make as a voter, and the United States will reveal to the rest of the world just what kind of country we are. Thank you, Jon Ronson, for applying your trademark blend of wry humor, keen insight, and scrupulously honest journalistic ethics to this invaluable project; thank you to Audible for making it available on such short notice; and most of all, thank you to my friends and followers on Twitter who recommended it as a must-listen. You certainly were right. God bless us and keep us, every one.

9 of 17 people found this review helpful

Almost wish that he would have finished the book after the election.

I've listened to of John Ronson's books and to say that I have enjoyed them all is not entirely correct.
I have learned interesting things from each of his books and I am always somewhat disturbed.
The subject of this book has much more of an effect on society at large then most the subjects of his other books I would say.
From the release date I doubt that this book was circulated widely enough to make much of a difference in the outcome.
That is why I said I almost wish he would've finished it after the election so he could have included his final thoughts.
I know what I think and how I feel but I suppose only time will tell.
I thought Mr. Ronson was very fair and objective when telling this story.

4 of 9 people found this review helpful

An interesting window into the new Trump world.

For those of us confounded by Trumps election, a funny little education. A short listen, a brief window.

2 of 5 people found this review helpful

great writing, scary subject

In this book Ronson revisits Alex Jones and examines the cords that tie the alt-right to the 2016 US election. Fascinating material.

4 of 10 people found this review helpful

Grotesquely fascinating in hindsight

Any additional comments?

Ronson in high form, with all the quirky observations, awkward interactions, and revealed strangeness one has come to expect from him. This brief window into the height of the Trump campaign feels voyeuristic, and with hindsight (and the election over) it inspires all the queasiness of watching a car accident and knowing that the passengers will not walk away alright.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful