Read it, but check your back

By STEVEN GREENHUT

SENIOR EDITORIAL WRITER

Just the other day I nearly lost my cool with a caller who seemed to have some good information about a real estate scam, but then used the word "conspiracy" and alleged deep, dark misdoings that went far beyond the amount of evidence she provided. As the authors of "Conspiracies and Secret Societies," explain, most of these theories contain a kernel of truth, and they are popular because they attempt to explain evil.

The key component of a conspiracy theory, according to the authors (quoting political scientist Michael Barkun), is that "[n]othing happens by accident. Nothing is as it seems. Everything is connected."

And so authors Brad and Sherry Steiger have set upon the useful task of documenting the many popular conspiracy theories in a taut reference book.

The book is a wonderful read: It calmly and rationally explains the sort of urban myths and conspiracy theories that we all hear dribs and drabs about around the water cooler, but of which few of us really know the details. For example, there are the Bilderbergers, the secret society of 600 ultrawealthy people who supposedly want to control the world. There's the allegation that Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols carried out the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on behalf of a secret government agency. And who really knows about the way the Zionists are attempting to control the world if one doesn't at least read the Middle Eastern press?

Some entries deal with historical events, such as the sinking of the USS Maine, which mysteriously exploded in Havana harbor in 1898. The book recounts the record of what happened, without arguing for or against any conspiracy.

That's the beauty of the book: It appears to lack any particular agenda. In the introduction, the authors say they do not subscribe to any conspiracy theories (although would a true member of a secret society admit as much?), but they clearly are not trying to savage or ridicule such beliefs. In a straightforward manner, they present evidence for a theory and evidence against it. In no way does the reader feel manipulated, and the entries – although short – provide the necessary basics for anyone looking to do additional research.

A good example is the book's entry on the "Clinton Body Count," popular among right-wingers during Bill Clinton's reign, suggesting that the president had people killed who were on to some of his more corrupt practices. The book explains that idea and then lists the 22 people believed to have been killed or harmed in unusual circumstances. That's it, no commentary on the legitimacy of the theory, just sources on where the names came from.

In the section on 9/11, the book explains that some theorists argue that our own government had a hand in the attacks. It includes a timeline of events from the day, then includes a conspiracy claim – i.e., "The jets that struck the WTC and the Pentagon weren't commercial planes but refueling tankers or guided missiles." Then it includes the conspiracy denial: "If the planes that struck the WTC and the Pentagon were tankers or missiles, then what happened to United flights 175 and 93?"

In my view government agencies tend to be incompetent and stupid, barely capable of keeping the lights on, let alone of concocting deeply interconnected conspiracies. The worst evils take place in the light of day for the most obvious reasons, rather than in some dark chamber.

But just because most of the world's evil is of a decidedly nonconspiratorial bent doesn't mean that conspiracies don't exist. Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't watching you. Keep that in mind as you read this always entertaining, sometimes funny, occasionally disturbing reference book.

/