I LOVE a good conspiracy theory and cults have fascinated me since watching the Waco takedown in school thanks to a pretty hip teacher who knew watching the news was a good thing even for elementary school kids. Cryptozoology is new in my reading world but I love a good Sasquatch read. Here are a few of my favorite from the cult, conspiracy and crypto world.
Cults
The Road To Jonestown: Jim Jones and People's Temple by Jeff Guinn- I could not put this one down. Not only the story but the writing. Just a tremendous book that tells a gut wrenching story of control and corruption
A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story by David Thibodeau and Leon White- If you can get a first hand account of a cult survivor SIGN ME UP! Reading you have to remember the author's bias, but Thibodeau makes no bones about his which I respected. I learned a ton about the Branch Davidians and the whole lead up to the take that I watched in elementary school.
Secrets Of The Tomb: Skull And Bones, The Ivy League, And Hidden Paths Of Power by Alexandra Robbins- Part cult study, part conspiracy, this was a deep dive into the underworld of where power begins. While I have talked to people who know bonesmen that have gone on to "normal" lives and these fraternities are seen on the Yale campus as nothing more than rich frats, there is something to this story you need to pick up.
Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson- Dr. Gonzo himself embedded with H.A.M.C for a year before writing this book and it shows. Where other cults are bent toward religion or space, these gearheads are lean toward raising hell and going fast. And this is just another installment of Gonzo writing to add to your collection
Conspiracies
Midnight Rising: John Brown And The Raid That Sparked The Civil War by Tony Horwitz- "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." John Brown falls in those camps depending on your viewpoint BUT there is no doubt of his conspiracy to free slaves in the Antebellum South. I learned a lot about the lead up to Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and the plot within.
Mortal Error: The Shot That Killed JFK, A Ballistics Expert's Astonishing Discovery Of The Fatal Bullet That Oswald Did Not Fire by Bonar Menniger- Picking through the technical talk and reading rather than seeing the evidence presented was hard for me, but in a case like this I have to see things in person to full grasp. If you are a JFK assassination fan this one is already on your shelf. If you aren't, this one should be soon.
The Poison Patriarch: How The Betrayals of Joseph P. Kennedy Caused The Assassinations Of JFK by Mark Shaw- Affairs, business backstabbing and mob connections...and I'm not just talking about JFK! Joe Kennedy was a power hungry man who knew early on that it wasn't him who would hold the power but his sons. And he pulled every stop to get them in line. The saddest part was that it really didn't matter which one. When the eldest son was killed, he just turned to the next. Had JFK died before reaching the top, it would have been Robert. It didn't matter which Kennedy was pulling the strings, so long as it was a Kennedy pulling the strings
Cryptozoology
Bigfoot: The Life and Times of a Legend by Joshua Blue Buhs- I believe! You cannot change my mind on Sasquatch. This book gives you more of a history and legends of the bipedia anomaly roaming the woods. Well worth the time and a fun read!
Comments
Post a Comment