Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories

by Mike Rothschild

With the current rise of antisemitism, this important book looks at how one Jewish family —the Rothschilds—became a lightning rod for the conspiracy theories of the last two centuries, and how those theories are still very much alive today.

In 2018, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took to social media to share her suspicions that the California wildfires were started by "space solar generators" that were funded by powerful, mysterious backers. Instantly, thousands of people rallied around her, blaming the fires on “Jewish space lasers” and, ultimately, the Rothschild family.

For more than 200 years, the name "Rothschild" has been synonymous with two things: great wealth, and conspiracy theories about what they're "really doing" with it. Almost from the moment Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his sons emerged from the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt to revolutionize the banking world, the Rothschild family has been the target of myths, hoaxes, bizarre accusations, and constant, virulent antisemitism. Over the years, they have been blamed for everything from the sinking of the Titanic to the Great Depression and even for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jewish Space Lasers is a deeply researched dive into the history of the conspiracy industry around the Rothschild family--from the "pamphlet wars" of Paris in the 1840s to the dankest pits of the internet today. Journalist and conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild, who isn't related to the family, sorts out myth from reality to find the truth about these conspiracy theories and their spreaders. Who were the Rothschilds? Who are they today? Do they really own $500 trillion and every central bank, in addition to "controlling the British money supply"? Is any of this actually true? And why, even as their wealth and influence have waned, do they continue to drive conspiracies and hoaxes?

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Jewish, Audiobook, Conspiracy Theories, Judaism

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Mike Rothschild is a journalist focused on the intersections between internet culture and politics as seen through the dark glass of conspiracy theories. He has specialized in an investigation of the QAnon conspiracy cult since its inception in 2018, and is one of the first journalists to reveal its connections to past conspiracy theories and scams. Rothschild's expertise has led to his becoming a leading commentator on the subject for The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the special space boy remade Twitter in his image I made my account follow all the conspiracy handles that could find. Reading “Jewish space lasers” puts context and meaning behind the various ~redpill~ accounts. Worth reading for a number of reasons and does an incredible job of contextualizing how conspiracy became mainstream among the American right.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the scary season and what's scarier than racism and antisemitism?

I've vaguely heard of the Rothschild family in rap lyrics and I knew that they were mentioned in some conspiracy theories. I also remember hearing that Paris Hilton's sister Nikki married a Rothschild but I'd never dug deeper into the family because I wasn't interested. I mean the only reason I picked this book up was because of the title Jewish Space Lasers. I knew that noted crazy person Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had said something about Jewish people creating space lasers that caused the California wildfires. It was an example of just how insane Republicans are.
But apparently none of this is new.

The Rothschild family is a European Jewish banking family that has been the center of conspiracy theories for hundreds of years. Despite the obvious antisemitism of these claims the people who spread them claim they are "just asking questions" or that they just want people to "question the real story" but they are almost always just Jew hating propaganda. These conspiracy theorists who are just seeking the truth are the dumbest, most gullible people you will ever meet. They want to feel smart but they are complete idiots.

Most companies are run by not Jewish but by protestants. The richest people on the planet are not Jewish.

At different times in the past did Jewish people tend to have certain jobs like banking or entertainment?

Yes...but mostly because they were barred from every other profession. They went into money lending because the Catholic church( an actual criminal organization) viewed money lending as unchristian.

I liked this book and I did learn alot about the sickening history of antisemitism but this book was a bit dry. I think most people will find this book just plain boring. I also found this book to be repetitive. For such a short book this book felt extremely long. This author who is not related to "those" Rothschild's, has a book about QAnon and I am interested in picking that up because Q is a fascinating topic. The ease with which normal people have been completely taken in by a batshit crazy thing like QAnon is scary.

If you are interested in conspiracy theories, than consider picking up this book.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to understand modern society if you ignore the ubiquitous conspiracy theories - and this book is dedicated to the mother of them all, showing how this twisted way of thinking is deeply rooted in anti-Semitism.

I have to admit that, based on the title and description of this book, I was expecting some kind of gonzo investigation in the vein of Jon Ronson. Instead, I found a very methodical and thorough study of an alternative history of the Rothschild banking family, from Waterloo to the era of Donald Trump. It is very well written and engaging, but I found the last chapters, which focus on the Internet and modern politics, to be the most interesting.

Thanks to the publisher, Melville House Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Madison ✨ (mad.lyreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Mike Rothschild was very lucky that a particular Congresswoman said something about Jewish Space Lasers while he was writing this book, because this title really makes this book seem like it will be an exploration into ridiculous antisemetic conspiracy theories. Instead, this book is very academic and very well researched, making it not an easy read for a casual reader of non-fiction. Despite this statement, I think it was extremely well done and very informative. My eyes glazed over a bit toward the beginning, but once it got to the parts of history I was more familiar with, it was bonkers how antisemetic dog whistles were absolutely everywhere. If you are at all interested (in an academic sense) in the current far-right sphere, this book should be required reading. It even goes into Trump's current connections to (some of) the Rothschilds, and how pro-Trump antisemites don't care. This was not the book I was expecting when I picked it up, but I still very much enjoyed it.

Thank you to Melville House Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover. Judging from the main title ”Jewish Space Lasers” and the parenthetical “* no relation” by the author’s name, I expected a biography about the Rothschilds and an irreverent look at conspiracy theories. But antisemitism doesn’t leave room for humor, and the book actually delivers a well-researched treatise on two centuries of conspiracy theories. I am well aware of antisemitic feelings around the world and through the ages. But even so, this book opened my eyes. I recommend it to nonfiction readers who like scholarly works.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.25
Jewish Space Lasers is an interesting look at the history of antisemitic conspiracy theories around the Rothschild family. I found the history about the family very informative as well as the way conspiracy theorists take that history and twist it. This is a bit more of an academic read than the cover lets on, but it's definitely worth picking up!

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the title and cover of the book had me expecting a much less dry look at the subject matter. As it is it’s just a kind of boring 10,000 foot view of well trod conspiracy theories. A sort of interesting but on Chinese antisemitism (though it seems bizarre to have a section on China given how Western centric the book is). I’m very dubious about the assertion that antisemitism was imported into the Middle East by western countries. Lastly I can’t really imagine why the author chose to completely ignore the fascinating and bonkers Black Hebrew Israelites.

Overall just another book that feels like it started as an article in the Atlantic but was stretched to book length during the pandemic.

[Sam Wescott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently reviewed a middle grade graphic novel that invoked the Reptilian conspiracy in the joking context of cryptids and was alarmed to find an antisemitic trope dropped so carelessly into a children’s book. I spent a lot of time on this in my review and was greeted with several comments calling me a Karen for assuming an alien race of reptile people trying to take over the worlds governments was antisemitic. I really wish those people would read this book. They’re missing about 200 years of history.

I will agree with other reviews that the cover and title do slightly misrepresent the style of the content in the actual book, making it appear a little more focused on modern conspiracies than historical ones. The subtitle really carries the weight with this one because it is truly an overview of Rothschild history and conspiracies over the last two centuries with plenty of time spent on the high stakes and complicated relationships between different Jewish communities and wealth and political power. I found it really informative and thorough, although a lot of it went over my head just by nature of the topics of finance and global markets, which I find largely impenetrable.

I did find the last third or so much more consumable, mostly because I have more touch points and personal exposure to recent history and current cultural trends and moments. I think it’s a great overview, although it is a little more dry and encyclopedic than the punchy cover makes it seem. Honestly, I think so many people would benefit from this sort of overview, especially as the wide dispersal of conspiracy theories both obscure the antisemitic roots and become more brazen about their bigotry.

[Kristy]

DNF @40%.
.
This should have been more interesting than it was. There were too many people and historical events to keep track of that it all became incredibly convoluted.

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this one my phone for waiting rooms and subways, which is one reason why it took me this long to get through. The other reason, of course, was the topicality and frustration and depression about the consequences of these conspiracies. It was very interesting to get into the details of myth vs reality, and wild how they all boil down to the same hateful texts of fantasy stories, supported by context ripe for exploitation.

[Emily Heer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a “fun” read, exactly. But it’s great to have an incredibly well researched backgrounder on the connection between conspiracy theories and antisemitism.

[Jacob Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book, and an essential read for anyone, like myself, perplexed and/or nauseated by the rabid hysteria of the American right. Despite the whimsical cover and title, the book is an erudite, thorough, carefully researched excavation of the evolution of antisemitic conspiracy tropes, particularly those revolving around the Rothschilds and, more recently, George Soros. Read it.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this 2023 volume as a lark. I thought it would be amusing to see what gullible people believed and feel superior to them when I read the evidence which debunked them. Unfortunately, when I read Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories, it wasn’t nearly as entertaining as I expected. I discovered that I had known far too many people into the Trilateral Commission, Illuminati, and Rockefeller-Rothschild alliance for it to be an amusing perusal of the past. Mike Rothschild’s (no relation to the financiers) book is important, though it won’t reach the echo chambers where it is most needed.

Some ideas are just so ingrained in the popular culture that no amount of correction and evidence can change it. Nathan Rothschild was not at Waterloo. He did not pay an enormous sum of money to a sea captain to sail through a storm so that, after seeing Wellington’s victory, he could spread misinformation about an English defeat to drive down the market and pick up securities for a song before the real news came in. There is no evidence that the family made any kind of a windfall on the day the British market collapsed because of a rumor of an English defeat. Nor is there any truth to the idea of the Rothschild’s being a major influence in setting up the Federal Reserve. J. P. Morgan was not a Rothschild and this isn’t the only time the Rothschild’s were blamed for something Morgan and Company financed.

Those rumors are almost inextricable from conspiracy books, websites, and, apparently, even Congressional speeches. Senator Robert L. Griffin, Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking and Currency and co-sponsor of the Federal Reserve Act, quoted a spurious quotation from an early Rothschild: “Let me issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who writes the laws.” (cited on p. 181) A 1919 pamphlet on monetary policy by Oklahoma Senator Robert Owen cited the quotation as part of a long speech by Representative C. G. Binderup during the 76th Congress (p. 182). Naturally, the Congressional record does not have that in a Binderup speech, though it appears frequently in the Congressional Record whenever someone wanted to vilify the Jews as supposed puppet masters for the Federal Reserve (p. 182).

We’ll return to this political matter, as does the author, after considering the Rothschilds in the areas of entertainment. I was intrigued to find out that the original lyric to Fiddler on the Roof’s “If I Were a Rich Man” was “If I Were a Rothschild” and the original lyric has been maintained in many foreign versions (p. 189). Perhaps, the darkest rendition in entertainment (unless one counts the fact that Fox News is designed to be more “entertainment” than news) was the film Eyes Wide Shut with its costumed orgy and ruthless oligarchs who seem to be part of the ubiquitous “Illuminati.” QAnon-like conspiracy mongers cast the film’s sensual scene as representative of a lavish and wasteful “Surrealist Ball” actually held by a Rothschild heir in 1972 (p. 204). Stanley Kubrick mixed occult and sexual tropes in his 1999 film, but the details and images of the ball didn’t come out until 2010 (p. 206). Indeed, Kubrick’s occult idea was admittedly fabricated by his co-writer, Frederic Raphael (p. 206), and the “Surrealist Ball” did not feature the occult and sexual references (which seem to have shown up in the QAnon Pizzagate theory—another complete fabrication).

Of course, the abuse of such tropes in politics is precisely where this is most damaging. Did you know that one of the founders of the Palestinian Liberation Organization was deeply influenced by, involved in spreading, and participated in dissemination of anti-Jewish propaganda like the fictional Protocols of the Elders of Zion in both pre-war and wartime Nazi Berlin? (p. 210) Did you know that “Jewish Japanese,” an extremely small minority, were singled out for 1990’s gas attacks as a Karmitic Cleansing by Aum Shinrikyo? (p. 222) How about how the GOP became GQP (Gullible QAnon Party) with people like Trump, Mastriano, Blake Masters, O’Reilly, Dobbs, and cult-whisperer (or shouter) Alex Jones stoking the flames that led to bombings (p. 268) and mass murder (p. 269).

On a more positive note, I was pleased that the author closed out the book by sharing how his extended family researched genealogy in trying to find a possible tie to the famous financiers (pp. 272-273). While Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories was not what I expected (though maybe what I should have expected), it was extremely worthwhile.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 224/275 pages cover an extensive span of conspiracy theories within context of history, antisemitism, and people who are willing to literally believe anything without a shred of fact as long as it means that nothing is their own damn fault. The remainder of the book caps with antisemitism in the Trump era, including but not limited to the transition of blame from Rothschilds to George Soros and the targeted violence by those taking these conspiracies as fact and choosing to act on the lies.

The book can absolutely be a bit dry to get through in the beginning, but I encourage you to push through it. As maddening as it is to see how such ridiculous conspiracies can come from the most ridiculous misinterpretations and fabrications, the information is worth it to gain an understanding of how we got to the absolute madness we see proliferating today.

Liberals often mocked the far-right’s tendency to blame Soros for literally anything, while Soros himself either ignored them or pushed back forcefully. But the sheer tonnage of Soros conspiracy theories mixed with the general ramping up of extremism and antisemitism in the West during the time of Trump and Brexit would have serious consequences. They inspired acts of violence and murder, carried out by deranged conspiracy believers utterly convinced that a Hungarian nonagenarian and his antifa horde were to blame for all of the woes of the world—and that something had to be done about it.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am obsessed with conspiracy theories and urban legends, and I normally get to do work presentations on them, but I changed jobs and the future of that is unclear. This year, as the moderator of a presidential debate had to tell a former president that no, Haitian immigrants are not eating pets, it was extremely painful not to be able to present on these topics.

However, I was a guest on a panel about misinformation earlier this week (not on work time) and I read this book in preparation. I did enjoy it, but it did get a little muddled for me (audiobook + lots of names + German names). I’m not sure it answered the perpetual question of how did antisemitism originate, but that expectation was maybe unfair. Antisemitism dates back to at least the Roman Empire, but also if Jews were enslaved in Ancient Egypt, i would say that counts too?

Anyway, Rothschild (no relation to the subject of his book) provides a history of antisemitism’s role in conspiracy theories that have surround the Rothschilds for hundreds of years. As interesting as I found this book, it was also just goddamn depressing to see the same shit just keep cycling through crackpots. It’s infuriating to trace some of these disgusting lies back to times when Jews could basically only do jobs Christians thought were sinful (like changing or lending money). Rothschild’s dry humor helps to make it less hopeless than it could have been.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Audiobook***

I was drawn in by the title...but I finished it in a blitz because of the content. Jewish Space Lasers looks at the history of the Rothschild family in parallel with the myriad conspiracy theories that have existed around and about them. And how they've evolved into modern times with the internet and Alex Jones and his ilk. And hoo boy, there's a lot of conspiracies.

The author carefully walks through the rise of the family and how their success was a driver of Jewish rights across Europe. This was a time of upheaval and people's fear turned towards these "others" who were suddenly visible and powerful. I can understand, on an intellectual level, how that happened and I appreciate the author's care in telling that story.

What I still don't comprehend, even after reading this book, is why these conspiracies have such staying power. It's been hundreds of years and people are still using powerful Jews as their boogeymen. Even when these conspiracies are so illogical it's impossible to parody them. They're self-parodies. It's just...baffling.

The only conclusion I can draw is that anti-semitism runs much deeper and is more entrenched in our global viewpoint that I realize. Perhaps it's because I'm American and anti-semitism has almost always taken a back seat to racism in our national consciousness...but I don't know. It's something I need to sit with and try to understand better.

Overall, good book. Not mind blowing. I learned some things and I even laughed a few times. It's not going to help you understand your conspiracy theorist relatives, but it might help you understand the real world that exists around them.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel to Rothschild's investigation of QAnon and other modern conspiracies that traces the pernicious, antisemitic myths about the Rothschild family back to their origins, and also draws a connection to the perceptions of George Soros and other contemporary figures.

I think a reader's mileage may vary depending on their interests. For the most part, Rothschild keeps the focus relatively narrow in scope, occasionally indulging in a tangent or offering more fulsome analysis on antisemitism in general. While it's necessary, sometimes I found that broader cultural material and critique a little more interesting than the history of the family itself, so for me it dragged at times, feeling most vital when explaining the origin story of the family and then the contemporary conspiracy landscape.

The epilogue of the book felt more poignant knowing about the loss of Mike's mother. The book doesn't exactly end on a positive note, but there is a sort of wistfulness and resolve.

[Jaclyn Gruenbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

An essential read for those interested in understanding the root of antisemitism and history behind so many antisemitic tropes. Deeply intertwined with the Rothschild family (and more recently George Soros) and all of the attached conspiracy theories. The book goes deeper into the family history but I still found it well paced and interesting.

[Ali G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an important book to read and it’s wild how conspiracy theories about the Jews is alive and well still. It’s abhorrent. The downside is it’s boring. This is so boring to read and it’s terrible because I want people to read this, perhaps an audio book would be more helpful

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting

[Sonia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important, methodical, and eminently readable. Equal parts hilarious and terrifying.

[Luesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gateway book for me to understand conspiracy theories and (as he says, in most cases) their antisemitic origins. I thought conspiracy theories were new; this book showed me how old they are (he cited earliest of 900 CE, I think). Many of the biggest conspiracy theories today (i.e., New World Order, Illuminati, etc.) are regurgitated from centuries ago, persisting though the facts have always disproved them.

[Danny Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important read, coulda used more Jewish space lasers.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasnt the irreverant humor that I expected from the cover and cute "no relation" side note. It was quite educational for the actual history of conspiracy theories around the Rothschilds. Note well that it is not a history of the Rothschilds themselves, though there is a bit there. It is the history of the stories told about the Rothschilds. So you'll hear more about the loudmouthed and the gullible, extremists (decidedly not fringe) and those ready to be spoonfed vitriol that blames someone else for things they don't like. The best parts for me were those that traces the early centuries of the family. I also learned about Nazi propaganda in the Middle East that we are still reaping harvest from. Why is that not more front and center?!?!

Overall, there won't be any minds changed here because of the tone and approach. So if you scoff at the crazy conspiracy theories, this is a good place to learn about one specific flavor without having to deal with actual conspiracy theorists.

[Corey James Soper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary history not of the Rothschilds, but of the edifice of conspiracies built up around them, whcih charts the contortions and transmogrifications of half-truths into full blown absurdity, often in a sea of plagiarism and grift. There's some really new territory explored here - the chapter on China is particularaly illuminating in understanding how a conspiracy theory can slip the surly bonds of plausibility as it crosses cultural and national barriers - and yet still soar.

Often funny, it's a useful primer for understanding the appeal and endurance of conspiracism, and some of the roots of the contemporary salience of conspriacist antisemitism.

[N.L. Brisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Alex Jones's book, The Great Reset, which takes readers down the "New World Order" rabbit hole it seemed important to read someone who might get readers out of that endless antisemitic rabbit hole and back on the solid ground of more reasonable levels of paranoia. Mike Rothschild's book Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories was published in 2023. Mike Rothschild tells us that his family is not genetically connected to the wealthy and famous (infamous) Rothschilds.

This well-researched nonfiction book is packed with details and is practically a textbook about the Rothschilds. Mike Rothschild explains that he did try to interview people who are descendants of Mayer Amschel Rothschild. M. Rothschild had a problem though. He was trying to prove a negative, that there was no Rothschild conspiracy to take over the world through control over its financial institutions, that the Rothschilds did not finance both sides of every war, that they did not back both sides in the Civil War, or plot to divide America between Britain and France - that while some Jewish people may have prodigious talents in understanding and profiting from economics and finance, and although they may head many world banking institutions, there is no plot to bring about a "New World Order". (introduction)

His chapter headings show his journey through the evidence he unearthed. Although Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his very successful son, Nathan, left behind very few records, there were many other primary resources to study. Ch. 1 talks about Greedy, Cheap and Blessed: The History of Jewish Money Tropes, Ch.2 covers A Brief History of the Rothschilds, Part 1, 1565-1868. In Ch. 3 we learn about the Waterloo Canard: the Rothschild myth to end all myths, Ch. 4 tells us about The Satan Pamphlet, and Ch. 5 A Brief History, Part 2, 1868-1933. Ch. 6 summarizes Rothschild myths in America and Ch. 7 talks about the Rothschilds during World War II. Ch. 8 is titled Calling all Crackpots: Rothschild Conspiracy Theories in the Postwar World, Ch. 9 covers the "Disinformation Superhighway", Ch. 10 is about the Rothschilds in popular culture, Ch.11 talks about Jewish conspiracy theories around the World, Ch. 12 immerses readers in the most recent sections of the "rabbit hole", Rothschild Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump, and Ch. 13 suggests how George Soros became the Rothschilds of the 21st Century.

Sources covered by Mike Rothschild are varied and he tells us that he is not creating a bibliography to guide our reading. He also tells us that the contents of some of these materials are distasteful and often almost incomprehensible. He is saving us the effort of reading hate-filled ranting. He discusses a 1947 film called Gentlemen's Agreement which he describes as a blunt examination of the banal nature of antisemitism in upper-class America. But this source is mild compared to others. He tells us in some detail about the activities of the poet Ezra Pound. Then we learn about Pound's acolyte, Eustace Mullins (born in 1923) Mullins wrote The Secrets of the Federal Reserve which was finally published with that title in 1983. He wrote a pamphlet entitled, Adolf Hitler: An Appreciation, and another called The Biological Jew, Murder by Injection: The Medical Conspiracy Against America. Mullins," says the author, "bridged the gap between Pound and Alex Jones."

In fact, Alex Jones called Mullins "the great-grandfather of the movement against the Federal Reserve and the New World Order." (p. 145) Mullins did not die until 2010. Glenn Beck promoted the Secrets of the Federal Reserve in 2010 "to attack the Fed, George Soros, and Obama-era monetary policy."

M. Rothschild cites Willis Carto who published a newsletter called The Liberty Letter. He was a Holocaust denier. He attacked "all manner of Rothschilds, Rockefellers, and Communists and Carter, and Bankers, and Rich People and the Trilateral Commission." (p. 146) Mike cites Conde McGinley in 1947 - 1972 writing a publication titled Common Sense. In a 1970 issue, Mike tells us, McGinley wrote about “Rothschild Bank Syndrome” as "the cause of all modern woes" - "Rothschild banks have financed both sides of every war." McGinley's publications were made possible through the Christian Education Association. All modern sources harken back to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion which came out of the antisemitism of Tsarist Russia in 1900.

"To understand Kanye West ranting on Alex Jones's show about how great Hitler was requires understanding the influence of that John Birch Society speechwriter Gary Allen's 1971 book, None Dare Call It Conspiracy, had on Jones, an effect which he has spoken of many times. Allen's book, which sold millions of copies by attacking Jewish 'insiders' like the Rothschilds, was inspired in part by Secrets of the Federal Reserve (xv) which can be traced back to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

Of course, the most titillating bits of the book are in the last chapters. In chapter 12 Donald Trump enters the arena. M. Rothschild tells the story like this. "The Tea Party movement exploded in the US during Obama's first term, fueled by conservative terror over imaginary wealth confiscation and the looming specter of Marxist control and/or martial law."... "Patriotism-tinged allegations of Jewish/New World Order/Communist/Leftist domination were nothing new," the author goes on to say. (p. 223) ... "But one American celebrity, mulling over the idea of throwing his considerable cultural and financial weight into politics was paying attention... He noticed the power and appeal of the movement’s unhinged conspiracy theories, vague accusations of a global super-government, and 'us versus them' rhetoric when they were unleashed by radio talkers and blogs on disaffected Republicans angry about the Black president with a foreign-sounding name. And Donald Trump wanted in." (p. 226) Next chapter, George Soros.

Here is the reason the Rothschilds gave for not agreeing to be interviewed by Mr. Mike (who is not from ‘those’ Rothschilds). The Rothschilds declined because they would be forced "to do something that essentially can't be done, which is prove a negative. They would have to prove that they don't have $500 trillion, that they didn't conspire to use the Civil War to divide the United States between Britain and France, or that they didn't sell their Austrian hunting lodge in a rush because QAnon found out they hunted humans for sport there." They go on to say that "[t]he accusers won't believe them anyway." (p. xvii)

Will the accusers believe Mike Rothschild? Although he makes a strong case that these theories are "unhinged," and he uses sarcasm and innuendo to embarrass those who at least pretend to be convinced by the persistence of the conspiracy theories and by their admiration for their fellow believers (perhaps a mutual admiration society), this detailed discussion may not change the minds of the convinced or of those who have become wealthy through keeping these conspiracy theories and the antisemitism they give credence to alive.

"For many Jews," says Mike Rothschild, "the Rothschilds have been a beacon of hope in dark times, a reminder that anything is possible with unity and a steadfast devotion to family and tradition."

"Any minority with its own language, customs, clothing, and culture is bound to be resented by the majority. But historically only Jews have found outsized professional success through that majority - loaning it money, managing its finances, settling its legal disputes, entertaining it, and the like. And they've suffered outsized resentment because of that success. Antisemitism and Jewish wealth are bound up in each other, and Jewish success is at the core of the conspiracy theories about them."

Good job, Mike Rothschild in collecting all this information in one book, for making us think about where we stand on a set of conspiracy theories that has lasted for centuries. We do think it is quite possible that the wealthy tip the global scales towards policies they favor, but we do not all necessarily think that this is a strictly Jewish endeavor. Sometimes people who are trying to commit an unethical cultural act project the blame onto others to detract from what they are trying to do. Perhaps in our times, the right-wing in American politics wants to become the New World Order and the world's central bankers and they think that blaming the Jewish people is convenient because of the long history of this particularly paranoid antisemitic conspiracy trope. If the Jewish people were/are so talented it seems that they would have taken over everything long ago. If they already have taken over, we might expect the world to be running a bit more smoothly than it is.

Disclaimer: I had just finished this book when Hamas attacked Israel and it is perhaps not the best time to discuss the materials covered in this book. However, the conspiracy theories about the Rothschilds are not directly connected to the current atrocities. This discussion has far more relevance to the diaspora than it does to the existence of a Jewish state or a Palestinian state except to say that for people who were exiled and who belonged to new nations only temporarily, the talents of Jews seem even more amazing and perhaps resulted from their dispossession, their lack of aggression, and their steadfast cohesion as a group.
Visit my book blog: https://nbrissonbookblog.com

[Mandi Kurth · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I just learn?! I had 0 knowledge of the Rothschild before reading this book. The conspiracies around this one family is absolutely wild. Alex Jones… we already knew he was “special” but dang! I don’t think I can formulate a direct thought right now

[Mechelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was bananas.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5

I’ve heard vaguely coded antisemitism my whole life, but wow was this a deep dive into how deeply antisemitism has been engrained in our culture such that only the truly egregious gets a call out.

Part history book, part dark comedy, Jewish Space Lasers follows one the longest running conspiracy theories in history: the Rothschilds. Along the way he goes into how and why each culture has clung to this conspiracy theory to explain everything from the outcomes of wars to the gold standard to why someone’s career never took off. The scope of this conspiracy theory is so vast, confusing, and intertwined with other conspiracy theories, that it’s on the one hand hard to comprehend and on the other you can see why it’s so alluring. It’s as if the entirety of western civilization’s ills can be drilled down to a singular family, which is slightly comforting to people with metallic headwear needing a more understandable worldview - no matter how far fetched.

If you’re looking for a conversation starter for your great uncle Jerry that will surely devolve, this is the book for you. If you’re just interested in how deeply seeded antisemitism is in our world and get a glimpse into how people are currently attempting to follow the same path to justify the destruction of the Jewish people, this book is a very educational, though deeply distressing, read.

[Tarek Ahmed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know if I can even finish this thing. I loved his first book The Storm is Upon Us, but this is just a punishing slog. I usually give a book 50 pages, but I’m at almost 200 and it just hasn’t gotten engaging. He rehashes the same things like Waterloo continuously, this book is just a history of the Rothschilds. I was hoping it would be a deeper dive into pre QAnon conspiracies but it’s literally just the Rothschilds. I’m honestly angry I’ve gotten 2/3’s of the way through this book and it hasn’t gotten any better. I’m literally going to return this.

[Dyslexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewish Space Lasers is an excellent dissection of harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories surrounding Jewish individuals. While I was aware of these myths and conspiracies, I never truly understood their origins or why they persisted. Mike employs a systematic, evidence-based approach to unravel the misconceptions about the Rothschild family's history. For centuries, they have been unjustly used as scapegoats. This book offers valuable insights into the subject.