Những Hội kín Tàn bạo nhất Lịch sử

by Shelley Klein, Lưu Mạnh Hùng (Translator)

Secret organizations have existed in one form or another throughout history, but in the modern world, where television, the Internet and instant communications worldwide have exposed so many hitherto impenetrable networks, the mysterious nature of sects that set themselves apart from normal society holds a special fascination. How have such secret institutes affected our world in the past? What influence do they have on our everyday lives today? Why, indeed, do they exist at all?

Many of the secret societies functioning today are of a benign, even charitable nature but some, with roots that may stretch back many centuries, seek the power to fulfill ambitions that could change our way of life for ever. Others have strong and widespread links to organized crime around the world. Their policies and plans that revolve around hatred, violence, murder, political intrigue, sex and magic rituals make their activities profoundly disturbing, and their corruption, barbarism and brutality have led to some of the most heinous crimes ever committed.

The Most Evil Secret Societies In History examines fifteen of the most notorious groups the world has ever seen, from the Hashishim killers in the Middle East at the time of the Crusades, who gave their name to the word 'assassin', to the Solar Temple international suicide sect of the 1990s. One secret society which has gained a unique notoriety in recent years is the Illuminati. The name has been adopted by a number of coteries over the centuries, the last of which is thought to have died out in the eighteenth century, although some conspiracy theorists continue to blame the Illuminati for having influenced almost every major world event, from the French Revolution to the 9/11 atrocities.

While the continued existence of the Illuminati remains a subject of debate, other secret associations, such as the American Ku Klux Klan, continue to cast their shadow over civilization, pursuing an agenda that runs contrary to the beliefs of the majority of the population and proving that, even in the twenty-first century, clandestine organizations are still at work in our midst.

Shelley Klein is a freelance editor, compiler and writer. Her previous works include The Wicked Wit of Charles Dickens and Stufflebeem, Brockway and Sturt: The Origins of Our Surnames (both 2002), The Most Evil Women In History (2003) and The Most Evil Dictators In History (2004).

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime, Conspiracy Theories, Occult, Crime

235 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2005

Reviews

[Red Haircrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways, "The Most Evil Secret Societies in History" didn't seem like a book written by Shelley Klein, but rather edited by this author instead, for it's mostly a collection of news stories, documentary information and the like.

Some areas were fascinating, as it reminded me of material I'd read on the subjects in the past, but some were just too vague for the seriousness of the groups considered. Overall, to me it read like a brief, coffee table type book, easily picked up and just as easily put down. Nothing really thought-provoking for me, or maybe it was just a "stepping stone" book to whet the appetite of the reader for more comprehensively penned non-fiction.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

As noted by the author, many are attracted to uncovering ostensible secrets and this book tries to expose some of the more notorious secret societies, not all of which are as evil as the title suggests. Unfortunately, the essays within are sketchy and not well vetted. That on the Illuminati, for instance, relies almost entirely on early, quite dubious and quite negative sources. All in all, a sometimes fascinating, but often disappointing expose.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another limited intellect diving into the business of sensationalism.

What does evil mean? Evil meaning the enslavement of humanity? That is the Communist Party. And it's not there. Evil meaning they say they are evil? Nope, nobody assumes themselves as evil unless they have a particularly troubled mind. So evil is just a popular concept, a word to label the much longer "we do not like these guys or their ideas". Outsiders.

How do you quantify evil? Even if evil could be set into a clear definition, something way above the brain power of the author, it still remains a subjective term. How can one state "the most"?

Actually it's a blend of newspaper cuts of clubs that were not even secret.

[Victoria Whited · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shelley Klein's book is divided into 15 chapters and in each chapter, Klein focused on one secret society she herself deemed "evil." While some societies can definitely be considered evil (such as the KKK), others seem a bit out of place. For example, the chapter on the Mau Mau reminded me, in some ways, of America's Sons of Liberty in the sense that both organizations wanted to free their prospective countries from British colonization and oftentimes resorted to violence. While the Mau Mau made it into Klein's book, the Sons of Liberty did not; therefore, I am left to believe Klein's work is a bit ethnocentric and unfair. As an American, I wouldn't classify the Sons of Liberty as evil and that makes me wonder if the majority of Kenyans wouldn't classify the Mau Mau as evil either. Klein's work is okay if you are looking to gain some basic info about various societies around the world, but if you are interested in just one society, I recommend reading something else.

[Graeme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you already somewhat informed? If so don't bother with this daft pile of dead trees.
Shelley thinks that there is "absolutely no evidence to suggest that the (formerly Bavarian Illuminati - you know French, Russian, Zionism and future World Revolution) have reformed or that they have in any way succeeded in their plan."
Wow, just wow. She mentioned the French Revolution only a paragraph or two earlier.
I am 2 large print pages into the introduction today Fri 30/8/19 and will be back to ammend this review as soon as I find something in these pages to halt the ridicule I currently associate with Ms Klein and her book.

[Ulrikke · Rating 1 out of 5]

what is so important to understand is why people was joining this societies, what make them evil. Meaning, I was hoping to read about what was the believes, social function etc behind this society. I was more then disappointed about this book.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

You may as well read the Wikipedia articles on the groups mentioned in this book. At least those are edited better.

[Catherine F · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first four essays (since I wanted to give this book a proper try) but I’m honestly not impressed. The research is shallow to non existent, and this pseudo-intellectual book depends more on satanic panic style fear-mongering than actual research. Her piece on traditional African helping practices which she insists includes human sacrifice (a dubious claim she makes without any convincing evidence beyond “a child was found murdered and butchered, police conclude child sacrifice”) reeks of racism and ethnocentrism.

If you’re interested in cults and other malicious social groups I’m sure you can find a better researched, more analytical, and less pearl-clenching book that focus on education and research over sensationalism and racist tropes to scratch that itch. I would classify this as a bathroom reader at best, full of junky claims and little substance, easily digested and more easily forgotten. Not worth the paper it’s printed on; Save your money for something worthwhile.

[Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is an excellent book for anyone who wants to start to dive into the research of secretive communities. It got a nice point on the diversity. However, I felt that the author fell on lackluster on giving basic information as an introduction to the communities and poured more of their narrative interpretations.

I only can recommend to anyone to use this as a book for anyone who has no ideas where to start in their research.

[Brady Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much detail. But often more detail than I wanted to read. Don't think I'll be reading books like this again.

Reading about the Hell Fire club, Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes, is interesting, but the rest of the groups were just too much .

[Shon Ellerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read covering some of the world’s most notorious secret societies. No less than fifteen societies (listed below) are written about in a book with less than three hundred pages, and yet, it provides a good insight about each one. Some of these I’ve never heard of before and some are downright strange. The Thule Society, in which a strange white supremacist cult believes they originated from some weird fictitious island somewhere near Iceland. The Socialist Patients Collective, who seem to be one of those lefty German disruptive groups associated with Antifa. And the Muti, who seem to have a predilection in importing fresh bits of human meat from Africa. And many more.
The list of cults and societies not covered in the book are those which are deemed as religious, which there are so many of. For example, Branch Davidians (the Waco incident), Jehovah’s Witnesses and Scientology are not included in this book.

A worthwhile read for those interested in these clandestine societies. I enjoyed it.

[Cäroly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Põgus ülevaade tuntud ja vähemtuntumatest salaühingutest. Iga organisatsiooni kohta on ca 10 lk teksti koos piltidega.
Kuigi mitme (sala)ühingu lood olid väga põnevalt edastatud ja neid oli ladus lugeda, siis oli ka neid, mille sisu oli detailiderohke kuid organisatsiooni põhipoint jäi arusaamatuks.
Esines ka mõningaid kaheldava väärtusega fakte, mida tasuks üle kontrollida.

[Dennis Lorence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly Pedestrian intro to some of the worlds more well known cults and a good bathroom read.

[Rob G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda scares me to think about how much grouped evil there has been in the world.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very spotty. Almost all research is obviously secondary sources. The inclusion of the Argentum Astrum alongside groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Aum Shinrikyo is ludicrous.

[Jane Jimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy, but still an interesting read.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's sensational and it serves as a good sort of intro primer for secret societies to then study further independently.

[Velvetink]

tuebl

[1chenlasay · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Steve Clark]

Edition: First Edition