Going Mainstream: Why extreme ideas are spreading, and what we can do about it

by Julia Ebner

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2024

About the author

Julia Ebner, geboren 1991 in Wien, forscht am Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London zu Online-Extremismus. Sie arbeitet mit zahlreichen Regierungsorganisationen und Polizeiorganen zusammen, sie ist Online-Extremismus-Beraterin der UN, NATO und der Weltbank. Sie schreibt regelmäßig für den Guardian und die Süddeutsche Zeitung, war unter anderem bei Markus Lanz, den Tagesthemen und dem heute-journal zur Gast. Ihr Buch Wut. Was Islamisten und Rechtsextreme mit uns machen war ein SPIEGEL-Bestseller.

Reviews

[David Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I’ve read too many articles about this kinda thing but I felt like the book didn’t bring anything new to the topic? It was a lot of quoting studies which the results are already quite known/unsurprising. The author included some first-hand research but it felt a bit lacklustre. For example, she joins a climate change denier conference, has a meal with some of them, shockingly learns that some of them are racist, then gets booted out. It’s not exactly as in-depth / all access as a Theroux doc.

The writing was fine though, and I didn’t get to the bit where she explains what to actually do with these extremist ideas so maybe that redeemed it a bit!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfortunately felt outdated already (which is terrifying)

[emma :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

bizar boek. eng hoe mensen denken

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well researched book.

[R. M.]

A series of quick dives into various subgroups of far-right groups, particularly Q-Anon and Trump supporters.

In a lot of ways, Going Mainstream reiterates what is already a common observation of such groups; that they're interconnected echo chambers of disinformation and double-think. It doesn't bring anything new to the discussion, and while there are plenty of anecdotes and interviews, there isn't much analysis beyond "This group exists, and this person from said group said this".

However, the book shows the various ways the groups network, and the ways those networks interconnect to deep end the echo chamber. An example I found interesting was that the author was removed from an event she'd paid to attend, being told there was "no need to cause trouble", despite having attended the first day of the event without any trouble unfolding.

For me, Going Mainstream is only scratching the surface of the new reality of the new right, but with its stories and interviews with their direct quotes, I think it's a mostly digestible - aside from some choice quotes from group members - book for first approaching the issue.

[Amy Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read and I loved the going undercover element but found it quite surface level and repetitive at times

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, enlightening and thought provoking but somewhat depressing. Also like many of these books the what to do about it is on the light side and contains very little “how”.