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Clown World: Four Years inside Andrew Tate's Manosphere
'This gripping book is destined to become THE book about Andrew Tate' Jon Ronson
'This is the behind the scenes investigation of the world's most famous misogynist (and one of the most famous people) on the internet . . . A fascinating insight into the power of his cult of personality and the dangerous tactics used to silence his critics' Esquire
In 2022, Andrew Tate went from a little-known kickboxer and failed reality TV star to a lifestyle icon for legions of men and boys, and a figure that would define a new era of misogyny. Tate started the year as a fringe internet celebrity, but by August he was the most googled man in the world. In that same month, Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin gained access to his Bucharest compound and infamous War Room, making a documentary that would result in the first women coming forward to accuse him publicly of sexual and physical violence. Tate would end the year in a Romanian jail, facing charges of human trafficking, rape and being part of an organised crime group. But the investigations wouldn't stop there.
Part Gonzo journalism, part masculinity rabbit hole, this book takes you on Shea and Tahsin's journey to reveal the dark secrets of Andrew Tate, the machine that brought him here, and the ideology he has unleashed on a generation of young men.
'A fascinating and disturbing investigation' Ian Hislop
'A sobering, strange and eye-opening look into the toxic manosphere. It should be required reading for anybody worried about the rise of incel culture and Andrew Tate' Zing Tsjeng
'Rarely have I read anything so politically important that's also so gripping' Zoe Williams
'This is the behind the scenes investigation of the world's most famous misogynist (and one of the most famous people) on the internet . . . A fascinating insight into the power of his cult of personality and the dangerous tactics used to silence his critics' Esquire
In 2022, Andrew Tate went from a little-known kickboxer and failed reality TV star to a lifestyle icon for legions of men and boys, and a figure that would define a new era of misogyny. Tate started the year as a fringe internet celebrity, but by August he was the most googled man in the world. In that same month, Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin gained access to his Bucharest compound and infamous War Room, making a documentary that would result in the first women coming forward to accuse him publicly of sexual and physical violence. Tate would end the year in a Romanian jail, facing charges of human trafficking, rape and being part of an organised crime group. But the investigations wouldn't stop there.
Part Gonzo journalism, part masculinity rabbit hole, this book takes you on Shea and Tahsin's journey to reveal the dark secrets of Andrew Tate, the machine that brought him here, and the ideology he has unleashed on a generation of young men.
'A fascinating and disturbing investigation' Ian Hislop
'A sobering, strange and eye-opening look into the toxic manosphere. It should be required reading for anybody worried about the rise of incel culture and Andrew Tate' Zing Tsjeng
'Rarely have I read anything so politically important that's also so gripping' Zoe Williams
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First published October 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 16, 2024
ARC for review. To be published September 26, 2024.
Somehow I missed a lot of the press surrounding the absolutely loathsome Andrew Tate…was he big during COVID? I was aware of him, but not too in the know, so I was interested in reading this book by two “Vice” documentarians who took an incredibly deep dive into his mad world. To call Tate a piece of shit is an insult to excrement, but I found the book quite interesting.
If you don’t know Andrew Tate is a noxious failed reality show star turned misogynistic online “lifestyle” icon turned organized crime figure. So you can’t say the boy hasn’t lived a full life, right?
Authors Tansin and Shea really put it on the line, especially Shea, God bless him. They agree to participate in some of Tate’s madness in order to uncover the full story of this monster and brother Tristan, along with their motley crew of male and female accomplices and those misguided souls who thing Tate is the greatest…and one thing you have to give the Tates is that are pretty good at marketing.
The Tate brothers preyed on the insecurity of young males, an insecurity that they likely shared given that their father was one of the only African American chess masters, and also authoritarian and very right wing.
In discussing the influence of the Tates the authors note “a common misconception is the idea the people are crueler on the internet because there is no face to face interaction to dissuade them.” This is known as mismatch theory. However some political scientists have tested this supposition and found no evidence that mismatch theory is true, instead finding “‘political hostility reflects a deliberate strategy among individuals with particular personality traits’ particularly ‘aggressive bullies seeking to gain status.’l
In other depressing news a recent “Financial Times” poll found that Gen Z isn’t necessarily more progressive. Well, the women are, the men are more conservative. This is the attitude that gives rise to incels and MGTOW, as well as providing fertile ground for someone like Andrew Tate to sow young men who want to degrade women.
So there you go. Oh, and as an added bonus, you’ll come away from this hating Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk far more than you already do, especially Carlson, who went to the Tates’ compound for a happy happy interview AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INDICTED.
So the subjects are vile, but the book, quite good. Recommended.
Somehow I missed a lot of the press surrounding the absolutely loathsome Andrew Tate…was he big during COVID? I was aware of him, but not too in the know, so I was interested in reading this book by two “Vice” documentarians who took an incredibly deep dive into his mad world. To call Tate a piece of shit is an insult to excrement, but I found the book quite interesting.
If you don’t know Andrew Tate is a noxious failed reality show star turned misogynistic online “lifestyle” icon turned organized crime figure. So you can’t say the boy hasn’t lived a full life, right?
Authors Tansin and Shea really put it on the line, especially Shea, God bless him. They agree to participate in some of Tate’s madness in order to uncover the full story of this monster and brother Tristan, along with their motley crew of male and female accomplices and those misguided souls who thing Tate is the greatest…and one thing you have to give the Tates is that are pretty good at marketing.
The Tate brothers preyed on the insecurity of young males, an insecurity that they likely shared given that their father was one of the only African American chess masters, and also authoritarian and very right wing.
In discussing the influence of the Tates the authors note “a common misconception is the idea the people are crueler on the internet because there is no face to face interaction to dissuade them.” This is known as mismatch theory. However some political scientists have tested this supposition and found no evidence that mismatch theory is true, instead finding “‘political hostility reflects a deliberate strategy among individuals with particular personality traits’ particularly ‘aggressive bullies seeking to gain status.’l
In other depressing news a recent “Financial Times” poll found that Gen Z isn’t necessarily more progressive. Well, the women are, the men are more conservative. This is the attitude that gives rise to incels and MGTOW, as well as providing fertile ground for someone like Andrew Tate to sow young men who want to degrade women.
So there you go. Oh, and as an added bonus, you’ll come away from this hating Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk far more than you already do, especially Carlson, who went to the Tates’ compound for a happy happy interview AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INDICTED.
So the subjects are vile, but the book, quite good. Recommended.
October 1, 2024
A brilliant if disturbing read that gives voice to the Tate’s victims and opens an important discussion on masculinity.
December 17, 2024
'Clown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate's Manosphere', by Jamie Tahsin and Matt Shea, is a gripping read.
It went from silly to repulsive real quick.
Andrew Tate needs no introduction.
With the help of social media and algorithms, this controversial figure gained fame and a terrifyingly huge following in a very short amount of time.
Being charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women didn't hurt his follower count.
In fact, the opposite happened; the day he was charged, hundreds of thousands of users decided to follow Tate.
'Clown World' is a book about Andrew Tate, his entourage, and the brave victims who share their stories.
It went from silly to repulsive real quick.
Andrew Tate needs no introduction.
With the help of social media and algorithms, this controversial figure gained fame and a terrifyingly huge following in a very short amount of time.
Being charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women didn't hurt his follower count.
In fact, the opposite happened; the day he was charged, hundreds of thousands of users decided to follow Tate.
'Clown World' is a book about Andrew Tate, his entourage, and the brave victims who share their stories.
May 16, 2025
Didn't like this as much as I thought it would. Being a genuine, quasi-undercover investigation into this weird fight-club thing Tate has going on, it felt more poisoned by the very people it was seeking to expose. I much preferred Laura Bates' Men Who Hate Women with its more intellectual if not quite as close and personal tacking of the same subject. Here, having to become immersed in this weird and toxic culture of lost twenty-first-century men, it becomes a little too unpleasant. Of course, this was just the point the writers were trying to achieve. But I don't know, man ... I just found it depressing. It really hit home, both how out of touch I am with the new world and its online TikTok influencer stuff, and also what a fucked up world my own two precious boys will sooner or later be exposed to.
May 7, 2025
Głęboko niepokojący ale wciągający wgląd za kulisy imperium Andrew Tate’a. Szkoda, że reportaż nie jest dłuższy i nie wszystkie obszary zostały wystarczająco zinfiltrowane. Nie mniej - warto.
May 21, 2026
Has put me in a bad mood for like 2 weeks but such an enlightening read - delves deeper into the rise of the manosphere which spoiler alert goes way deeper than Andrew Tate and also gives voice to female victims of Tate’s which I feel like we don’t see much in media covering this issue
April 29, 2025
An investigative exposé that chronicles the authors’ four-year journey infiltrating Andrew Tate’s inner circle, revealing how a failed reality TV star evolved into a prominent influencer accused of serious crimes. The book delves into the mechanisms behind Tate’s rise, examining the exploitation of social media algorithms, the propagation of misogynistic ideologies, and the impact on a generation of young men. 
This is a powerful, anger-inducing read because it exposes the insidious rise of misogyny and exploitation masked as empowerment in the digital age, showing how easily harmful ideologies can almost become embedded in mainstream culture. I also think it a necessary read as it truly helps understand the real-world consequences of online radicalisation and the urgency of confronting it.
Prepare to be angered though!
This is a powerful, anger-inducing read because it exposes the insidious rise of misogyny and exploitation masked as empowerment in the digital age, showing how easily harmful ideologies can almost become embedded in mainstream culture. I also think it a necessary read as it truly helps understand the real-world consequences of online radicalisation and the urgency of confronting it.
Prepare to be angered though!
October 3, 2024
Back in 2019 I watched a youtube video in which a youtube personality (whose name I unfortunately cannot remember) went over the online course that was offered by an online pick-up-artist, Andrew Tate. I had never heard this name, but I was sure to never forget it. I remember vividly the shock I felt whilst watching. There, in broad daylight, he was advertising a course from which men could learn how to traffic women! It was so audacious that I felt as though it couldn't be real. Because if it was real, surely he couldn't get away with bragging about committing such a heinous crime. Because if he did get away with it, what would it say about our justice system?
And I watched as for years, he gained fame and a terrifyingly huge following. Even now, a charged man who should be shunned like other prominent large-scale sex offenders have been, is consistently backed up by an army of trolls and followers. If the numbers mentioned in this book are true, one could speak of hundreds, if not thousands of victims of trafficking, committed by Andrew Tate and his "students" (cult members). In what seems to be only a (masterful) first glimpse into a deep and dark web of crime the Tate brothers are involved in, I see hope that one day their victims will receive the justice they so very much deserve.
And I watched as for years, he gained fame and a terrifyingly huge following. Even now, a charged man who should be shunned like other prominent large-scale sex offenders have been, is consistently backed up by an army of trolls and followers. If the numbers mentioned in this book are true, one could speak of hundreds, if not thousands of victims of trafficking, committed by Andrew Tate and his "students" (cult members). In what seems to be only a (masterful) first glimpse into a deep and dark web of crime the Tate brothers are involved in, I see hope that one day their victims will receive the justice they so very much deserve.
October 26, 2026
Oamenii cred că Generația Z este progresistă, dar, în multe privințe, este cea mai antifeministă generație din istoria modernă.
Pe 26 ianuarie 2024, reporterul de la Financial Times, John Burn-Murdoch, a publicat un studiu care a devenit imediat viral. Acesta arată că, în multe țări din lume, apăruse o diviziune ideologică fără precedent. Tinerele deveneau mai progresiste, iar tinerii, mai conservatori. "Generația Z cuprinde două generații, nu una", a scris Burn-Murdoch.
Bărbații sub 30 de ani se simt cei mai "amenințați" de progresele înregistrate în domeniul care se concentrează pe drepturile femeilor. 52% din Generația Z crede că am ajuns atât de departe cu promovarea egalității de gen, încât discriminăm bărbații. Chiar și după ce acuzațiile împotriva sa au fost făcute publice, Tate rămâne extrem de popular printre tineri.
Pentru a înțelege ura tot mai mare față de femei și modul în care aceasta poate să se impună în mintea tinerilor care îl urmează pe Tate, ar fi o greșeală să credem că filozofia sa se rezumă doar la un punct de vedere politic bazat pe valori culturale sau la care s-a ajuns printr-o gândire rațională. Deși găsesc tot felul de exemple care să le justifice misoginismul - precum rolurile tradiționale de gen ale extremei drepte americane sau formele extremiste ale islamului -, acești bărbați ajung adesea să aibă o astfel de atitudine față de femei din cauza durerii provocate de respingere și a îndoielii de sine.
Tate și fanii săi au amplificat nesiguranța masculină la cote periculoase.
Pe 26 ianuarie 2024, reporterul de la Financial Times, John Burn-Murdoch, a publicat un studiu care a devenit imediat viral. Acesta arată că, în multe țări din lume, apăruse o diviziune ideologică fără precedent. Tinerele deveneau mai progresiste, iar tinerii, mai conservatori. "Generația Z cuprinde două generații, nu una", a scris Burn-Murdoch.
Bărbații sub 30 de ani se simt cei mai "amenințați" de progresele înregistrate în domeniul care se concentrează pe drepturile femeilor. 52% din Generația Z crede că am ajuns atât de departe cu promovarea egalității de gen, încât discriminăm bărbații. Chiar și după ce acuzațiile împotriva sa au fost făcute publice, Tate rămâne extrem de popular printre tineri.
Pentru a înțelege ura tot mai mare față de femei și modul în care aceasta poate să se impună în mintea tinerilor care îl urmează pe Tate, ar fi o greșeală să credem că filozofia sa se rezumă doar la un punct de vedere politic bazat pe valori culturale sau la care s-a ajuns printr-o gândire rațională. Deși găsesc tot felul de exemple care să le justifice misoginismul - precum rolurile tradiționale de gen ale extremei drepte americane sau formele extremiste ale islamului -, acești bărbați ajung adesea să aibă o astfel de atitudine față de femei din cauza durerii provocate de respingere și a îndoielii de sine.
Tate și fanii săi au amplificat nesiguranța masculină la cote periculoase.
March 27, 2025
A very well researched account of the time the authors, two Vice journalists, entered into Andrew Tate's "manosphere", went through his "test", saw into the "war room" and interviewed Tate himself. They also interviewed some of his rape victims.
What this book ends up being is an utterly readable, interesting, fascinating and ultimately pretty scary account of a cult.
What strikes me most after reading it is, aside from how evil Tate, his brother and many people at the top of the "manosphere" are, the whole thing is incredibly cringe. How have these young men following him not realised what a total loser he is? It's all so embarrassing, but they think he's awesome. I just don't get it. But it makes sense why he gets them young as I can't imagine any self-respecting adults thinking his self-aggrandizing behaviour is cool. Then again, Trump got into power so perhaps that's not the case.
What a fabulous book though, and very important. If you know anyone on the edge of falling into the Tate pit, get them to read this book. If they're already in then it's probably too late.
5 stars.
What this book ends up being is an utterly readable, interesting, fascinating and ultimately pretty scary account of a cult.
What strikes me most after reading it is, aside from how evil Tate, his brother and many people at the top of the "manosphere" are, the whole thing is incredibly cringe. How have these young men following him not realised what a total loser he is? It's all so embarrassing, but they think he's awesome. I just don't get it. But it makes sense why he gets them young as I can't imagine any self-respecting adults thinking his self-aggrandizing behaviour is cool. Then again, Trump got into power so perhaps that's not the case.
What a fabulous book though, and very important. If you know anyone on the edge of falling into the Tate pit, get them to read this book. If they're already in then it's probably too late.
5 stars.
February 6, 2026
I couldn’t help while listening to this book think about Fight Club and the allurement of Tyler Durden. Tyler Durden and Andrew Tate have major philosophical differences and desires, but both are able to influence men in a way in which they preach self-improvement, taking control of one’s life, and rejecting societal norms. Tate knows how to appeal to these lone wolf men that feel like they have no control over anything and feel disrespected. They are easy targets to profit off of.
This book dives deep into that when two journalists are able to infiltrate Tate’s “War Room.” This is by far the most interesting part of the book where one of the journalists literally has to fight a professional mma fighter to get into Tate’s War Room and be considered an elite member. It’s just like Fight Club when Tyler makes people wait outside the porch for three days to get into Project Mayhem.
Both journalists also do a great job of going through many details about Tate’s life and everything he stands accused of (which is quite the list). This book is very much worth the read since it’s intriguing and just makes a reader wonder who’s going to be the next Andrew Tate that attempts to radicalize men and profit off of them. At the end of the day, it’s all about money and status to Tate. He’s a figure that will sometimes say some interesting things but also blatant bs and misogynistic takes. I often wondered if he was just playing a character but the book seems to say yes and no to that.
This book dives deep into that when two journalists are able to infiltrate Tate’s “War Room.” This is by far the most interesting part of the book where one of the journalists literally has to fight a professional mma fighter to get into Tate’s War Room and be considered an elite member. It’s just like Fight Club when Tyler makes people wait outside the porch for three days to get into Project Mayhem.
Both journalists also do a great job of going through many details about Tate’s life and everything he stands accused of (which is quite the list). This book is very much worth the read since it’s intriguing and just makes a reader wonder who’s going to be the next Andrew Tate that attempts to radicalize men and profit off of them. At the end of the day, it’s all about money and status to Tate. He’s a figure that will sometimes say some interesting things but also blatant bs and misogynistic takes. I often wondered if he was just playing a character but the book seems to say yes and no to that.
January 21, 2025
I'm glad this was written, and it's a MAJOR topic, but just UGH.
Andrew Tate is a (presumably charismatic) ARSE. His followers are saps who believe and fund his pyramid scheme to get "women, money, cars etc". It's a nasty, pathetic world and would be simply embarrassing, if he wasn't apparently a guru to a significant number of teenaged boys and young men, who are so lost they actually think his way is the path to "enlightenment" (aka financial, sexual gain) of some kind.
Equally sad are the young women who fall for his patter (or those of his acolytes) and end up being exploited via Webcam work or on Onlyfans accounts. What kind of world have we created, where these horrible lives are apparently viable options?
Andrew Tate is a (presumably charismatic) ARSE. His followers are saps who believe and fund his pyramid scheme to get "women, money, cars etc". It's a nasty, pathetic world and would be simply embarrassing, if he wasn't apparently a guru to a significant number of teenaged boys and young men, who are so lost they actually think his way is the path to "enlightenment" (aka financial, sexual gain) of some kind.
Equally sad are the young women who fall for his patter (or those of his acolytes) and end up being exploited via Webcam work or on Onlyfans accounts. What kind of world have we created, where these horrible lives are apparently viable options?
January 31, 2025
An exploration of ‘Tateism’, the ‘Manosphere’ and the misogyny and violence within it. A lot is covered here, from ideology and cults, the trafficking of women, the far right influence, hustle culture and the dangers of social media. Men’s insecurities are reaching dangerous levels and the divide between men and women only grows, it’s really sad.
Andrew and his brother are the results of narcissistic parentage. A perfect storm.
“Radicalisation of young men doesn’t just happen because they ‘like viewing misogynistic content online’ it happens because algorithms are extremely easily manipulated.”
Andrew and his brother are the results of narcissistic parentage. A perfect storm.
“Radicalisation of young men doesn’t just happen because they ‘like viewing misogynistic content online’ it happens because algorithms are extremely easily manipulated.”
February 28, 2026
It’s a great book but now I’m sick to my stomach. I knew about Tate, enough to know it’s bad, but I never had the whole context. I really think it’s an important read especially for those who think feminism is not necessary or those who misinterpret what feminism is. This whole story is reason enough for the necessity of feminism
February 8, 2025
Predictably maddening, but a really interesting insight into the Tates and the people around them. The writing is digestible and I was genuinely hooked on reading more about Jamie and Matt's experiences in tracking Tate and exposing the very real crimes he is responsible for.
April 27, 2025
2.5 stars
Despite the subject matter being of interest to me, I found this book to be very dull.
It also felt very drawn out and not well written.
Also it didn't reveal anything that hadn't already been published elsewhere.
Despite the subject matter being of interest to me, I found this book to be very dull.
It also felt very drawn out and not well written.
Also it didn't reveal anything that hadn't already been published elsewhere.
November 14, 2024
Very gripping and goes deep. Worth a read even if you've already seen the documentary
March 27, 2025
Sadly, this is probably essential reading/listening at the moment.
June 1, 2025
#flopG
July 16, 2026
I fear for humanity!
September 4, 2026
Very scary yet fascinating insight into Andrew Tate’s manosphere. It’s a really good piece of journalism but for some reason I struggled to concentrate on the audiobook
November 15, 2024
An enlightening investigation into the repugnant Andrew Tate and his brand of toxic masculinity.
September 21, 2024
I knew Andrew Tate was a criminal and a bad person, but wow, it goes a lot deeper than I thought. Once I got a quarter of the way in, I couldn't put it down. This is a really insightful look into a genre of person that's influencing a lot of young people both in the US and around the world, and it's terrifying.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2024
Rating: 7.5/10
October 15, 2026
Not my usual kind of read, but a deeply disturbing and enlightening one. This book does pays tribute to the victims of this man, ensuring their stories are remembered & their voices are never forgotten. A big F you to the Tate brothers & the Manosphere
September 29, 2025
The subject matter and the authors' investigative journalism deserve five stars but as a woman and the mother of three daughters this book was very depressing and difficult to read.
November 17, 2025
Extremely interesting and thoroughly depressing, I was hooked from the start of the presentation of this investigation. A large portion of the book was giving voices to Tate’s victims which was very important.
Tate and his crony’s are so unbelievably cringe and I found myself thinking how could anyone honestly fall for this weird cult, but in light of the rise of violence against women and girls, this should be taken very seriously. Big recommend!
Tate and his crony’s are so unbelievably cringe and I found myself thinking how could anyone honestly fall for this weird cult, but in light of the rise of violence against women and girls, this should be taken very seriously. Big recommend!
September 5, 2024
This fast-paced, gripping, and disturbing examination of Andrew Tate’s swift rise and slow fall reads like a higher-stakes version of Jon Ronson’s psycho subculture gonzo investigations.
Examining Tate’s past and present to explore how cycles of abuse expand and perpetuate, you’ll come away with a deeper knowledge of modern exploitation as sex trafficking goes zero hours, with corporate psychopathy going freelance.
Starting silly, the deeper this book goes, the more repulsive it gets. Be prepared for a lot of misogyny, misanthropy, and descriptions of SA / R which, despite being delivered with journalistic integrity, are extremely tough to read.
Clear-eyed and comprehensive, Clown World is a chilling screenshot of our current culture.
Examining Tate’s past and present to explore how cycles of abuse expand and perpetuate, you’ll come away with a deeper knowledge of modern exploitation as sex trafficking goes zero hours, with corporate psychopathy going freelance.
Starting silly, the deeper this book goes, the more repulsive it gets. Be prepared for a lot of misogyny, misanthropy, and descriptions of SA / R which, despite being delivered with journalistic integrity, are extremely tough to read.
Clear-eyed and comprehensive, Clown World is a chilling screenshot of our current culture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
This book is essential reading, offering a profound examination of the pervasive dangers of misogyny. It presents a multifaceted narrative of an insidious empire, exploring the lives of figures like Tate, his entourage, and the victims who bravely share their stories. The authors employ immersive journalism to unravel the complexities of this dark network, creating a gripping account that not only sheds light on systemic abuses but also serves as a rallying cry for justice. Its groundbreaking insights and meticulous investigative journey make it a remarkable contribution to contemporary discourse.
June 6, 2025
I really enjoyed the book and the authors' thorough research and dive into the manosphere. It's is honestly disgusting and terrifying, but also, looking from afar, it also looks ridiculous and stupid, how manosphere is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews