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Alt-Right: From 4chan to the White House
Aside from the election of Donald Trump, the most surprising political development of the past few years has been the rapid rise of the Alt-Right—the white nationalist, anti-feminist, far-right movement that provided much of the ground-level energy for Trump’s campaign and has been a focus of international media attention ever since. Yet we still rarely get a clear sense of who and what the Alt-Right actually are, and what their long-term effect is likely to be.
Journalist Mike Wendling knows. He’s been following the Alt-Right closely for years, and with this book he shares the deep knowledge he’s gleaned. Media accounts to the contrary, the Alt-Right didn’t just burst out of nowhere in 2016—rather, they have been building their network quietly for years, using bulletin boards and social media to spread a toxic hybrid of technological utopianism, reactionary philosophy, and racial hatred. Wendling traces clearly the rise of the movement and the evolution of its ideas, and he introduces us to some of its key figures—many of whom he interviewed personally for the book. He explores links between Alt-Right rhetoric and hate crimes and terrorism, showing that the evidence connecting them is undeniable. Ultimately, however, he builds a strong case that the movement’s lack of a coherent base and its contradictory tendencies are already sapping its strength and will lead to its downfall.
A shocking exposé of a movement whose emergence stunned the world, Alt-Right presents a disturbing picture of our current political moment.
Journalist Mike Wendling knows. He’s been following the Alt-Right closely for years, and with this book he shares the deep knowledge he’s gleaned. Media accounts to the contrary, the Alt-Right didn’t just burst out of nowhere in 2016—rather, they have been building their network quietly for years, using bulletin boards and social media to spread a toxic hybrid of technological utopianism, reactionary philosophy, and racial hatred. Wendling traces clearly the rise of the movement and the evolution of its ideas, and he introduces us to some of its key figures—many of whom he interviewed personally for the book. He explores links between Alt-Right rhetoric and hate crimes and terrorism, showing that the evidence connecting them is undeniable. Ultimately, however, he builds a strong case that the movement’s lack of a coherent base and its contradictory tendencies are already sapping its strength and will lead to its downfall.
A shocking exposé of a movement whose emergence stunned the world, Alt-Right presents a disturbing picture of our current political moment.
294 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 28, 2018
This book is a better cited and more thorough account of the alt-right than the widely promoted _Kill All Normies_. It breaks down the alt-right into multiple groups and includes succinct explanations of Neoreactionaries, the manosphere, and 4chan and their relationship to the 2016 election and the contemporary conservative movement. It includes interviews with named individuals who identify with the alt-right, and through them, challenges the alt-right's own narrative about itself, debunking the group's self-representation as primarily young, "hip" and "counter-cultural."
September 15, 2018
There could have been interesting info here I wasn't familiar with, but after seeing the chapter titled "The Meninists" I couldn't take it seriously.
Filled with misleading or incorrect info. He lumps various non-related groups/people/things in with the alt-right. He often dismisses issues without offering a counter argument or evidence. There isn't any depth, it's a biased summary of events.
And he makes it all vague enough to give the "normies" the impression this is 100% fact and unbiased. And it only confirms what the progressive left already believe.
Although this isn't an attack on the alt-right. Alt-right already does a good job of making themselves look bad. It only damages the rational people speaking out about the cancer plaguing politics and society in general.
Filled with misleading or incorrect info. He lumps various non-related groups/people/things in with the alt-right. He often dismisses issues without offering a counter argument or evidence. There isn't any depth, it's a biased summary of events.
And he makes it all vague enough to give the "normies" the impression this is 100% fact and unbiased. And it only confirms what the progressive left already believe.
Although this isn't an attack on the alt-right. Alt-right already does a good job of making themselves look bad. It only damages the rational people speaking out about the cancer plaguing politics and society in general.
July 16, 2018
I thought Mike Wendling did a great job of giving an overview of various categories common to the factions that make up the alt-right, and by defining what exactly the alt-right is and does. I certainly learned a lot about 4chan and about the differences between many of the alt-right groups, as well as what unites them - "free speech" and an outcast status. It was comforting to know that he sees the alt-right breaking up and mostly self-imploding following Trump's election, especially after the events of Charlottesville. I was glad that he mostly portrayed the alt-right as being kind of ridiculous and petty, and I hope people are really leaving that "movement" in droves as he suggests they are.
One thing I didn't like was that his analysis is so weak when it comes to the opponents of the alt-right, whom he regularly refers to as "liberals." Mostly, opponents to the alt-right are radicals, not liberals. Liberals might oppose the alt-right in theory but in practice, those who actually come out and counter-protest, those known as "antifa," are made up of anarchists, radical leftists, socialists, communists, etc. These are not "liberals." Members of the Industrial Workers of the World and the International Socialist Organization were prominent at the Charlottesville counter protest. These were not Clinton voters, these were radical anticapitalists. So, I think Mike Wendling would do well to study the alt-right's opposition more closely.
Highly recommend this book for anyone fighting fascism and the rise of the alt-right in the United States.
One thing I didn't like was that his analysis is so weak when it comes to the opponents of the alt-right, whom he regularly refers to as "liberals." Mostly, opponents to the alt-right are radicals, not liberals. Liberals might oppose the alt-right in theory but in practice, those who actually come out and counter-protest, those known as "antifa," are made up of anarchists, radical leftists, socialists, communists, etc. These are not "liberals." Members of the Industrial Workers of the World and the International Socialist Organization were prominent at the Charlottesville counter protest. These were not Clinton voters, these were radical anticapitalists. So, I think Mike Wendling would do well to study the alt-right's opposition more closely.
Highly recommend this book for anyone fighting fascism and the rise of the alt-right in the United States.
December 23, 2018
If you read this, make sure you also read 'A Fair Hearing', an anthology of essays by actual alt-right members. That will balance out the strong bias in Wendling's book.
Still, there is some merit in his work in presenting an overview of certain recent trends. Wendling does make some attempt to be fair, although at other times he is not. On p.45, for example, he tries to make a fool of Jared Taylor by misrepresenting his views. Bad form, Mike.
This book both informs and misinforms.
Still, there is some merit in his work in presenting an overview of certain recent trends. Wendling does make some attempt to be fair, although at other times he is not. On p.45, for example, he tries to make a fool of Jared Taylor by misrepresenting his views. Bad form, Mike.
This book both informs and misinforms.
December 16, 2019
Spent a lot of time on this book. In the middle of reading it, gave to a savvy friend so we could talk about it. He knew more about the whole Gamergate saga, so felt that chapter was lacking. Wendling is a BBC reporter, an outsider to US culture. I’m also an outsider, and much of this book is bizarre, scary and unsettling. As he admits at the end, events will have swept past his analysis by the time the book came out. In that respect, the topic felt more appropriate for an online article rather than a book.
Anyone interested in US politics, and the intersecting influences of the international far- right, should read this book. It’s a new world of fake news, memes, and toxic irony, and it all moves so very very fast.
Anyone interested in US politics, and the intersecting influences of the international far- right, should read this book. It’s a new world of fake news, memes, and toxic irony, and it all moves so very very fast.
August 19, 2019
I read this in conjunction with George Hawley’s “Making Sense of the Alt-Right” and I suggest reading that book too to provide a good academic overview of the subject (including a much needed historical view) compared with the equally valuable journalistic approach in this book, which is much more rooted in 2016-2018.
This book really digs into the functioning of the Alt-Right on the Internet, and how its adherents act online and in person (IRL). The whole production line of thought, from 4chan through Reddit to Twitter and on to other social media and then into the larger cultural thoughtspace is explored. The author struggles first hand with the trolls and the impossibility of dealing with such individuals, of whom you never know if they are speaking sincerely, joking, or lying. Unlike Hawley’s book, which focuses much more on racial issues in the movement, this book looks at the misogyny, the attacks on the left and traditional conservatives (and how the Alt-Right does this), and provides a thorough glossary of terms, including their history and meaning. Instead of just interviewing alt right leaders, the author speaks to many “regular” alt right followers to try to discern what they really think. He agrees with Hawley that it’s mostly about race, but also a belief in freedom of speech and hatred of political correctness. Unfortunately, they stand u for freedom of speech only to try to poison as many minds as possible, not a noble undertaking. Interestingly, in public these people blend in normally, one person saying he tries to never be rude to people of colour! With all these contradictions and an essentially leaderless movement, the author claims that the alt right is starting to lose influence. However, the spate of recent violence incited online makes this conclusion uncertain, in my opinion.
The author did a solid job trying to understand people who simply smirk at you and have some of the lowest morals imaginable. If memes of feeding people into ovens are funny, and the alt righters say you aren’t supposed to take what they say seriously, I truly wish I could believe them. If everything is a joke to you, I wish I could believe you have nothing to say, but unfortunately there are enough unstable people out there to take alt right ideas to their hideous conclusions. The author did a fine job exposing this breed of shallow, compassionless misanthropes for who they are. Bravo.
This book really digs into the functioning of the Alt-Right on the Internet, and how its adherents act online and in person (IRL). The whole production line of thought, from 4chan through Reddit to Twitter and on to other social media and then into the larger cultural thoughtspace is explored. The author struggles first hand with the trolls and the impossibility of dealing with such individuals, of whom you never know if they are speaking sincerely, joking, or lying. Unlike Hawley’s book, which focuses much more on racial issues in the movement, this book looks at the misogyny, the attacks on the left and traditional conservatives (and how the Alt-Right does this), and provides a thorough glossary of terms, including their history and meaning. Instead of just interviewing alt right leaders, the author speaks to many “regular” alt right followers to try to discern what they really think. He agrees with Hawley that it’s mostly about race, but also a belief in freedom of speech and hatred of political correctness. Unfortunately, they stand u for freedom of speech only to try to poison as many minds as possible, not a noble undertaking. Interestingly, in public these people blend in normally, one person saying he tries to never be rude to people of colour! With all these contradictions and an essentially leaderless movement, the author claims that the alt right is starting to lose influence. However, the spate of recent violence incited online makes this conclusion uncertain, in my opinion.
The author did a solid job trying to understand people who simply smirk at you and have some of the lowest morals imaginable. If memes of feeding people into ovens are funny, and the alt righters say you aren’t supposed to take what they say seriously, I truly wish I could believe them. If everything is a joke to you, I wish I could believe you have nothing to say, but unfortunately there are enough unstable people out there to take alt right ideas to their hideous conclusions. The author did a fine job exposing this breed of shallow, compassionless misanthropes for who they are. Bravo.
August 10, 2020
When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail to you.
When you are intelectualy a child, monsters hide everywhere, even under your bed.
When you are intelectualy a child, monsters hide everywhere, even under your bed.
May 21, 2018
Very informative read about a topic I am not really knowledgeable about. I appreciate it.
Read
July 19, 2025Really interesting overall, it felt more like an info/lore dump than a thorough review though
August 19, 2018
A worthwhile read, but pretty shallow. Its view that the alt-right is going down seems to be true in the case of figures like Richard Spencer & Milo Yiannopolous, but it doesn't fully grapple with the way their ideology has worked into "mainstream" right-wing politics (seemingly all over the world at the moment.)
October 1, 2020
With a few exceptions in which things are out of sequence, reading this book gives the feeling of descending into the belly of the beast. The chapters aren't perfectly in sequence but the descent goes something like: erudite intellecutals of the alt right, the alt right mediasphere (e.g. Breitbart), 4chan dwellers, MRA advocates/ PUAs, conspiracy theorists obsessed with “globalists”, committed racists/neo-nazis who promote terrorism online and finally the violent fringe of terrorists.
But it isn't really a hierarchy at all. It's an ecosystem. All of these interconnected strands come together in mutual support the whole.
Who knew this all could arise from an idea invented in a meeting celebrating H.L. Mencken (a teenage idol of mine by the way)? That was the birth of the term “alternative right,” a term that Paul Gottfried is generally accepted to have invented, though Richard Spencer was at the meeting and also claims credit. The book starts off with intellectuals because they are in many ways the forebears of these ideas, although they are also the most idiosyncratic. They are quick to disavow the movement as it explodes. Many of them post long rambling blogs that are genuinely learned. But their sociological theories are often sweeping and their viewpoints totalizing.
These ideas filter down into rather seedy, anarchic, offensive places online, like 4chan and 8chan. The hate that is initially transgressive and fun for its own sake eventually merges into the genuine article. It is intermingled with anti-feminists of all creeds, including mens rights activists (MRAs), pick up artists (PUAs) and incels, who have their own bizarre philosophies of a sexual market place with Chads and Staceys at the top. Then you have the old guard of traditional racists that cash in
on the offensive spirit of shitposting in the chans and support for Donald Trump on Reddit’s R/The Donald.
Mike Wending is an unusual journalist in that he actually deigns to talk to and understand his subject. It's very obvious from the book that he spent substantial amount of time reading and talking directly to Channers, redditors on R/The Donald, Twitter trolls and various Gab users. His experiences on Gab reveal that the stereotype of the average alt-righter is wrong. It does not skew as young as you might imagine. They are male, working class, frustrated, in many cases intelligent, internet savvy but they are not the hip young kids we imagine. In fact, there is a dynamic where young pranksters aren't really committed to politics or racism, just transgression. And genuine racists aren't really committed to trolling as much as they are politics and race. The two sides of this coin intermingle in public and the problem with the alt-right is often that it’s hard to tell when they’re kidding and when they’re serious. Or if the distinction even matters at a certain point. They delight in trolling people who don’t understand them or their humor. The fact that the average person can’t follow what is a joke and what is a genuine conviction is part of the fun for them.
The book ends with a fracturing of the alt right as it cannot keep these disparate strands together. Should the alt-right commit to being genuinely racist? Or are they committed to more traditional conservatism, perhaps a form of paleo-conservatism, which steadfastly resists saying the quiet part out loud? The “Deploraball” party plays out this rift between Mike Cernovich and an outright anti-semite who he disinvited. Concerns about Trump’s commitment to their cause emerged.
Since the book’s publication there has only been a further fracturing. It would be interesting to see the story continue as the Qanon movement has flowered and Nick Fuentes and the Groypers have begun vying for control of the alt-right, taking the mantle away from Richard Spencer.
But it isn't really a hierarchy at all. It's an ecosystem. All of these interconnected strands come together in mutual support the whole.
Who knew this all could arise from an idea invented in a meeting celebrating H.L. Mencken (a teenage idol of mine by the way)? That was the birth of the term “alternative right,” a term that Paul Gottfried is generally accepted to have invented, though Richard Spencer was at the meeting and also claims credit. The book starts off with intellectuals because they are in many ways the forebears of these ideas, although they are also the most idiosyncratic. They are quick to disavow the movement as it explodes. Many of them post long rambling blogs that are genuinely learned. But their sociological theories are often sweeping and their viewpoints totalizing.
These ideas filter down into rather seedy, anarchic, offensive places online, like 4chan and 8chan. The hate that is initially transgressive and fun for its own sake eventually merges into the genuine article. It is intermingled with anti-feminists of all creeds, including mens rights activists (MRAs), pick up artists (PUAs) and incels, who have their own bizarre philosophies of a sexual market place with Chads and Staceys at the top. Then you have the old guard of traditional racists that cash in
on the offensive spirit of shitposting in the chans and support for Donald Trump on Reddit’s R/The Donald.
Mike Wending is an unusual journalist in that he actually deigns to talk to and understand his subject. It's very obvious from the book that he spent substantial amount of time reading and talking directly to Channers, redditors on R/The Donald, Twitter trolls and various Gab users. His experiences on Gab reveal that the stereotype of the average alt-righter is wrong. It does not skew as young as you might imagine. They are male, working class, frustrated, in many cases intelligent, internet savvy but they are not the hip young kids we imagine. In fact, there is a dynamic where young pranksters aren't really committed to politics or racism, just transgression. And genuine racists aren't really committed to trolling as much as they are politics and race. The two sides of this coin intermingle in public and the problem with the alt-right is often that it’s hard to tell when they’re kidding and when they’re serious. Or if the distinction even matters at a certain point. They delight in trolling people who don’t understand them or their humor. The fact that the average person can’t follow what is a joke and what is a genuine conviction is part of the fun for them.
The book ends with a fracturing of the alt right as it cannot keep these disparate strands together. Should the alt-right commit to being genuinely racist? Or are they committed to more traditional conservatism, perhaps a form of paleo-conservatism, which steadfastly resists saying the quiet part out loud? The “Deploraball” party plays out this rift between Mike Cernovich and an outright anti-semite who he disinvited. Concerns about Trump’s commitment to their cause emerged.
Since the book’s publication there has only been a further fracturing. It would be interesting to see the story continue as the Qanon movement has flowered and Nick Fuentes and the Groypers have begun vying for control of the alt-right, taking the mantle away from Richard Spencer.
July 24, 2018
Essential reading, especially before the 2018 midterms.
Mike Wendling does a great job tracing the roots, trajectory, and current fizzle of the amorphous, meme-loving, media anti-darlings known as the alt-right. He ably traces the strands that wove together throughout the last presidential campaign in opposition to Hillary Clinton and the liberal, globalist style of governing she represented: the ethno-blinkered "intellectuals," myopically devoted to to their project of slapping fresh lipstick on the bloated remains of 20th-century style racial nationalism; the fringe conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, some sincere, others cynically exploiting the credulousness of under-educated, unworldly chatroom denizens; the dank underbelly known as 4chan, filled with "merry pranksters" whose ethic seems cribbed from Heath Ledger's Joker, only a lot less Oscar-worthy; and a few other bits of flotsam and jetsam collected from the absolute dregs of extreme conservatism, men's rights/pickup artist doofuses, and outright racists. The narrative of how these disparate yet similarly-noxious cells glommed together and metastasized into something that helped get the Big Orange Tumor elected president is frightening and fascinating, like watching a slow-motion wreck of two clown cars filled with racist buffoons. Wendling paints a portrait of an inchoate "movement" that could never have existed but for the very specific circumstances of our time, the Internet fostering a sense of community among maladjusted misfits for whom the concept is, under historical conditions, quite foreign. There's cause for hope, as he summarizes the well-documented implosion of the alt-right that was underway before Herr Drumpf lifted one tiny hand on Inauguration Day and which continues to unravel to this day (I'm disappointed he didn't mention the time an alt-right leader got arrested for punching his father in law after getting caught screwing his mother in law. Those sweet white nationalist family values!); I find especially interesting the notion that the alt-right, for all its claims on "counter-culture" status, lacks the defining characteristic of such a label--namely, culture (Pepe the Frog memes and illiterate message board ramblings most likely won't stand the test of time the same way Kerouac, Ginsberg and Dylan have). And yet the book ends on a disturbing note; the hard core of the alt-right is made up of energetic, ambitious, cunning people, and just because the movement they tried to will into existence has sputtered, doesn't mean they're going away quietly. Where will the next flashpoint be, and will we on the higher ground of society be better prepared to snuff it?
Docked a star for certain infelicities of language ("me and another reporter," for instance) that I hope are a function of quick publication turnaround time, and not an intentional attempt to capture a conversational tone. This subject demands authority, not an appeal to twee Internet-ready folksiness. But I feel like it's more likely the former case, which I can more readily forgive.
Mike Wendling does a great job tracing the roots, trajectory, and current fizzle of the amorphous, meme-loving, media anti-darlings known as the alt-right. He ably traces the strands that wove together throughout the last presidential campaign in opposition to Hillary Clinton and the liberal, globalist style of governing she represented: the ethno-blinkered "intellectuals," myopically devoted to to their project of slapping fresh lipstick on the bloated remains of 20th-century style racial nationalism; the fringe conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, some sincere, others cynically exploiting the credulousness of under-educated, unworldly chatroom denizens; the dank underbelly known as 4chan, filled with "merry pranksters" whose ethic seems cribbed from Heath Ledger's Joker, only a lot less Oscar-worthy; and a few other bits of flotsam and jetsam collected from the absolute dregs of extreme conservatism, men's rights/pickup artist doofuses, and outright racists. The narrative of how these disparate yet similarly-noxious cells glommed together and metastasized into something that helped get the Big Orange Tumor elected president is frightening and fascinating, like watching a slow-motion wreck of two clown cars filled with racist buffoons. Wendling paints a portrait of an inchoate "movement" that could never have existed but for the very specific circumstances of our time, the Internet fostering a sense of community among maladjusted misfits for whom the concept is, under historical conditions, quite foreign. There's cause for hope, as he summarizes the well-documented implosion of the alt-right that was underway before Herr Drumpf lifted one tiny hand on Inauguration Day and which continues to unravel to this day (I'm disappointed he didn't mention the time an alt-right leader got arrested for punching his father in law after getting caught screwing his mother in law. Those sweet white nationalist family values!); I find especially interesting the notion that the alt-right, for all its claims on "counter-culture" status, lacks the defining characteristic of such a label--namely, culture (Pepe the Frog memes and illiterate message board ramblings most likely won't stand the test of time the same way Kerouac, Ginsberg and Dylan have). And yet the book ends on a disturbing note; the hard core of the alt-right is made up of energetic, ambitious, cunning people, and just because the movement they tried to will into existence has sputtered, doesn't mean they're going away quietly. Where will the next flashpoint be, and will we on the higher ground of society be better prepared to snuff it?
Docked a star for certain infelicities of language ("me and another reporter," for instance) that I hope are a function of quick publication turnaround time, and not an intentional attempt to capture a conversational tone. This subject demands authority, not an appeal to twee Internet-ready folksiness. But I feel like it's more likely the former case, which I can more readily forgive.
September 1, 2018
Enjoyable and useful introduction to the Alt-Right. If you've been trying to understand who these people are and what are they up to, Wendling provides a fine overview. I learned about some of the intellectual underpinnings of the movement, such as they are.
The book's title also offers a suggestion as to how these folks have gained influence. Incidentally, you can't really call them a "group" or "social movement," since they don't really have an organization in the real world. Wendling says that most discussions originate on the anonymous chat board called 4Chan, spreads to Reddit, and then enters the Breitbart-to-Fox-News mainstream.
One of the points Wendling makes repeatedly here is that the alt-right prefers to appropriate other cultural artifacts, especially from the Internet, instead of creating their own symbols. Perhaps the most obvious is the symbol of "Pepe the Frog," a web-comic character created with no particular political persuasion. Alt-rightists turned poor Pepe into a white nationalist meme. Eventually, Pepe's creator had to kill the frog (not that it mattered much to those who still use him)!
Pepe notwithstanding, the least likely cultural appropriation Wendling describes is the singing of Bob Dylan's "Times They Are A-Changin'" at the alt-right "DeploraBall" celebration at Donald Trump's inauguration! You'd think they would have at least come up with parody lyrics!
The alt-right has the potential for being quite scary. Wendling suggests that egos and differences may make them irrelevant soon enough (see the failure of the second "Unite the Right" rally). We'll see...
The book's title also offers a suggestion as to how these folks have gained influence. Incidentally, you can't really call them a "group" or "social movement," since they don't really have an organization in the real world. Wendling says that most discussions originate on the anonymous chat board called 4Chan, spreads to Reddit, and then enters the Breitbart-to-Fox-News mainstream.
One of the points Wendling makes repeatedly here is that the alt-right prefers to appropriate other cultural artifacts, especially from the Internet, instead of creating their own symbols. Perhaps the most obvious is the symbol of "Pepe the Frog," a web-comic character created with no particular political persuasion. Alt-rightists turned poor Pepe into a white nationalist meme. Eventually, Pepe's creator had to kill the frog (not that it mattered much to those who still use him)!
Pepe notwithstanding, the least likely cultural appropriation Wendling describes is the singing of Bob Dylan's "Times They Are A-Changin'" at the alt-right "DeploraBall" celebration at Donald Trump's inauguration! You'd think they would have at least come up with parody lyrics!
The alt-right has the potential for being quite scary. Wendling suggests that egos and differences may make them irrelevant soon enough (see the failure of the second "Unite the Right" rally). We'll see...
May 25, 2019
If you’re late to the piece about who the Alt-Right are - where’ve you been? - Wendling’s account is well-written, informative and revealing about a cocksure movement who’ve exponentially grown and according to one libertarian,
“the Alt-Right is an ill-tempered movement of people that feel victimised, ignored, abused, and are fighting for attention. Their tactics include shaming, bullying, and ruthlessness that they justify with a sense of moral righteousness.”
Not only that, but
“...in the morass of the alt-right and far-right internets, certain people find ideological strands that not only appear to comport with their worldview but also nudged them towards murder. Here lies the real and immediate physical danger of the alt-right online - not in its influence over electoral politics or even in its corrosive online abuse and general nastiness towards enemy groups, but in its potential to radicalise, to turn some people into killers.”
4 stars out of 5
“the Alt-Right is an ill-tempered movement of people that feel victimised, ignored, abused, and are fighting for attention. Their tactics include shaming, bullying, and ruthlessness that they justify with a sense of moral righteousness.”
Not only that, but
“...in the morass of the alt-right and far-right internets, certain people find ideological strands that not only appear to comport with their worldview but also nudged them towards murder. Here lies the real and immediate physical danger of the alt-right online - not in its influence over electoral politics or even in its corrosive online abuse and general nastiness towards enemy groups, but in its potential to radicalise, to turn some people into killers.”
4 stars out of 5
July 28, 2025
Jedyny zarzut jaki mogę postawić owej książce, to to, że była wydana w 2018 roku, zatem stanowi już historię. Autor niestety pomylił się w opinii, że upadnie ruch alternatywnej prawicy na zachodzie, jak każdy wie, wąż ten się wije dalej.
Książka dobrze, choć nie perfekcyjnie, opisuje proces powstawania i proliferacji tej szkodliwej zlepki ideologów złączonych nienawiścią do innych, progresywnych elementów.
Śmiesznie jest czytać bełkot z 4chana i podobnych szuro-aplikacji, zawartych na stronach rzeczywistego dzieła. Jak niegdyś książki cytowały nienawistne pamflety napisane przez faszystów, tak dziś cytują posty z 4chana napisane przez zamkniętych w domu, grających w Ligę, otyłych 20-latków piszących z kąta "KEK1488" o tym że zachód upadł, bo nie mieli w życiu konwersacji z inną kobietą niż własna matka.
Książka dobrze, choć nie perfekcyjnie, opisuje proces powstawania i proliferacji tej szkodliwej zlepki ideologów złączonych nienawiścią do innych, progresywnych elementów.
Śmiesznie jest czytać bełkot z 4chana i podobnych szuro-aplikacji, zawartych na stronach rzeczywistego dzieła. Jak niegdyś książki cytowały nienawistne pamflety napisane przez faszystów, tak dziś cytują posty z 4chana napisane przez zamkniętych w domu, grających w Ligę, otyłych 20-latków piszących z kąta "KEK1488" o tym że zachód upadł, bo nie mieli w życiu konwersacji z inną kobietą niż własna matka.
April 8, 2019
Great journalistic work analyzing the Web-aspect of the Alti-right and its ideological roots. This book presents a nihilistic group that tries to present itself as young rebels, but are mostly consistent of adults and middle aged loosers that have no clear ideological commitments, except extreme racism and depression. The actual Neo-Nazis are just a small core of activists that tries to influence the rest to do its political bidding, but are failing.
The Alt-right is not a great political threat, but a security problem that produces lone wolf-type of nihilistic far-right terrorists. In this aspect the book predicted the grim future of Christchurch terror-attack. Still if Trump was smarter he could control the Alt-right and make it to its fanatical and violent army of brown shirts.
The Alt-right is not a great political threat, but a security problem that produces lone wolf-type of nihilistic far-right terrorists. In this aspect the book predicted the grim future of Christchurch terror-attack. Still if Trump was smarter he could control the Alt-right and make it to its fanatical and violent army of brown shirts.
July 15, 2021
Thoroughly sourced and surprisingly lacking in opinion. The author seems to simply place together the puzzle of bread crumbs left behind by the internet archive as a whole, whether it be threads, memes, texts, tweets, or the like. He's a reporter and aptly does just this to show the developmental arc of the alt-right, which is revealed to be a sneaky installation by the few to the many followers. An interesting and terrifying read, due to the reality. Though it does assist in understanding the 'why' behind some behaviors, principles, and unwavering stances of some people. The reality is a rough one, so the author makes light and jokes slightly, but mostly he boils things down and arranges the book accordingly. Fascinating read, and brilliant writing.
September 30, 2019
I found this to be a fairly levelheaded and informative overview of the phenomenon from the usual outsider-expert perspective trying to make sense of what insiders are likely to have an even harder time describing aptly.
A followup book or addendum chapter in potential later editions on the author's findings and reflections regarding the alt right as well as white supremacist developments inside and outside of the White House since 2017 would be a worthwhile read in my estimation.
A followup book or addendum chapter in potential later editions on the author's findings and reflections regarding the alt right as well as white supremacist developments inside and outside of the White House since 2017 would be a worthwhile read in my estimation.
December 29, 2019
A decent book but biased and out of date
The author shows his leftist bias while denying he is biased. I found the historical portions very interesting and there appear to be few books that cover that area. The book runs you if steam at the end, almost as if the publishers told him he had to have over 200 pages so he tossed in some pages about "the future of the now almost dead" political movement.
The author shows his leftist bias while denying he is biased. I found the historical portions very interesting and there appear to be few books that cover that area. The book runs you if steam at the end, almost as if the publishers told him he had to have over 200 pages so he tossed in some pages about "the future of the now almost dead" political movement.
May 3, 2021
Informative about the possibilities an assortment of disenchanted male loners hiding in their mom's loft mixed with actual Neo-nazi's and a few look-at-me-being-clever intellectuals, have to wreck havoc, to create fake news, fake conspiracies and command troll armies. Everyone should be aware of this. Of the groups drivers and of their tactics. No 5 stars, as the author at times thought it necessary to add his opinion to the facts, where the facts could have spoken for themselves.
July 7, 2018
This book was enjoyable and clearly well researched but I thought there could have been more analysis rather than just telling the reader what happened. The notes section at the back of the book was definitely helpful but I think it would have worked better as footnotes because it did get a little irritating flipping back and forth as there were a lot of notes to other sources and articles.
February 24, 2019
An excellent informative insight into the various strands of the alt-right, with plenty of factual information and interesting journalistic anecdotes for the general reader. Some more insight into how why the movement came about when it did, and the role of the MSM in providing a platform for the likes of Breitbart, would have made for an even better book.
August 18, 2021
Good survey into the alt-right
This book serves as a pretty good survey into the history of the alt-right between the mid-90’s and 2017. I wish it went a little more in-depth about how the white supremacy movement was started, but that’s not really what this book was about. Overall, would recommend.
This book serves as a pretty good survey into the history of the alt-right between the mid-90’s and 2017. I wish it went a little more in-depth about how the white supremacy movement was started, but that’s not really what this book was about. Overall, would recommend.
February 15, 2021
A bit outdated now given this came out before coronavirus, the George Floyd murder and Trump's loss, but this is a really good introduction to anyone unaware of the origins of the neofascists and modern conspiracy theorists
December 28, 2018
A clear and properly description of the alt-right.
August 5, 2022
Although perhaps the author could have gone a bit more in-depth at some points. These book functions as a very good introduction to common alt-right beliefs and practices.
December 24, 2022
Fascinating and well researched.
February 6, 2024
Kind of wild to be reading this after covid ngl
September 21, 2024
Timely, punchy, important and sometimes repetitive.
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