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Hateland: A Long, Hard Look at America's Extremist Heart
A chilling overview of the current threat from domestic terrorism by a former Department of Homeland Security analyst
America is a land in which extremism no longer belongs to the country's shadowy fringes, but comfortably exists in the national mainstream. That is the alarming conclusion by intelligence analyst Daryl Johnson, an expert on domestic extremism with more than twenty-five years of experience tracking radicalized groups for the U.S Government.
In this book, Johnson dissects the rapidly expanding forms of American hatred and radicalization, including white nationalists, anti-government militias, antifascists (Antifa), militant black nationalists, and extremist Islamic groups. The author develops a concise model that explains how extremists on both the far right and the far left use the same techniques to recruit and radicalize individuals into violent offenders. He also examines the political forces that fuel this threat and have kept the US government from properly identifying and developing countermeasures to deal with it, including an disproportional emphasis on Islamic terrorism.
The author concludes by recounting individual stories of deradicalization, each of which was the result of personal reevaluations of formerly held extremist convictions. He recommends more resources at the state and federal levels for combatting radical movements. He also urges greater communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies. This in-depth analysis of a growing menace that has taken America hostage by a leading expert throws a stark light on the darkest segments of American society and provides practical means for dealing with their violent threats.
America is a land in which extremism no longer belongs to the country's shadowy fringes, but comfortably exists in the national mainstream. That is the alarming conclusion by intelligence analyst Daryl Johnson, an expert on domestic extremism with more than twenty-five years of experience tracking radicalized groups for the U.S Government.
In this book, Johnson dissects the rapidly expanding forms of American hatred and radicalization, including white nationalists, anti-government militias, antifascists (Antifa), militant black nationalists, and extremist Islamic groups. The author develops a concise model that explains how extremists on both the far right and the far left use the same techniques to recruit and radicalize individuals into violent offenders. He also examines the political forces that fuel this threat and have kept the US government from properly identifying and developing countermeasures to deal with it, including an disproportional emphasis on Islamic terrorism.
The author concludes by recounting individual stories of deradicalization, each of which was the result of personal reevaluations of formerly held extremist convictions. He recommends more resources at the state and federal levels for combatting radical movements. He also urges greater communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies. This in-depth analysis of a growing menace that has taken America hostage by a leading expert throws a stark light on the darkest segments of American society and provides practical means for dealing with their violent threats.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2019
66 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Daryl Johnson
2 books7 followersDaryl Johnson is one of the foremost experts on domestic terrorism in the U.S. Beginning his career as a civilian in the U.S. Army, Johnson has held several government positions, most recently as senior analyst at the Department of Homeland Security. He is the Owner of DT Analytics, a private consulting firm for law enforcement, academia, and other organizations. In 2020, Daryl was invited to serve as an Honorary Board member for We Are Many-United Against Hate in Madison, Wisconsin. He also accepted the position of Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Policy in Washington, D.C. In 2019, Daryl co-founded Jolly & Johnson Consulting to provide specialized training for BSA/AML professionals. Johnson is regularly cited, featured, or quoted in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, National Public Radio, MSNBC, CNN, and NBC Nightly News, among many others at home and abroad. He is the author of "Hateland: A Long, Hard Look at America's Extremist Heart" (Prometheus Books, 2019) and "Right-Wing Resurgence: How a Domestic Terrorism Threat Is Being Ignored" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012). Johnson is also a freelance writer for various media and civil rights organizations. In 2012, he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on hate crimes and the threat of domestic extremism.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 15, 2019
This book does a deep dive into the rise of domestic terrorism. It looks at the origins of various movements that have white supremacist or anti-government views, starting in the late 1970s. It shows how these groups have changed to clever manipulators of messages, and how technologies like social media and websites have changed the process of becoming a radical.
There's a strong focus on "self-radicalization" , when a person finds websites and online communities that have a point of view that resonates with him. And is reinforced by online communication with others who hold similar, or even more radical views.
There is also detailed analysis of how social media and the web have become both amplifiers of various messages, as well as the media that supports the notion that almost anything may a conspiracy. Which breaks down notions of authority.
This is a detailed book, but very clearly written. It shows us where we are right now, with our communities shattered into angry groups. To try to solve problems, you need to understand them. Read this.
There's a strong focus on "self-radicalization" , when a person finds websites and online communities that have a point of view that resonates with him. And is reinforced by online communication with others who hold similar, or even more radical views.
There is also detailed analysis of how social media and the web have become both amplifiers of various messages, as well as the media that supports the notion that almost anything may a conspiracy. Which breaks down notions of authority.
This is a detailed book, but very clearly written. It shows us where we are right now, with our communities shattered into angry groups. To try to solve problems, you need to understand them. Read this.
June 27, 2019
With Hateland, Daryl Johnson chronicles the rise of extremism here in the US, showing us how and why hate has risen into the mainstream. He doesn't offer personal commentary or slant information to fit an agenda. These are facts presented in a way that's both easy and disturbing to read. I had to keep putting the book down. I felt sick, disgusted, panicked. And then I'd pick the book up and read some more, because this is happening, and I know it's happening, and it won't get better if we just ignore it.
Buy this book. Read it. Lend it to a friend. Talk about it. Spread knowledge instead of fear, conversation instead of accusation.
Hateland is a difficult but necessary book to read.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.*
Buy this book. Read it. Lend it to a friend. Talk about it. Spread knowledge instead of fear, conversation instead of accusation.
Hateland is a difficult but necessary book to read.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.*
September 19, 2022
Incredibly well researched, even-handed and thoughtful account of the rise of domestic terrorism in the United States. While we continue to spend our money and resources on Islamic terrorism, it's a tiny fraction of what's perpetrated by the home grown right wing terrorists. Of particular interest is the analysis of the Las Vegas mass shooter, Stephen Paddock. While authorities concluded he was simply a disgruntled, mentally ill loner, the author tells a very different story which links him directly to right wing ideology. Highly recommend the book but portends a dark future for this country.
May 11, 2024
A PENETRATING STUDY OF ‘HOME-GROWN’ EXTREMISTS, AND THEIR ORIGINS
Author of domestic terrorism expert Daryl Johnson wrote in the Introduction to this 2019 book, “[referring to Micah Johnson. Muhammad Abdulazeez, and Dylann Roof] In the space of 13 months, three relatively normal young men had killed a total of 19 people. They hadn’t known their victims, or stolen anything… They didn’t fit the profile of serial killers. And, in each case, the family and friends were at a loss to explain why they had committed their crime. What was causing this epidemic? The official answer was to label the young men ‘violent extremists.’ But this answer created more questions. For example, if extremists are, by definition, outside the borders of mainstream society, how do we explain Abdulazeez’s wrestling coach describing him as ‘All American’ … Or his neighbors … remembering him as a young man who jumped into front-yard wiffle ball games? This was an extremist” He sounded more like a double agent.” (Pg. 10-11)
He explains, “Radicalization, meaning the process by which any ‘normal’ person becomes an ‘extremist’ … has two primary components. The first elements are internal, the backgrounds, individual traits and psychology that make up personalities. Within everybody, and internal battle exists between destabilizing factors… The second element of the radicalization process is exposure to extern al radicalizing forces, such as leaders, ideologies, conspiracy theories, social groups, propaganda…… people with weakened safety nets who come into contact with extremist rhetoric and ideology are most likely to accept or latch onto extremist ideas. This is the initial step in the radicalization process.” (Pg. 13-14)
Later, he adds, “However it happens, the Wall of Frustration suppresses an extremist’s desire to undertake dangerous, illegal action. This is the critical moment in the radicalizing process. At the Wall, they face a stark decision. Some will accede to the barrier, swallow their frustration, and continue legal activities. Others become disillusioned and drop out … of their cause or ideology altogether. But a very small fraction of those with the necessary motivation will push through… The other factor in violent acts is… having the means to carry them out… It’s these people, with the motivation to push through the Wall and means to carry out attacks, who are on the path towards violence.” (Pg. 21
He recounts that “An infamous former Klan leader, [Bill] Riccio… set up his WAR house, short for White Aryan Resistance, on a compound … in the woods southeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It served as a crash pad, clubhouse, and recruitment center for teenage boys eager to escape their own lives… Riccio sought out angry, adrift youth because they were the most likely to buy into his celebration of Hitler in a country where Nazis are usually shorthand for evil. But there was a likely secondary reason he was seeking out ‘broken toys.’ … during the past several years, several former WAR House residents came forward to report multiple cases of sexual abuse.” (Pg. 14-15)
He observes, “clearly the harsh economic environment played some important role in the spate of extremism between 2008 and 2016. What that didn’t explain was how extremist groups continued to expand even as the economy steadily improved from about 2009… Clearly, macro economics couldn’t explain everything that was going on between 2008 and 2016.” (Pg. 39)
He suggests, “The mid-1990s was when the impact of internet-based companies began reverberating loudly throughout the economy… As the value and glamor of the web grew, so did its dark side… the widely praised democratizing effect of the net also meant that a relatively tiny group of hatemongers would gain ‘a voice disproportionate to the numbers.’ … even after the presence of hateful extremist material on the net was exposed for everyone to see, no one seemed to know what to do about it… What’s more, though the mainstream publicity galvanized activism against the sites, it also advertised their existence.” (Pg. 49-50)
He records, “With ‘Stormfront’s’ success, the dream of pioneers like Louis Beam and Tom Metzger was partially realized. White Supremacists---along with other extremists---were utilizing the web to communicate with each other across great distances anonymously and very cheaply…. [But] Online hate sites … still weren’t any more important to radicalization then they had been to Timothy McVeigh… extremists were still searching for some way to increase online engagement. Fortunately for the, the enormous amount of talent and money bounding around Silicon Valley would soon offer hate groups an irresistible solution.” (Pg. 56) Later, he adds, “consumer-driven multimedia platforms like YouTube exploded… mainstream America became familiar with the idea of using social networking … to create online communities. Both Facebook and YouTube would become critical for extremists to inject the poison of extremism into mainstream America.” (Pg. 59)
He also notes, “Another way in which online extremists were able to plug into … social networking was through very sophisticated user-tracking and behavior-tracking analytics… these analytics are increasingly used to push targeted content… to users in order to increase clicks and page views… the fundamental structure of social media would have guided Muhammad Abdulazeez and Dylann Roof to increasing extreme material online… The analytics … are particularly dangerous because all people tend to consume content that confirms their particular viewpoint… More than anything else, perhaps, social media and other online content strive to make every online activity, including radicalization, more convenient, fun, and addictive. Someone with a passing interest … can read online extremist propaganda for days.” (Pg. 64-65)
He observes, “But not only were all these extremist actors in play at once, these groups were also re-emerging into a country where politics, media and even intra-personal relationships were not processed through a web-enabled, hyper-partisan, outrage-fueled, troll-driven, click-hungry, conspiracy-laced, all-immersive media culture.” (Pg. 134)
He suggests, “Certain political and economic situations---a prolonged recession, stagnant wars in the Middle East, the nation’s first African-American president---set the backdrop for this sea change. But the alt-right could not have moved in from the political margins without the assistance of the establishment media, national politicians, and some of America’s largest corporations, like YouTube and Facebook… just about everyone … underestimated the depth and spread of the movement. By 2016, extremism was not just mainstreamed, it was ready to take over the establishment.” (Pg. 187)
He points out, “Because Unite the Right belonged to the ‘alt-right,’ it definitely revealed the movement’s fundamental ugliness. The movement had emerged as a political curiosity in 2016… While their rally [at Charlottesville in 2017] included clean-cut young men from Vanguard America and Identity Evropa, it also attracted an ugly collection of neo-Confederates, neo-Nazis, and Klan supporters chanting racist and anti-Semitic slogans… As a result of the fatal street violence in Charlottesville, the alt-right began to face a concerted pushback Alt-right leaders were more likely to find themselves banned from the social media platforms that had been so critical to their rise… as well as payment sits like PayPal.” (Pg. 202-203)
Of the Charlottesville conflicts, he comments, “the conspiratorial, anti-government militias essentially replaced the official law enforcement, which remained behind barriers even as fights broke out. Antifa was also present in large numbers at the rally and were credited by members of an inter-faith group with saving their lives by fending off over 100 neo-Nazis… they believed that without Antifa’s intervention, they would have been killed, while police and National Guard stood watching. Antifa’s mission was no apolitical or peaceful, though…” (Pg. 205)
He argues, “what is unique---and uniquely terrifying---about the United States today is that extremism, specifically right-wing radicalism, has entered the political mainstream more effectively at any time since at least the 1960s. Through the Trump administration and some members of Congress, it is directly connected to the levers of national political power… Donald Trump continually attacked national political institutions, including the legal system, elected officials and the media, encouraged violence and vigilantism and repeatedly pushed back on democratic norms.” (Pg. 212)
But he also points out, “In the eleven years since 9/11, Muslim extremists had carried out five fatal attacks in the United States, killing 17, including 13 in single incident in Ft. Hood, Texas. In just the four years since the 2008 presidential election, domestic non-Islamic extremists had carried out many more attacks and killed more Americans. These attacks included… 27 law enforcement officers…. The government’s response, pushing almost all its resources into preventing extremist Islamic attacks, had been woefully inadequate.” (Pg. 220)
He concludes, “the enemy is not them, but us: addictive social media, irresponsible news pundits, divisive political parties, unforgiving paramilitary culture, and an unbalanced economy with shortcomings that are easily exploited by extremists… Micah Johnson, Muhammad Abdulazeez and Dylann Roof … were not so much secret extremists as young men weaponized by America itself. Each was a neighbor looking for a place to pour their pain and frustration, but their violence was not predetermined. With love and understanding, we can help stop it from being repeated.” (Pg. 251)
This book will be of great interest to persons studying such extremists, and their organizations.
Author of domestic terrorism expert Daryl Johnson wrote in the Introduction to this 2019 book, “[referring to Micah Johnson. Muhammad Abdulazeez, and Dylann Roof] In the space of 13 months, three relatively normal young men had killed a total of 19 people. They hadn’t known their victims, or stolen anything… They didn’t fit the profile of serial killers. And, in each case, the family and friends were at a loss to explain why they had committed their crime. What was causing this epidemic? The official answer was to label the young men ‘violent extremists.’ But this answer created more questions. For example, if extremists are, by definition, outside the borders of mainstream society, how do we explain Abdulazeez’s wrestling coach describing him as ‘All American’ … Or his neighbors … remembering him as a young man who jumped into front-yard wiffle ball games? This was an extremist” He sounded more like a double agent.” (Pg. 10-11)
He explains, “Radicalization, meaning the process by which any ‘normal’ person becomes an ‘extremist’ … has two primary components. The first elements are internal, the backgrounds, individual traits and psychology that make up personalities. Within everybody, and internal battle exists between destabilizing factors… The second element of the radicalization process is exposure to extern al radicalizing forces, such as leaders, ideologies, conspiracy theories, social groups, propaganda…… people with weakened safety nets who come into contact with extremist rhetoric and ideology are most likely to accept or latch onto extremist ideas. This is the initial step in the radicalization process.” (Pg. 13-14)
Later, he adds, “However it happens, the Wall of Frustration suppresses an extremist’s desire to undertake dangerous, illegal action. This is the critical moment in the radicalizing process. At the Wall, they face a stark decision. Some will accede to the barrier, swallow their frustration, and continue legal activities. Others become disillusioned and drop out … of their cause or ideology altogether. But a very small fraction of those with the necessary motivation will push through… The other factor in violent acts is… having the means to carry them out… It’s these people, with the motivation to push through the Wall and means to carry out attacks, who are on the path towards violence.” (Pg. 21
He recounts that “An infamous former Klan leader, [Bill] Riccio… set up his WAR house, short for White Aryan Resistance, on a compound … in the woods southeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It served as a crash pad, clubhouse, and recruitment center for teenage boys eager to escape their own lives… Riccio sought out angry, adrift youth because they were the most likely to buy into his celebration of Hitler in a country where Nazis are usually shorthand for evil. But there was a likely secondary reason he was seeking out ‘broken toys.’ … during the past several years, several former WAR House residents came forward to report multiple cases of sexual abuse.” (Pg. 14-15)
He observes, “clearly the harsh economic environment played some important role in the spate of extremism between 2008 and 2016. What that didn’t explain was how extremist groups continued to expand even as the economy steadily improved from about 2009… Clearly, macro economics couldn’t explain everything that was going on between 2008 and 2016.” (Pg. 39)
He suggests, “The mid-1990s was when the impact of internet-based companies began reverberating loudly throughout the economy… As the value and glamor of the web grew, so did its dark side… the widely praised democratizing effect of the net also meant that a relatively tiny group of hatemongers would gain ‘a voice disproportionate to the numbers.’ … even after the presence of hateful extremist material on the net was exposed for everyone to see, no one seemed to know what to do about it… What’s more, though the mainstream publicity galvanized activism against the sites, it also advertised their existence.” (Pg. 49-50)
He records, “With ‘Stormfront’s’ success, the dream of pioneers like Louis Beam and Tom Metzger was partially realized. White Supremacists---along with other extremists---were utilizing the web to communicate with each other across great distances anonymously and very cheaply…. [But] Online hate sites … still weren’t any more important to radicalization then they had been to Timothy McVeigh… extremists were still searching for some way to increase online engagement. Fortunately for the, the enormous amount of talent and money bounding around Silicon Valley would soon offer hate groups an irresistible solution.” (Pg. 56) Later, he adds, “consumer-driven multimedia platforms like YouTube exploded… mainstream America became familiar with the idea of using social networking … to create online communities. Both Facebook and YouTube would become critical for extremists to inject the poison of extremism into mainstream America.” (Pg. 59)
He also notes, “Another way in which online extremists were able to plug into … social networking was through very sophisticated user-tracking and behavior-tracking analytics… these analytics are increasingly used to push targeted content… to users in order to increase clicks and page views… the fundamental structure of social media would have guided Muhammad Abdulazeez and Dylann Roof to increasing extreme material online… The analytics … are particularly dangerous because all people tend to consume content that confirms their particular viewpoint… More than anything else, perhaps, social media and other online content strive to make every online activity, including radicalization, more convenient, fun, and addictive. Someone with a passing interest … can read online extremist propaganda for days.” (Pg. 64-65)
He observes, “But not only were all these extremist actors in play at once, these groups were also re-emerging into a country where politics, media and even intra-personal relationships were not processed through a web-enabled, hyper-partisan, outrage-fueled, troll-driven, click-hungry, conspiracy-laced, all-immersive media culture.” (Pg. 134)
He suggests, “Certain political and economic situations---a prolonged recession, stagnant wars in the Middle East, the nation’s first African-American president---set the backdrop for this sea change. But the alt-right could not have moved in from the political margins without the assistance of the establishment media, national politicians, and some of America’s largest corporations, like YouTube and Facebook… just about everyone … underestimated the depth and spread of the movement. By 2016, extremism was not just mainstreamed, it was ready to take over the establishment.” (Pg. 187)
He points out, “Because Unite the Right belonged to the ‘alt-right,’ it definitely revealed the movement’s fundamental ugliness. The movement had emerged as a political curiosity in 2016… While their rally [at Charlottesville in 2017] included clean-cut young men from Vanguard America and Identity Evropa, it also attracted an ugly collection of neo-Confederates, neo-Nazis, and Klan supporters chanting racist and anti-Semitic slogans… As a result of the fatal street violence in Charlottesville, the alt-right began to face a concerted pushback Alt-right leaders were more likely to find themselves banned from the social media platforms that had been so critical to their rise… as well as payment sits like PayPal.” (Pg. 202-203)
Of the Charlottesville conflicts, he comments, “the conspiratorial, anti-government militias essentially replaced the official law enforcement, which remained behind barriers even as fights broke out. Antifa was also present in large numbers at the rally and were credited by members of an inter-faith group with saving their lives by fending off over 100 neo-Nazis… they believed that without Antifa’s intervention, they would have been killed, while police and National Guard stood watching. Antifa’s mission was no apolitical or peaceful, though…” (Pg. 205)
He argues, “what is unique---and uniquely terrifying---about the United States today is that extremism, specifically right-wing radicalism, has entered the political mainstream more effectively at any time since at least the 1960s. Through the Trump administration and some members of Congress, it is directly connected to the levers of national political power… Donald Trump continually attacked national political institutions, including the legal system, elected officials and the media, encouraged violence and vigilantism and repeatedly pushed back on democratic norms.” (Pg. 212)
But he also points out, “In the eleven years since 9/11, Muslim extremists had carried out five fatal attacks in the United States, killing 17, including 13 in single incident in Ft. Hood, Texas. In just the four years since the 2008 presidential election, domestic non-Islamic extremists had carried out many more attacks and killed more Americans. These attacks included… 27 law enforcement officers…. The government’s response, pushing almost all its resources into preventing extremist Islamic attacks, had been woefully inadequate.” (Pg. 220)
He concludes, “the enemy is not them, but us: addictive social media, irresponsible news pundits, divisive political parties, unforgiving paramilitary culture, and an unbalanced economy with shortcomings that are easily exploited by extremists… Micah Johnson, Muhammad Abdulazeez and Dylann Roof … were not so much secret extremists as young men weaponized by America itself. Each was a neighbor looking for a place to pour their pain and frustration, but their violence was not predetermined. With love and understanding, we can help stop it from being repeated.” (Pg. 251)
This book will be of great interest to persons studying such extremists, and their organizations.
January 15, 2021
The comments about this book are amusing. Just because the conclusions the author draws based on his research (he was an analyst for the Department of Homeland Security) don't align with your political beliefs, doesn't mean his research is biased. You may have preconceived ideas about who perpetrates violence in this country based on your personal and political beliefs, but the research may not support those preconceived notions and ideas--a case of opinion running up against pesky facts again!
March 24, 2021
As books go, this is certainly one for our times. Mr. Johnson is very even-handed with his observations of both right and left-wing extremism in addition to the historical roots of these movements. His insights into the internet culture surrounding things like 4Chan, memes, and Twitter bots are worth a look, especially for those who may not have been exposed to it. The work can be described as both chilling and prescient.
January 6, 2021
A brief but dense evolutionary history of American extremist movements.
July 20, 2023
I feel like MSNBC just threw up on me - all emotion, terrible use of data to give you a sense of size of the problem, totally biased with his personal opinions clouding almost every aspect of his poorly positioned tales and assumptions, and he uses elongated stories of mentally ill killers to validate his premise of a concerted effort by all radical conservatives to fight progressivism with only violence.
A clear Trump hater, he waits until page 199 to mention BLM and Antifa in a somewhat supportive light. Poor man - now that time has shown us that BLM filed bankruptcy in early 2023 with $30M in debt, and Antifa has been proven our most violent and active hate group, he should have spent more time discussing the destruction of Minneapolis’ 800+ businesses or the demise of Seattle and Portland. We have limited visible proof of alt-right destruction, but can easily point to 36 pregnancy centers (who support underprivileged mothers through healthy childbirth) burned and vandalized by alt-left hate groups.
This author fails to connect - but worse insults all of your senses with the demented artistry I only reserved for Morning Joe and The View.
Don’t read this, although published in 2015, the author reaches back to the founding of our nation in order to try to construct enough examples of alt-right actions to help build his mass illusion.
The only premise of this book that I agree with is the mapped correlation between alt activities and growing unrest with the economy and trust of our government.
You don’t need this guy to scare you with threats that the KKK might reach a membership of 500-1,000 someday in the future, when you can just look at the current state of our nation to know that he picked the wrong topic to write about.
As Biden mumbles with incoherent speech that alt-right hate groups and parents protecting their children are our nation’s threat, no American can safely visit any of our large cities, we have a completely open border with fentanyl and trafficked children flowing into our nation, homelessness rampant, COVID vax scandal, drag queens with child audiences, retail store theft, carjackings, black on black and Asian crime, Biden selling access to the office backed by the FBI, and much more happening under Dem rule, I sense that this author might characterize anyone in this nation willing to fight back against this liberal tyranny as a hate group.
If you listen to the new song by Jason Aldean “Try it in a small town” he captures the feelings of many Americans who want to fight for the America they grew up in, versus allow the progressive motives of stealing us away from god, country, and freedom.
The only reason I would hope you might waste your money buying this book, and time reading it, is so that you could try to top my highly critical review, and the obvious hatred I have developed for the perspectives shared by individuals like Daryl.
A clear Trump hater, he waits until page 199 to mention BLM and Antifa in a somewhat supportive light. Poor man - now that time has shown us that BLM filed bankruptcy in early 2023 with $30M in debt, and Antifa has been proven our most violent and active hate group, he should have spent more time discussing the destruction of Minneapolis’ 800+ businesses or the demise of Seattle and Portland. We have limited visible proof of alt-right destruction, but can easily point to 36 pregnancy centers (who support underprivileged mothers through healthy childbirth) burned and vandalized by alt-left hate groups.
This author fails to connect - but worse insults all of your senses with the demented artistry I only reserved for Morning Joe and The View.
Don’t read this, although published in 2015, the author reaches back to the founding of our nation in order to try to construct enough examples of alt-right actions to help build his mass illusion.
The only premise of this book that I agree with is the mapped correlation between alt activities and growing unrest with the economy and trust of our government.
You don’t need this guy to scare you with threats that the KKK might reach a membership of 500-1,000 someday in the future, when you can just look at the current state of our nation to know that he picked the wrong topic to write about.
As Biden mumbles with incoherent speech that alt-right hate groups and parents protecting their children are our nation’s threat, no American can safely visit any of our large cities, we have a completely open border with fentanyl and trafficked children flowing into our nation, homelessness rampant, COVID vax scandal, drag queens with child audiences, retail store theft, carjackings, black on black and Asian crime, Biden selling access to the office backed by the FBI, and much more happening under Dem rule, I sense that this author might characterize anyone in this nation willing to fight back against this liberal tyranny as a hate group.
If you listen to the new song by Jason Aldean “Try it in a small town” he captures the feelings of many Americans who want to fight for the America they grew up in, versus allow the progressive motives of stealing us away from god, country, and freedom.
The only reason I would hope you might waste your money buying this book, and time reading it, is so that you could try to top my highly critical review, and the obvious hatred I have developed for the perspectives shared by individuals like Daryl.
August 15, 2022
A thorough exploration of a recurring cancer on our society - on, probably, just about every society - that is currently threatening to kill this particular host.
Daryl Johnson does an excellent job organizing and presenting a mass of information about the ways that individual human beings are radicalized and about the organized groups that both feed into that process and draw strength from its results.
Unfortunately - but probably inevitably - the book is long on problem and short on solution; I think that may be due to the absence of a clear solution that is consistent with maintaining our civil rights and liberties.
Three factors that I think are going to keep feeding into the problem of violent extremism and attacks on democracy, the rule of law, and our ability to maintain a pluralistic society:
1. The growing trend toward a kind of generalized scarcity, as there are more people every day but not a corresponding increase in the available amounts of the things we need to have good lives;
2. The transformative role of the internet, deep fakes, and other digital technology in creating confusion about which of the pictures of reality being proffered on any particular topic is accurate, which are honest mistakes but still incorrect, and which are deliberate fictions meant to manipulate us; and
3. The systematic deletion of civics and history from public school curricula and the focus on teaching methods that require students to memorize and regurgitate data points - I call it the trivial pursuit approach - rather than requiring them to develop critical thinking skills.
I'm a pessimist by nature, but at the moment I think my gloom and doom may be more valid than it has been for most of my life. It's like global warming - I can remember what the climate and the weather were like here fifty years ago (I live within five miles of where I lived then), and it has changed - hotter, drier. In the same way, I can remember what the political and social climate was like then and compare it to now. It was no paradise then, but the amount of vitriol and violence coming from the extremists, the positions of power they're reaching, and the open in-our-faces contempt for pluralism and representative democracy would shock and horrify the great majority of the Americans of the early 1970s, even though they were just coming out of the era of the Vietnam war.
I really hope my now middle-aged children, my grandchildren, and my great grandson get to spend their lives in a country where they can express unpopular views without having to deal with violence or threats as a result. I wish I could do more to make that more likely.
Daryl Johnson does an excellent job organizing and presenting a mass of information about the ways that individual human beings are radicalized and about the organized groups that both feed into that process and draw strength from its results.
Unfortunately - but probably inevitably - the book is long on problem and short on solution; I think that may be due to the absence of a clear solution that is consistent with maintaining our civil rights and liberties.
Three factors that I think are going to keep feeding into the problem of violent extremism and attacks on democracy, the rule of law, and our ability to maintain a pluralistic society:
1. The growing trend toward a kind of generalized scarcity, as there are more people every day but not a corresponding increase in the available amounts of the things we need to have good lives;
2. The transformative role of the internet, deep fakes, and other digital technology in creating confusion about which of the pictures of reality being proffered on any particular topic is accurate, which are honest mistakes but still incorrect, and which are deliberate fictions meant to manipulate us; and
3. The systematic deletion of civics and history from public school curricula and the focus on teaching methods that require students to memorize and regurgitate data points - I call it the trivial pursuit approach - rather than requiring them to develop critical thinking skills.
I'm a pessimist by nature, but at the moment I think my gloom and doom may be more valid than it has been for most of my life. It's like global warming - I can remember what the climate and the weather were like here fifty years ago (I live within five miles of where I lived then), and it has changed - hotter, drier. In the same way, I can remember what the political and social climate was like then and compare it to now. It was no paradise then, but the amount of vitriol and violence coming from the extremists, the positions of power they're reaching, and the open in-our-faces contempt for pluralism and representative democracy would shock and horrify the great majority of the Americans of the early 1970s, even though they were just coming out of the era of the Vietnam war.
I really hope my now middle-aged children, my grandchildren, and my great grandson get to spend their lives in a country where they can express unpopular views without having to deal with violence or threats as a result. I wish I could do more to make that more likely.
November 1, 2024
Published in 2019, the author accurately predicted the violence after the 2020 Presidential election. However, this is in no way a political book. Democrats, especially Obama, are put through the wringer here, as well as Republicans. If anyone tells you that this book is "just leftist trash", that's code for "I haven't actually read the book."
The book focuses on domestic terrorists, from the left and the right, Christian or Mulim. It looks at how Democrats, Republicans and the mainstream media have mainly ignored them. It looks at the main causes of why someone gets radicalized, such as poverty, lack of access to mental health care, and going through trauma ("destabilizing force") such as divorce, death of a loved one, or suffering active duty in a war.
I was particularly glad to see that Johnson listed Soverign Citizens as domestic terrorists. Their selfishness and violence have had terrible repercussions on the courts, law enforcement, and America in general. That they constantly get away with everything except murder proved George Carlin's point that, "America is finished." I'd also list First Amendment Auditors, or 1A YouTube personalities, as domestic terrorists, but they hadn't come to national attention by the time this book was published.
The main reason for the sharp rise in hate crimes and extremist groups is idiocy. Americans are idiots. Now, Johnson doesn't put it as bluntly as I just did, but he does mention that people only read the news that confirms their beliefs, and looks at the rise in Flat Earthers, with their blatantly racist ideology and quest to destroy Americans' ability to reason.
Johnson blames the Internet and social media for the ease in which someone can be radicalized. You no longer need to join a group like the KKK or ISIS to become a terrorist. And that's why America is finished.
Johnson ends the book with three people who stepped away from their racist lives, and gives suggestions for how to help similar people get back to reality. Unfortunately, it's too little, too late.
The book is very well written with no political bias. Recommended. You can currently read a text-only copy at Book Read Free.
The book focuses on domestic terrorists, from the left and the right, Christian or Mulim. It looks at how Democrats, Republicans and the mainstream media have mainly ignored them. It looks at the main causes of why someone gets radicalized, such as poverty, lack of access to mental health care, and going through trauma ("destabilizing force") such as divorce, death of a loved one, or suffering active duty in a war.
I was particularly glad to see that Johnson listed Soverign Citizens as domestic terrorists. Their selfishness and violence have had terrible repercussions on the courts, law enforcement, and America in general. That they constantly get away with everything except murder proved George Carlin's point that, "America is finished." I'd also list First Amendment Auditors, or 1A YouTube personalities, as domestic terrorists, but they hadn't come to national attention by the time this book was published.
The main reason for the sharp rise in hate crimes and extremist groups is idiocy. Americans are idiots. Now, Johnson doesn't put it as bluntly as I just did, but he does mention that people only read the news that confirms their beliefs, and looks at the rise in Flat Earthers, with their blatantly racist ideology and quest to destroy Americans' ability to reason.
Johnson blames the Internet and social media for the ease in which someone can be radicalized. You no longer need to join a group like the KKK or ISIS to become a terrorist. And that's why America is finished.
Johnson ends the book with three people who stepped away from their racist lives, and gives suggestions for how to help similar people get back to reality. Unfortunately, it's too little, too late.
The book is very well written with no political bias. Recommended. You can currently read a text-only copy at Book Read Free.
June 10, 2021
A fascinating and timely book by former Department of Homeland Security analyst. I had read about Johnson’s report that was criticized by Republicans and some Democrats as being anti-police and military. Johnson’s report from 2010 or so identified the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers for the first time as domestic terrorist threats. Because many members were affiliated with the military and law enforcement, Johnson’s report was dismissed as unpatriotic, which is really scary and Socialist sounding. Nevertheless, probably because of the limited (and racist) view of terrorists, it was hard for many law makers to envision the threat of domestic terrorism. Nearly a decade later, after the capitol was attacked by many members of these groups, it’s still puzzling to see why certain leaders and policy makers refuse to acknowledge the threat that these groups pose. Johnson’s book was fascinating and important to read, especially as there continues to be a surge in extremism over the past 5 years or so. Johnson’s book also does not focus on right wing extremism, but also examines instances of left wing extremism. His book is especially helpful in understanding how the radicalization process happens, and how easy it is for individuals who may be susceptible to radicalization to access content and propaganda that can influence their thinking and actions. In addition, Johnson’s book is also helpful in providing some strategies and suggestions for combatting extremism and violence. While there may not be hope to persuade and change the mindsets of certain individuals, Johnson uses the case study of Derek Black, the son of Don Black, Stormfront’s founder, as a way to show how exposing individuals to different thinking. This story is chronicled in the excellent book Rising Out of Hatred by Eli Saslow. It was interesting to see how Johnson sees this example as a means to help someone overcome hatred and potential extremism. Johnson argues that we shouldn’t shun these individuals and shut them out, but rather try to expose them to different ideas that challenge their core beliefs. Derek Black, as a college student, was in the right kind of environment to have this happen, and although some of his friends turned on him, others tried to help him understand their perspectives. I’m not sure if this can always happen, but Johnson raises an important idea about how we need to be open minded about others and not completely dismissive. I was really glad that I read this book, and I think that the idea of extremism and how propaganda, disinformation, and just the lack of clear information literacy is fueling hatred and violence is necessary for everyone to understand. As Johnson points out in the end, it’s ultimately about the policies and how we choose (or not choose) to address this growing threat to our country.
February 10, 2021
This was written long before the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, but it shows a clear path to how we got there. For example, I understand the Oath Keepers and how the police reacted to them at the insurrection and at other events a lot better. My only problem with the book is a couple of false equivalencies. One is drawn between groups like the Oath Keepers, New Black Panther Party, Sovereign Citizens, etc., and Black Lives Matter. BLM may cause people to act radically against it, but it’s a peaceful social justice movement. Also, several times he referred to the role of the mainstream media inflaming tensions, but then only referred to Fox News and their hosts. Fox doesn’t represent the whole of the mainstream. But overall, it was really informative and gave me a lot more perspective about things that are unfortunately prevalent in society and on the news every day now.
July 26, 2019
I had very high hopes for this book, unfortunately I was let down. To me a book stating all the facts and discussing them openly. The author did mention extremists on the left and the right, however he seemed far more concerned with those on the right, thereby giving a biased account. The world is struggling with extremists and the common belief is that it’s going to get far worse. I think this book contains a lot of information, some useful information even, yet it missed a chance to be amazing.
October 11, 2020
Hateland is a well researched, clear eyed examination of the current dire right-wing extremism threatening democracy. The former Homeland Security analyst traces their modern form to a backlash from the FBI debacles at Ruby Ridge and the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, and shows how such fringe groups were empowered by and flourished with the advent of the internet and social media. An excellent easy read for anyone who cares about preserving our democracy and hoping to thwart the rot that has taken hold in recent years. Sobering.
April 13, 2022
I wanted to take these reviews a little more seriously and a little more in depth! This book was very good, and an excellent encapsulation to a lot of the issues in American extremism. However, the inevitable passage of time and very adaptive nature of these movements do make some of his information outdated, or incomplete rather. All in all, a very good read, very approachable, and I would recommend this to anyone trying to learn more and make sense of overarching patterns within American violent extremism.
April 8, 2019
interesting read -- learned a lot about many different extremist groups, conspiracy theories (jesus christ the people who believed in PizzaGate were insane), and violent individuals.
overall, I would recommend but wish some things were expanded upon. Sure, black nationalist groups can be hateful, but comparing them with white nationalist groups as if they are really on the same playing field seems like a lack of nuance on the book's part. However, mostly well done and intriguing.
overall, I would recommend but wish some things were expanded upon. Sure, black nationalist groups can be hateful, but comparing them with white nationalist groups as if they are really on the same playing field seems like a lack of nuance on the book's part. However, mostly well done and intriguing.
April 12, 2021
A lot of good points, but way too much false equivocation between radical left and the extremist right makes it seem like both sides are as culpable as one another.
The ultimate answer the author lands on for how we can combat the scourge of right wing extremism is flimsy at best.
And as other reviewers have stated, there are too many anecdotal events that jump around the historical timeline to see where any coherent argument is coming from.
The ultimate answer the author lands on for how we can combat the scourge of right wing extremism is flimsy at best.
And as other reviewers have stated, there are too many anecdotal events that jump around the historical timeline to see where any coherent argument is coming from.
February 19, 2025
Published in 2019, this book already comes across as dated, though I suppose it does function as a good overview of the events leading up to that year. I would call this a good place to start, but it’s not as thorough as I would have liked. It’s also obviously biased in favor of the government (written by an ex-DHS agent) and left wing politics; the section on Antifa is short and has mostly positive things to say about them despite identifying them as a terrorist organization?
November 2, 2021
Blinders are off.
Disturbing account of whom, where and how hate is being fueled here in America. The events that led up to many lives being taken too soon and a reminder of how a failed presidency contributed to a wider polarization of America. Good read for awareness, acceptance and how to navigate the toxic belief system.
Disturbing account of whom, where and how hate is being fueled here in America. The events that led up to many lives being taken too soon and a reminder of how a failed presidency contributed to a wider polarization of America. Good read for awareness, acceptance and how to navigate the toxic belief system.
March 13, 2021
Well researched and well written. He's the expert in the field of domestic hate groups. This book doesn't just cover white supremacist groups. If you weren't frightened before with all the hate and violence being played out loud right now, you will after reading this book.
November 19, 2020
Terrific overview of one of the (many) plights confronting modern American society. The "what to do about it" chapter at the end was a little anodyne and Pollyannish.
September 16, 2021
Good overview of hate groups & online blabbering in these divisive polital times. Great study
October 14, 2025
An interesting brief examination to US domestic terrorism - focusing on white and black nationalistic perpetrators - albeit with quite basic explanations (i.e., social media).
October 10, 2020
Sums up the last generation of hate and extremism in the U.S. in straight-forward and clear terms. Sad and disgusting how much of a threat to national security and democracy as a whole and how little the current Trump administration is doing to combat it, or even address it. Disgusting.
February 15, 2024
Frightening. What if BLM had weapons training centers like the "well prepared militias"?
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