Conspiracy Encyclopedia

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Conspiracy Encyclopedia

Book cover
Author Thom Burnett (introduction)
Country  United States
Language English
Subject Conspiracy theories
Genre Encyclopedia
Publisher Chamberlain Bros.
Publication date
 2005
Pages 320
ISBN 1-59609-156-8
OCLC 62162975

Conspiracy Encyclopedia: The Encyclopedia of Conspiracy Theories is a non-fiction reference book about conspiracy theories, with an introduction by Thom Burnett. It was published in 2005 by Chamberlain Bros.,[1] and in 2006 by Collins & Brown.[2] Contributors to the work include Thom Burnett, Nigel Cawthorne, Richard Emerson, Mick Farren, Alex Games, John Gill, Sandy Gort, Rod Green, Emma Hooley, Esther Selsdon, and Kenn Thomas.[1] The encyclopedia discusses 365 conspiracy theories, most of which are political.

The encyclopedia was positively reviewed in The Guardian, where it was referred to as a "beautifully-produced tome".[3] It received both a positive and a negative review from two different writers in The Times. In 2008 the encyclopedia was listed as required reading in a course on conspiracy at Harvard University.[4]

Contents

Burnett notes that the German term "Verschwörungsmythos" means "Conspiracy Myth", and has value as a descriptive label.[5] "Perhaps the conspiracy world is an updated version of ancient myths, where monsters and the gods of Olympus and Valhalla have been replaced by aliens and the Illuminati of Washington and Buckingham Palace," writes Burnett.[5]

Three hundred and sixty-five conspiracy theories are discussed in the work, and the majority of these are political in nature.[6] Topics discussed include the moon landings conspiracy theories, the Bilderberg group, the Illuminati, the Warren Commission and the Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, the views of David Icke, and chupacabras.[3][7] The encyclopedia has a section on assassinations, and those discussed include the deaths of Kenneth Bigley in 2004, Danny Casolaro in 1991, John F. Kennedy in 1963, and Tutankhamun in 1323BC.[7][8]

Reception

In a review of the encyclopedia for The Guardian, Andrew Mueller called it a "beautifully-produced tome", and commented that the work "succeeds, as was probably intentional, in offering some fascinating tours of the byways of history and providing a tantalising alternative universe in which much of what you know may not be what it seems."[3] John Cooper reviewed the encyclopedia for The Times, and described it as "an entertaining compilation of ideas ranging from who was the 'real William Shakespeare' to the BCCI case and al-Qaeda."[8] Cooper noted "The most fascinating section relates to "Assassinations" ... an unusual fairytale book for Christmas."[8] Martin Samuel also reviewed the encyclopedia for The Times, and gave a more critical review, commenting "For all the encyclopedia's pretence at sifting the evidence in search of a verdict, if the truth is out there, the authors are damned if they can find it."[7]

Conspiracy Encyclopedia was listed as required reading in a 2008 course on conspiracy at Harvard University.[4] Writing in Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies, authors Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon comment that Burnett asserts "the spirit of our times has had the crap kicked out of it by global domination".[5] The encyclopedia is recommended for further reading by David Southwell and Sean Twist in their book Unsolved Political Mysteries.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Burnett, Thom (October 25, 2005). Conspiracy Encyclopedia: The Encyclopedia of Conspiracy Theories. Chamberlain Bros. ISBN 1-59609-156-8. 
  2. ↑ Burnett, Thom (August 31, 2006). Conspiracy Encyclopedia. Collins & Brown. ISBN 1-84340-381-1. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mueller, Andrew (September 24, 2005). "The Guide: Preview: Books: Conspiracy Encyclopedia". The Guardian. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Anderson, William Henry (Spring 2008). "SSCI E-132 - Conspiracy". dcewww.harvard.edu. Harvard University. Retrieved 2009-06-13. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hodapp, Christopher; Alice Von Kannon (2008). Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies. For Dummies. p. 10. ISBN 0-470-18408-6. 
  6. ↑ Raikka, Juha (January 31, 2008). "On Political Conspiracy Theories". Journal of Political Philosophy 17 (2): 185–201. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00300.x. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Samuels, Martin (November 19, 2005). "The truth isn't out here - Nonfiction". The Times (Times Newspapers Limited). p. Books 4. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Cooper, John (November 22, 2005). "Six for the stockings - Media review". The Times (Times Newspapers Limited). p. 7. 
  9. ↑ Southwell, David; Sean Twist (2007). Unsolved Political Mysteries. Rosen Central. p. 77. ISBN 1-4042-1083-0. 

External links

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