Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas [Paperback]

Mick Farren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

According to Newsweek magazine, three quarters of Americans believe the "the government is involved in conspiracy." The X-Files is a national phenomenon. As we approach the year 2000, the media is filled with dire predictions of new millennium paranoia

In an A-Z directory format, Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas by Mick Farren contains over 200 entries. Neither poking fun at conspiracy buffs nor conceding all arguments to skeptics, Farren's insightful account provides an objective and fascinating look at contemporary phenomenon.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mick Farren's A-to-Z compendium of conspiracy theory icons and other subcultural flash points offers an effective combination of documentation and humor. In addition to the expected material on the Trilateral Commission, the JFK assassination, and whatever it is the government's keeping in Area 51, Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas has entries for incidents that never quite made it into the most popular versions of the secret history of the New World Order. Everyone remembers the Iran-Contra portion of the Reagan administration, for example, but Farren reminds us of the brief hullabaloo surrounding the 1983 murder of Vicki Morgan, the mistress of Reagan crony Alfred Bloomingdale. Visual icons situate each entry into one or more of 15 separate categories, including aliens, Nazis, the feds, and religious cults. (Of the Church of Scientology, though, Farren merely notes that they "have many lawyers and they tend to sue anyone who says bad things about them.") Among the most recent phenomena noted in the book are the "Bill Clinton death list" that circulated on the Internet and in right-wing media in 1998, and the 1999 high school massacre at Littleton, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Renaissance Books (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580630774
• ISBN-13: 978-1580630771
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,571,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining comments on 200+ fascinating topics, June 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas (Paperback)

There are about 235 essay, ranging from one sentence to 3-4 pages on 15 topics, each assigned an icon. There are about 355 uses of the icons in the book, but these categories are not indexed. (I have indexed these and will share with those interested.) Most popular topic Teh Feds (65 mentions), then aliens (40), and so forth to only 11 mentions of magnetism. Surpringly, drugs, computers and the "end of teh world" are amoung the topics mentioend only a dozen times or so. On a critical note, Christians will not like to see The Book of Revelation described as "science fiction." No sources are given for the articles, while a short bibliography is given, but not thematically. The index is very selective. A fun read. Many of the topics deserve a serious follow-up for authentic "inquiring minds."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basically another conspiracy book., December 17, 1999

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas (Paperback)

Most books of this genre are usually a miserable attempt to sway the reader into believing whatever drivel the writer has to offer. Most books fail, this book is different, no lengthy stories.

This book is not a novel; it is an alphabetical listing of different stories and people and secret fears. From the Trenchcoat Mafia to Bill Gates you'll read some the most bizarre tales you've ever read before.

While most of the stories are harmless, such stretch the realm of possibility and other are completely out in left field. Overall the book is an easy and quick read and quite enjoyable.

My major disappointment was the author only scratched the surface on every topic, I think that if the book was written as a quick reference it did an excellent job. If this book was for anything deeper, you might want to find another resource.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money, November 26, 1999

By 

Beth (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conspiracies, Lies, and Hidden Agendas (Paperback)

This book looked very intresting by the description on the back. The readers are promised answers to many paranormal and conspiracy related questions, but what we get is a long-winded introduction that more or less ridicules those people who chose to believe some of the topics listed. Nothing is ever answered, topics are just listed matter of fact with no real depth to any one subject. The author calls these topics, "varying degrees of human greed, fear, and stupidity." (Pg. 27)

The author never takes a diffinitive stand on anything. There is a big market for paranormal books out there and it seems as though the author wanted to strike while the iron was hot, but not knowing what he believes in just chose to list things out instead of stick to anyone topic.

Any real paranormal buff would not find this worth the time or money.