Black Pill

How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics

De: Elle Reeve

Narrado por: Elle Reeve

Duración: 8 h y 28 m

Resumen del Editor

This tour de force of investigative journalism—in the vein of The Next Civil War and Why We’re Polarized—reveals how the battle between the right and left is spilling out from the darkest corners of the internet into the real world with often tragic consequences.

Award-winning journalist and CNN correspondent Elle Reeve was not surprised by the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. With years of in-depth research and on-the-ground investigative reporting under her belt, Reeve was aware of the preoccupations of the online far right and their journey from the computer to QAnon, militias, and racist groups.

At the same time, Reeve saw a parallel growth of counterforces, with citizen vigilantes using new tools and tactics to take down the far right. This ongoing battle, long fought mainly on the internet, had arrived in the real world with greater and greater frequency.

With a sharp eye for detail and a dash of dark humor, Reeve explains the origins of this shocking sweep of political violence. Drawing on countless interviews with sources in the white nationalist movement as well as hundreds of as-yet-unseen documents, she takes us on a surreal journey from the darkest corners of the internet to the most significant and chilling scenes of real-world political violence in generations. A stranger-than-fiction odyssey into the dark heart of what American politics has become, Black Pill is necessary listening for any supporter of democracy.

©2024 Elle Reeve (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Great story — uneven performance

Fascinating, well-told look at a world few people know. Quibble: The audiobook is read by the author. I have a hearing impairment, and I found the author’s vocal fry and tendency to let her pitch and volume to trail off at the end of sentences forced me to rewind and re-listen far too often. This wouldn’t bother most people, but my experience with this book made me appreciate professional actors and readers.

The content and performance are tremendous and terrifying

I listened to this book nonstop during a bike tour, I couldn’t turn it off. Captivating. Well written. It articulates a long held concern that has been lurking for years.

As a trans person, it was an informative history of what led us to where we are now politically, and what myself and my community need to do to build ourselves up/ brace ourselves for as we come to learn more about the incomprehensible lack of humanity we would face under the fascistic prospect of Project 2025.

This chaos is why I left my art curatorial career to become a clinical social worker. It is a wonderful reminder of why we need to show up for ourselves and our communities to support each other during these dark times in the hope for a better future.

Great book on the alt right and other dark corners of the web. Elle is awesome.

Great first hand interview material and narration from the author. Elle has a ton of balls to go out and report on what she did over those years.

Mind blown

This book gave me a look into the alt right and maga movement that nothing else has presented so explicitly. A compelling listen 10/10

Elle Reeve manages to turn a terrifying subject into an enjoyable listen.

Most of the material wasn't new, but was woven together into a single narrative and warning about what is happening under the surface of everyday American life. The final product is both really interesting and really chilling. Also a great read for anyone interested in journalism!

More, please?

This singular book wove the last decade's frayed political threads together into today's modern social fabric. If people want to know "how it ends", this well-sourced, courageous, deep dive into America's recent political history provides a narrative map. It's the best investigative journalism I've come across to explain America's latest problems w/domestic nazis. This is a must read (or listen).

first hand account of history from someone who was there

I highly recommend this book as it helps explain much about our current political situation. It was written in an intriguing style that made it seem like a novel. I wish it were a novel and many of the events covered in this hadn't actually happened. having the author read the book very much added to the experience.

One of the best and well researched books on Chan culture hands down

out of all the books I've read on this subject including Meme Wars and It came from something awful (both good books that deserve a read) I rarely come across a journalist who just gets it when it comes to Chan culture this might be my favorite book of 2024 hands down. I was part of this culture on the internet back in 2016. This brings back nostalgic memories of staying up late at night sh*t posting with the lads and going to community college. the author brings humanity to an otherwise misunderstood band of misfits there is obviously a difference between being a lonely nerd and being thrown in with a bunch of grifting wannabe nazis but the fact that I was there at the ground floor as Chan culture changed and now we have books about it blows my mind. 5/5 excellent work !

A fascinating, thorough and thoughtful primer on our current political and social moment

Excellently researched (and directly experienced), from the early 2010s and the origins of 4 chan / 8 chan / gamer and incel culture, and its influence on the emergence of the alt-right and neo-nazi movement that culminated in the The Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017, all the way to January 6, Elle paints a disturbing yet fascinating picture of the main figures and events through direct experience and interviews with the gamers, incels, neo-nazis, Qanons and others who have shaped our current political landscape. This is a must read to understand the influence of MAGA and Trump on the republican party and on America and more importantly, how the early 2010 internet culture helped shaped the culture wars that now preoccupy the GOP and much of America.

You will know them by the words they use.

I first heard about the book on Michael Steele podcast, and listen to the interview. It was the first insightful totally inside look and first hand account of what was going on in the white supremacy movement that really held weight. It's so easy after listening to this book to see how integrated the white supremacist movement is in 2025 Doctrine. The total disregard for women and basic human rights and the Total Domination of everyone who doesn't look like them is so clear when compared to the first hand accounts that were documented from the very people who made Charlottesville and January 6th happen. I know being totally embedded in that culture as forever changed the perception of everyone involved with this piece. I appreciate your tenacity and your sacrifice to bring this to light for everyone who's on autopilot thinking it'll just work out. Just like Benjamin Franklin said it's a republic if we can keep it, and now that we know what we're up against it's up to us.