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

Description

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 reading for any supporter of democracy.Review“A sharp exposé that does much to explain a strange, dangerous underground movement steadily emerging into daylight.” — Kirkus , starred review “Elle is a phenomenally skilled interviewer.” — Bookpage, starred review “A riveting debut chronicle…This immersive political history will captivate readers concerned about the future of democracy.” — Publishers Weekly “Powerful and propulsive...Reeve fearlessly investigates some of the most insidious corners of the Internet and showcases, to horrifying effect, how these radical pockets are threatening the rest of us.” —Brian Stelter, New York Times bestselling author of Hoax and Network of LiesAbout the AuthorElle Reeve is a CNN correspondent whose work has won numerous awards, including the Emmy, the Peabody, and more. Her writing has appeared in VICE , The New Republic , New York magazine, Elle , The Atlantic , and The Daily Beast. She lives in New York. You can follow her on Twitter @ElspethReeve.