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The Illuminoids: Secret Societies and Political Paranoia
Although The Illuminoids begins with an account of Adam Weishaupt's revolutionary Order of the Illuminati, founded May 1, 1776, the real purpose of this book is to trace the influence of secret societies throughout history - From their legendary roots in earliest times down to modern-day conspiracies behind the sensational headlines. Neal Wilgus really does think for himself; he accepts neither the inflamed hallucinations of the rabid anti-Illuminati crusaders nor the aloof dismissal of the Illuminati by the historians. Wilgus is a true political scientist. He has no axe to grind. He is looking for the truth and he is neither gullible nor too cynical to follow up on wild possibilities. A damned fine piece of original and fearless historical research, Wilgus is to be commended for his wit and skepticism in a field too often dominated by humorless fear-mongering.
262 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2020
A classic of it's kind; it used to be that one could chance upon the Secret History of the word on a spinner rack, between the Harold Robbins and Jackie Suzanne's in a supermarket, motorway service station or airport bookshop. It's not as outlandishly aroque as you might think. I wonder if I have read the same book as other reviewers. Wilgus sets the tone: tolerant, but guardedly skeptical, open-minded enough to allow verboten ideas room to scratch. The pleading, needy tone of much conspiracy-lit is almost entirely absent. It's not conspiracy-lit per se but a relatively sober but imaginative survey of other works, by the likes of Arkon Daraul (pseudonym of Idris Shah), JM Roberts, Nesta Webster and others. A barrage of names and dates, a working knowledge of figures in and around the French Revolution and in 20th Century politics and history is advised. Wilgus sets the tone and nails the appeal of alternative histories of this sort:
"One of the most interesting things about the Illuminoid theory of history is that once you get the hang of it there's a real temptation to go back and fill in the gaps, for there are so many Illuminated Ones, so many conspiracies and so many things that could have gone on back stage that it's impossible to draw any firm lines. This, of course, is what makes the theme an attractive one ..."
"One of the most interesting things about the Illuminoid theory of history is that once you get the hang of it there's a real temptation to go back and fill in the gaps, for there are so many Illuminated Ones, so many conspiracies and so many things that could have gone on back stage that it's impossible to draw any firm lines. This, of course, is what makes the theme an attractive one ..."
July 31, 2013
This was a book I was very excited to get, and have been excited before I read and re-read it several times, but which completely fails to excite me when I actually read it. It simply never lives up to its promise. It claims to be (and sometimes tries to be) an examination of the people and groups who become convinced of conspiracies, focusing especially on those who believe in the “Illuminati” or a related pseudo-Masonic secret group. If this was done using sociological (or historical) methods, it could make for a very interesting study of a subculture in Western society which has influenced the mainstream at various significant junctures.
Unfortunately, what it really is is a rather un-methodical gathering of conspiracy theories and crackpot ideas, with minimal analysis and no sociological or historical context whatsoever. To make matters worse, Wilgus or his editor has chosen to jettison standard English and pepper the text with non-words like “thru” and “altho.” As the book is now more than thirty years out of date, it does bring with it a certain type of historical context, but the post-hippie jargon and perspective will be alien to most current readers.
I find that today the most interesting parts are the beginning and the end. At the beginning, Robert Anton Wilson (co-author of “Illuminatus!” and solitary author of “Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati”) offers some words of sage advice in the form of an Introduction that is better than the book itself. He seems (perhaps this is my reading) to want to distance himself from the contents of the book and talk about the growing fascination among the intellectual class with conspiracy and its adherents, and he advises the reader to approach with caution. In the end, Wilgus offers a few pages of addenda that demonstrate a growing interest in Lovecraft, Crowley, Colin Wilson, and occultism that are highly typical of the times. I got a particular laugh from his mention of “The Satanic Rituals” wherein he found two examples of Lovecraftian magic, apparently without realizing that their author, Michael Aquino, had since quit the Church of Satan to found the Temple of Set. He also takes LaVey at his carny-huckster word about the authenticity of “The Stifling Air” ritual, and goes so far as to cite Pauwels and Bergier to back him up. That should tell you everything you need to know about his credulousness and credibility as a source.
In all, I have to say that it has its entertaining moments, but ultimately fails to live up to its premise.
Unfortunately, what it really is is a rather un-methodical gathering of conspiracy theories and crackpot ideas, with minimal analysis and no sociological or historical context whatsoever. To make matters worse, Wilgus or his editor has chosen to jettison standard English and pepper the text with non-words like “thru” and “altho.” As the book is now more than thirty years out of date, it does bring with it a certain type of historical context, but the post-hippie jargon and perspective will be alien to most current readers.
I find that today the most interesting parts are the beginning and the end. At the beginning, Robert Anton Wilson (co-author of “Illuminatus!” and solitary author of “Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati”) offers some words of sage advice in the form of an Introduction that is better than the book itself. He seems (perhaps this is my reading) to want to distance himself from the contents of the book and talk about the growing fascination among the intellectual class with conspiracy and its adherents, and he advises the reader to approach with caution. In the end, Wilgus offers a few pages of addenda that demonstrate a growing interest in Lovecraft, Crowley, Colin Wilson, and occultism that are highly typical of the times. I got a particular laugh from his mention of “The Satanic Rituals” wherein he found two examples of Lovecraftian magic, apparently without realizing that their author, Michael Aquino, had since quit the Church of Satan to found the Temple of Set. He also takes LaVey at his carny-huckster word about the authenticity of “The Stifling Air” ritual, and goes so far as to cite Pauwels and Bergier to back him up. That should tell you everything you need to know about his credulousness and credibility as a source.
In all, I have to say that it has its entertaining moments, but ultimately fails to live up to its premise.
July 15, 2024
AN "OVERVIEW" OF VARIOUS "CONSPIRACIES" INVOLVING SECRET SOCIETIES
Author Neal Wilgus wrote in the Preface to this 1978 book, "Part One spells out the Illuminati story, while in Part Two the Chronology throws the material into historical focus and the Outline gives an overall picture of the Illuminoid theme... The Outline is especially important for its inclusion of evidence showing the continuation of conspiracies and secret society activities down to the present... It should be noted that 'The Illuminoids' is derived from numerous conflicting sources and is intended to be a purely speculative overview. Thus... the wildest accusations of both left and right-wing extremists are quoted, though there is no implication that such charges are true."
He wrote, "Like a whole generation of thinkers in and out of Masonry, the Illuminati was in open revolt against the feudalistic monarchy and dogmatic religion which still retained power in Europe." (Pg. 17) He observes "That Washington and other of our founding fathers were Masons is beyond dispute... But ... there is no direct evidence that any of them were involved with the Illuminati despite a flurry of charges between Hamiltonian Federalists and Jeffersonian Democrats..." (Pg. 27)
He suggests, "One of the most interesting things about the Illuminoid theory of history is that once you get the hang of it there's a real temptation to go back and fill in the gaps, for there are so many Illumined Ones, so many conspiracies and so many things that could have gone on back stage that it's impossible to draw any firm lines." (Pg. 107)
He concludes Part One on the optimistic note, "If we can survive our economic and ecological storms long enough, ... the next stage of our evolution will be a new kind of enlightenment, an escape from the chains which presently bind us to this planet, this level of awareness, this pitifully short lifespan." (Pg. 146)
This is a thought-provoking book, which doesn't take itself too seriously.
Author Neal Wilgus wrote in the Preface to this 1978 book, "Part One spells out the Illuminati story, while in Part Two the Chronology throws the material into historical focus and the Outline gives an overall picture of the Illuminoid theme... The Outline is especially important for its inclusion of evidence showing the continuation of conspiracies and secret society activities down to the present... It should be noted that 'The Illuminoids' is derived from numerous conflicting sources and is intended to be a purely speculative overview. Thus... the wildest accusations of both left and right-wing extremists are quoted, though there is no implication that such charges are true."
He wrote, "Like a whole generation of thinkers in and out of Masonry, the Illuminati was in open revolt against the feudalistic monarchy and dogmatic religion which still retained power in Europe." (Pg. 17) He observes "That Washington and other of our founding fathers were Masons is beyond dispute... But ... there is no direct evidence that any of them were involved with the Illuminati despite a flurry of charges between Hamiltonian Federalists and Jeffersonian Democrats..." (Pg. 27)
He suggests, "One of the most interesting things about the Illuminoid theory of history is that once you get the hang of it there's a real temptation to go back and fill in the gaps, for there are so many Illumined Ones, so many conspiracies and so many things that could have gone on back stage that it's impossible to draw any firm lines." (Pg. 107)
He concludes Part One on the optimistic note, "If we can survive our economic and ecological storms long enough, ... the next stage of our evolution will be a new kind of enlightenment, an escape from the chains which presently bind us to this planet, this level of awareness, this pitifully short lifespan." (Pg. 146)
This is a thought-provoking book, which doesn't take itself too seriously.
February 24, 2017
This book is the most beautiful insanity I've been exposed to in recent months.
October 16, 2022
Intriguing history of "political paranoia", infected to an extent by its own subject matter. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
May 29, 2012
After unhappily occupying a studio apartment in East Rogers Park, Chicago for a year I was invited in 1979 to move in with the brothers Miley, Tom and Michael, on 1634 W. Chase in the same neighborhood. Another old high school friend, Tom Kosinski, was leaving their three-bedroom to travel to France and they needed a roommate. That situation lasted about a year. Then Tom moved out and James Koehnline took his place.
James is an artist, author and appreciator of the offbeat. Among his interests are conspiracy theories in general and the works of Robert Anton Wilson in particular. He got me to read a lot of odd stuff including this overview of conspiratorial Illuminati theories by Neal Wilgus, known as an associate of Wilson.
James is an artist, author and appreciator of the offbeat. Among his interests are conspiracy theories in general and the works of Robert Anton Wilson in particular. He got me to read a lot of odd stuff including this overview of conspiratorial Illuminati theories by Neal Wilgus, known as an associate of Wilson.
September 11, 2015
The Illuminoids is an eye-opening look at real secret societies. I first learned about the book after playing Steve Jackson Games' satiric card game, Illuminati. The Illuminoids sheds light on the "real" Illuminati and the people who believe in world-dominating conspiracies.
July 23, 2014
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews