Assasins, Thugs and Vandals

by Will Roberts

During research for a novel some years, I came across a reference to the Assassins, a secretive Islamic sect, whose name was derived from ‘hashashin’, or ‘smokers of hashish’. I thought that other words we use during an everyday conversation might have just as exciting origins. This proved to be the case when I looked up the origin of the words Thug and Vandal.While on the subject of the unruly, disorderly and violent, I also checked the etymology of Hoodlum, Hooligan and Ruffian, and though these origins lack the interest that Assassins, Thugs and Vandals have, they are, nonetheless still worth including in this compilation.In discovering the origins of these words, this book embarks on a journey that starts in the rugged, almost inaccessible Elburz Mountains of northern Iran, where we meet the radical Ismailis Muslims, moving on to India where we will travel on that vast country’s hot, dusty well-trodden roads; then back west to Spain and North Africa, until we arrive in Rome.The story then moves to California, and specifically San Francisco, (only a brief visit because we want to avoid the riots); then to France, Spain and Germany, before returning to London, England, and an unusual Irish immigrant family.

87 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2020

About the author

Speaker, Humorist, & Trick Roper
Will Roberts is an internationally renowned performer and speaker known for his high-energy and insightful content spiked with humor. He prides himself on bringing back the common sense and simplicity of America. As a Cirque du Soleil artist on the Las Vegas Strip, business owner, social media and networking consultant, author, television segment host, and certified performance coach Will truly lives by his word and passionately practices his own Simple Sense advice.

Now don’t be fooled, Will is a Cowboy. The values and skills of the West are in his blood and are his true passion. He is an expert with a rope and is currently a featured act in Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis production on the Las Vegas Strip. After apprenticing with world-renowned Mexican charros and Hawaiian paniolos, Will applied the principles discussed in Simple Sense: Less is More Success™ to master the western art of trick roping and achieve his ultimate performance goal.

Since 2000, Will has been working with leading corporations. He shares his Simple Sense message and demonstrates that it is possible to increase productivity, performance quality and work enjoyment in a fast-paced and socially networked environment by focusing on his Less is More Success™ tools.

Will’s presentations are always extremely energetic, highly interactive and include tools that can be used immediately. He uses personal stories, humor and amazing trick roping demonstrations to make his motivating keynotes useful, memorable and ultimately profitable for his audiences.

He has performed at Madison Square Garden, the Los Angeles Orpheum Theatre, and the Republican National Convention.

Weekly Will can be seen on PBS Horizon in his segment “Will Roberts’ Weekly Telegram.” He is also a regularly featured contributor on The Richard Fowler Show, WeActRadio, BlogTalkRadio’s Rewiring Your Brain, The Core Business Show, and KJAG Radio.

Will is a professional member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).