2992 ratings (3.99 avg)
1106 reviews
more photos (12)

Gary

Gary’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (1429)
currently-reading‎ (2)

read‎ (2864)
did-not-finish‎ (4)

all-my-books‎ (17)
could-not-finish‎ (9)

Stats | More…

Gary is Currently Reading

Gary is currently reading

The Children's Dream (Auschwitz Twins #1)

by Roberta Kagan (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

progress:

(page 72 of 280)
— 17 hours, 48 min ago

18 hours, 32 min ago

Gary rated a book it was amazing

The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda

by Warren Kinsella

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Gary said: " The central argument of the book is that antisemitism is not a fixed ideology but a shape-shifting phenomenon that adapts across historical periods and political movements. It appears in different guises—from far-right extremism to Islamist militancy The central argument of the book is that antisemitism is not a fixed ideology but a shape-shifting phenomenon that adapts across historical periods and political movements. It appears in different guises—from far-right extremism to Islamist militancy and segments of contemporary online activism—but is presented as driven by a persistent underlying emotional force, often characterised in the book as envy. On this view, antisemitism does not disappear but reconfigures itself in response to changing political and cultural contexts.

A major focus is the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, including the massacre at the Nova music festival, where 375 people were murdered. The book highlights allegations of widespread sexual violence during the attacks, including rape, sexual abuse, and mutilation of victims, presented as part of the brutality of the assault. It also emphasises the speed of global reaction, arguing that within hours of the attacks there were already denials of atrocities and public demonstrations against Israel internationally, even before Israel’s military response in Gaza had fully developed.

A significant part of the post–October 7 response is described as rapid and large-scale demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause across cities and university campuses. In this context, it is argued that in the month following the attack, before the war in Gaza had fully escalated, “millions of pro Hamas protestors flooded the streets of cities and university plazas crying ‘from the river to the sea Palestine will be free,’ which in interpretation implies the end of Israel and removal of its Jews.”

The book further argues that Hamas’s objectives extend beyond physical violence. Alongside killing and kidnapping Israelis, it is presented as pursuing a strategic goal of shaping international public opinion by framing Israel as fundamentally illegitimate and morally evil—described through terms such as colonial, racist, fascist, genocidal, and apartheid. This narrative framing is seen as central to how the conflict is understood globally, and as influencing interpretations of violence and responsibility.

Closely related is the claim that such framing can contribute to diminished sympathy for Israeli victims, and in extreme cases to rhetoric suggesting that victims of violence are responsible for their own suffering. The book presents this as evidence of the effectiveness of anti-Israel narrative strategies in parts of international discourse.

A further strand concerns political and ideological responses to October 7 across activist circles. It references reports of statements attributed to figures such as Charlotte Kates, described in some contexts as praising what was called the “resistance” of October 7 and associated rhetoric interpreted by supporters as celebratory of the attacks. It also references claims that certain far-left socialist organisations expressed approval of the October 7 killings. These examples are presented as part of a broader environment in which the attacks were politically rationalised or endorsed within some activist spaces.

In addition, the book situates Israel within a broader geopolitical framing, describing it as being on the frontline against what it terms “barbarism,” and identifying a range of actors—including Iran, Qatar, Russia, China, Hamas, Hezbollah, NGOs, charities, and activist movements—as sharing, in varying ways, an interest in delegitimising or undermining the Israeli state.

A significant concern is the influence of anti-Israel activism in universities and online spaces, where such narratives are seen as particularly effective among younger demographics. The book argues that some Jewish students, despite having attended Jewish schools, youth camps, or programs such as Birthright trips, have been persuaded to adopt anti-Israel positions or align with movements hostile to Israel. It also presents a broader claim that young people are the demographic most exposed and most receptive to these narratives.

Within this online environment, attention is drawn to specific terminology and rhetorical patterns. One example is the term “zio,” used in some far-left and far-right online spaces as a derogatory shorthand for “Zionist.” It is widely regarded as an antisemitic slur. Its usage has been associated with figures on the extremist right, including David Duke, although its precise origin is unclear and it appears to have spread through broader internet subcultures over time.

The book also includes a chapter arguing that Hamas and China have, in different ways, made extensive use of social media platforms to shape global perception and influence public opinion at scale. In this framing, digital networks are presented not merely as communication tools but as instruments capable of mass psychological influence over billions of users, shaping how conflicts are understood and interpreted internationally.

A related chapter argues that parts of the world media have shifted from being neutral observers of the conflict to becoming active participants within it. Rather than simply reporting events, the media is described as increasingly shaping narratives, framing moral interpretations, and influencing political outcomes—effectively becoming an actor within the conflict itself rather than an external reporter.

A recurring theme is the use of historical analogy, particularly comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany. The book describes this as part of a broader rhetorical trend that contributes to moral inversion in public discourse. It also discusses Holocaust memory, arguing that in some contemporary narratives it is not denied outright but reframed through accusations that Jews or Israelis are replicating atrocities historically committed against them.

The overall picture presented is one in which antisemitism is persistent but adaptive, reappearing across ideological environments in altered forms. The book links historical antisemitic patterns with contemporary anti-Israel discourse, arguing that they represent variations of a continuous underlying phenomenon rather than separate categories. ...more "

progress:

(page 159 of 343)
— 1 hour, 39 min ago

1 hour, 42 min ago · see review