Andy Campbell gives the history of the Proud Boys, from Gavin McInnes to J6 and all of the violence, podcasts, interviews, and fundraising in between. It was super informative as to the names of the PB and specific events that put them in the news.

I think what I’d like more of is what draws men, especially young men, to “drinking clubs” like PB. I need the psychology behind that and how we can change that.

Yes, it’s biased, and the author will tell you why. And it makes sense why. At least, to me it does. A scary, black bloc, balaclava-wearing, statue-destroying, baby-eating, entire city-burning, commie-loving, 2a-loving, Soros-funded, equal-rights-for-all Antifa™️

This was a good explanation of how the Proud Boys got started and how their brand of extremism fits into today's society. It's not a down-the-middle, unbiased look at the group, nor does it claim to be - which was fine with me. I'm guessing that most readers picking this up are not doing so in an effort to decide whether the Proud Boys are good or bad guys, and it makes sense that the author is arguing against them. Parts of it are really tough to read because of how hateful these guys are, but it needed to be said.

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As pathetic as these individuals are, it would be incredibly dangerous to not learn about these militias and take their threats to people and democracy seriously.

The people who need to read this book, won't. Those who don't need to read it, already know what it is going to say. Andy Campbell isn't unbiased and that is the only reason I knocked it off a star. If anyone who needs to read it picked it up, it would turn them off in about 0.5 seconds and they'd never make it past the beginning. I also felt it could be slightly shorter and sometimes circled back onto a topic a few too many times.

Overall it's a good timeline of The Proud Boys and their rise to power. Thank you to Hachette Books for sending me a copy to review.

read this book if you want to find out just how cartoonishly evil the proud boys are