The QAnon Deception: Everything You Need to Know about the World’s Most Dangerous Conspiracy Theory by James Beverley (review)

This short but informative volume by James Beverley, a sociologist who has spent much of his career researching conspiracy theories, is a timely addition to the growing literature on this recent and prevalent theory—QAnon. Beverley begins by describing the ten-person team he assembled to research the topic. What follows are chapters on some of the basics about the obscure beginnings of QAnon, detractors of the movement, efforts to uncover the identity of Q, the connections with Satanism and witchcraft, criminal acts performed by followers of QAnon, and the intellectual dishonesty and moral corruption of leaders and followers of QAnon.

The first chapter includes a thoughtful 16-item list of “Thinking Guidelines on Q and QAnon” that should be considered by any getting involved with QAnon, even researchers. Beverley also offers some worthwhile caveats for those studying QAnon, as well as disturbing polling data showing how pervasive acceptance of at least some QAnon assertions is among the American populace. (One example: 50 percent of Donald Trump supporters said they think Democrats are involved in elite child sex-trafficking rings.) The chapter closes with discussion of the significant role QAnon played in promoting the idea that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and argues that this situation should be rectified.

Chapter 2 focuses on the enemies of QAnon, that is the ones who are regularly and viciously attacked by those promoting QAnon conspiracies. Bill and Hillary Clinton head the list, as do Barack Obama, George Soros, and, of course, mainstream media, which is viewed as a key player in efforts to control the world. Chapter 3 delves into the beginnings of QAnon, with cryptic postings—“drops” in QAnon parlance—about Hillary Clinton, who has always taken center stage in QAnon writings. Readers are told that the ambiguous nature of many postings has contributed to the development of a cadre of “Q Teachers” and “Q Bakers” who offer interpretations of the postings of Q. There are also descriptions of the ways QAnon managed to get its messages out early in its history using channels largely unknown to most Americans.

Chapter 4 highlights the identity of Q. Because the content of many drops mentions the military and the seemingly large role to be played by the military in rectifying the current situation, many commentators assume that Q is associated with the military. But this is not clear, and a number of other possibilities are discussed, including even the “tweeter in chief” Donald Trump. Beverley goes into considerable detail to discuss one large (3000-word) drop from QBRD BAKER (identity unknown) who suggests that Q is not one individual but a group of people who share responsibility for the QAnon phenomenon. It is notable that in the large drop the acronym GEOTUS is used, which means “God Emperor of the United States,” a reference to Trump.

Chapter 5 concentrates on Satanism and witchcraft, apparently because of many allusions to these phenomena in QAnon drops. Most readers will be aware of the effort to identify Hillary Clinton as the leader of a pedophile ring that has overtones of alleged Satanic sacrifices of children. These ideas were widespread in the 1980 and 1990s in the United States, and spread elsewhere. Some readers may find this chapter somewhat of a diversion from the volume’s focus, but it is worthwhile as background material to the entire QAnon phenomenon.

Chapter 6 offers details of a number of crimes committed by believers in QAnon ideas, starting with the famous attack on a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C. that was supposedly the headquarters of a pedophile ring. Many other crimes committed by QAnon followers are described as well. It is worth noting that this chapter is somewhat prescient, given what happened on January 6, 2021, when thousands of people, including many inspired by QAnon, invaded the nation’s...