Black Pill

2025 Reading Challenge ~ [3/12]

An interesting book about the people behind the nationalist and racist movements we have seen in the United States in recent years. Elle Reeve's journalistic work is exceptional, and she demonstrates an admirable ability to address these issues and interact with these characters.

The book's strongest point is its ability to faithfully portray all the traumas, problems and mental and social disorders of the main characters in these movements. Practically all the people mentioned in the book have some problem in their lives: either they are autistic, or they have serious physical disabilities, or they have been victims of social isolation, or whatever. This makes us realize that the leaders, and surely the followers, of all these movements are unstable people.

My biggest criticism of the book is that there isn't much beyond what one might see in a Vice story. In fact, one of the central chapters, towards the end, is basically a transcript of her reporting for Vice on the Charlottesville demonstrations. Putting the two side by side, one wonders what's the point of reading all this when the pictures (worth a thousand words, indeed) are available a couple of clicks away.

In terms of ideas, the book is relatively shallow. There are no reflections, no questions to make you think, not much analysis. It's just a “look at these lunatics I spoke to. This is what they did and their justifications.” Black Pill — by the way, I don't think the concept of blackpilling is strong enough to give the whole book its name — is just information about a freak show.

All in all, a decent book on an entertaining topic. Some people might say it is “important to know what is happening with these people” and “the risks we are facing” and all that jazz. I honestly think any adult knows these kinds of people exist and tha they are capable of doing real damage. Nothing new under the sun.

This book is so frightening, so timely, so important. I love Elle Reeve's writing and reporting style, which opens a window into who these hateful people really are, and where their sick worldview comes from. I remember watching her Charlottesville coverage at the time, in the brief moment when Vice was doing unique and valuable journalism, and finding it compelling. Her long-term communication with many of the subjects is clear, and really pays off in the insights she's able to deliver in this book.

While super well-written and well-reported, the book is also disturbing and upsetting, especially in the context of the recent election. Was occasionally tough to get through, and I absolutely needed several palette cleanser rom-com novels during and after reading it.