The Creature from Jekyll Island

​The Creature from Jekyll Island 
By G. Edward Griffin
Published in 1994 (Poorly updated in 2013 - there are still references to the Soviet Union, but also to the 2008 crisis)
608 Pages
Thibault’s Score: 3/5

I really want to like this book, but I can’t.


I remember reading it back in high school, and agreeing with many of its key arguments. Central banks are evil institutions which rob the public. There are conspiracies in the government surrounding these institutions. The Federal Reserve is a key aspect of the American military industrial complex’s war machine.


Sadly, I just cannot bring myself to recommend this book. The author exposes many credible and fascinating historical conspiracies, but loses his credibility through repeated allusions to “world socialist government” and “new world order” conspiracies. He even “Jew-baits” at several points.


I also found the use of the first person to be a bit condescending and pedantic. Griffin assumes that the reader has a poor vocabulary, and will write things like “to translate into the common man’s language.” I don’t like being talked down to.


The very title of the book reminds me of “Reefer Madness” or “Stranger Danger,” and the use of the first person feels propagandistic.


The history exposed is nonetheless very interesting and revealing. While I like the overall message, I am still looking for a book which can convey it better.