Excellent work exploring a 1960s hoax that now underpins decades worth of conspiracies. Tinline dives deep into the historical context (JFK, Vietnam and the post-second world war status of the US) to explain how a hoax report on the US need to maintain the military industrial complex came about, how it became mainstream belief, and how it has been a recurring motif through the JFK assassination theories, Timothy McVeigh, David Duke etc
Tinline’s style is intensely readable, making this a quick study. My only critique would be the last twenty years or so are covered in one chapter that feels a little skittish as a result. Arguably this is due to the fact that at this remove the hoax has informed wider conspiracies rather than being a core text as such.

Strongly recommended.

Phil Tinline’s Ghosts of Iron Mountain is an enthralling work of investigative journalism that unearths the unexpected origins and profound impact of one of the most influential hoaxes of the 1960s. This compelling narrative dives deep into the conspiracy culture of America, unravelling the story of a fabricated document that would go on to influence generations of political thought.

In 1966, amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War and the rise of the military-industrial complex, writer Leonard Lewin was recruited by a group of satirists to create a document that would validate widespread fears about the government’s secrecy and deception. The resulting fictional report, Report from Iron Mountain, was presented as an official government document from a secret study group, claiming that the suspension of war would lead to disastrous consequences for the nation.

What began as a well-crafted satire soon spiralled out of control, feeding into the ideological narratives of both the left and right. Tinline traces the curious journey of this hoax and explores its lasting influence on American political discourse, from its adoption by extremist groups to its lasting presence in contemporary conspiracy theories.

Ghosts of Iron Mountain is an insightful, sometimes chilling exploration of how a single fabricated story can shape political landscapes and sow the seeds of distrust in institutions. Tinline’s meticulous research and gripping writing offer a fascinating look at the Cold War era, with a cautionary reminder of how dangerous myths can be when they find fertile ground in the media and political rhetoric.

For anyone intrigued by the strange intersection of history, media, and conspiracy, this book is a must-read. It is both a deeply researched account and an unsettling reminder of how easily falsehoods can permeate society and endure for decades.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

In 1967, the satirical Report from Iron Mountain was published. It purported to be a government document laying out the dangers of world peace. War, it stated, provided many benefits--economic, social, and more. The book was fiction. The author wrote a foreword, but didn't let on that the entire book was a work of his own imagination. There were others involved in the creation of the book--those who first approached the author, as well as the publisher, who categorized it as nonfiction. The book was very popular on the political left. Some were skeptical about the authenticity of the book, but said that even if it was fiction, there were some basic truths within it. Finally, the people involved admitted that the report wasn't real. For a while, this made no difference. People still read it and believed it on various levels. Eventually, interest in the book waned and it went out of print. Then one day the author discovered bootleg copies being sold on a right wing website. Turns out the book became a darling of right wing conspiracy theorists, which continues to this day.

In this timely and important book, Phil Tinline traces the history of the Report from Iron Mountain, situating it in cultural contexts as times and audience change. He's very clear about drawing the line between satire and conspiracy theory. He shows how facts can be manipulated to fit an existing worldview and how difficult it is to break through conspiracy theorists' beliefs. Tinline shows how this work is still an influence today--and the book is current, including the impact of the Report on the most recent US election. Another important aspect of the book for me is the illustration of how far left and far right political movements have much in common. My own observations bear this out. Although the ideological viewpoints aren't the same, there is often a common enemy, even if the solutions each side wants to implement are wildly different. The behavior and rhetoric is often quite similar. As this book shows, the same words get interpreted in different ways and can be used to justify opposing points of view.

This book has much to show us about how conspiracy theories operate and how even work done with the best of intentions can be taken up and twisted by anyone, leading to serious unintended consequences. I am very glad I read this book and I highly recommend it.