Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good All Around
Review: Belz did a great job on this book. He's certainly come a long way from his last one (How to Be A Standup Comedian). I agree, he did do his homework on this book. I've been a long time admirer of JFK, and I learned more about the conspiracy surrounding his death. Although the part of the book dealing w/ JFK was rather one sided, it was well written and very persuasive. I'd always thought that the government had something to to w/ JFK's death, but I never really had any info to back it up when asked. After I had read Ufo's, JFK, and Elvis, I could answer pretty much any question my friends asked me. I know that not everyone wants to read this book so they can be the resident JFK expert, that just happens to be my reason. It's good for whatever reason you're reading it for. I've loved pretty much everything Belz has done so far (We'll leave Groove Tube out of that group...) and I was pretty disappointed w/ his first book. I took a chance on this one, but it turned out to be a winner.
Rating:
Summary: Comedic and Intelligent Are Not Mutually Exclusive
Review: Belzer is an intelligent person who is also a comedian, as well as an actor. Why some people think that being well read, cultured, and intelligent, as well as a comedian/actor are mutually exclusive, is beyond me. (Why do you think Belzer has escaped the cultural wasteland of the USA and moved to France?) Belzer's comedy routines have always been pointed, political, and sardonic. The blending of wit, intelligence and comedy in Conspiracies should not come as a surprise to anyone, especially those familiar with Belzer's comedy.Belzer has obviously followed conspiracy theories, politics and the topics of UFOs, JFK, etc. for years. His personal thoughts on these subjects are hysterically and thoughtfully put together in this book. This book isn't a scientific look at UFOs. It isn't a sociological breakdown of our cultures' fascination with the JFK assassination. The book does not contain "in-depth" interviews, photographs, charts and graphs, surveys or other scientific data. Belzer isn't a scientist, sociologist or psychologist, he is a writer/comedian/actor, and, as such, has put together his personal thoughts regarding these subjects in a book. To expect Belzer to provide some sort of rigid documentation, or in-depth interviews with those "in the know, " is missing the point. Belzer is entitled to his opinion, whether one agrees with him or not. He also is writing in his own style, which is comedic. Don't let the comedic style fool you; beneath Belzer's wit lies perceptions based on intelligent thinking and research through the years on these very topics. Belzer stays true to who he is: a man with a sense of the absurd, a comedic perspective of the world. It has often been the "comics" who have had the most serious things to say. (Mort Sahl, George Carlin, Dennis Miller, etc.) As someone who has been studying UFO and UFO-related phenomena, I found Belzer's insights to be both entertaining and on the mark. Far from finding Belzer's blend of humor and thinking on the topics contradictory or confusing, I found his style to be refreshing and informative. I also admire Belzer for "coming out" publicly with his views on these subjects, particularly the topic of UFOs. Mainstream society still does not treat the sincere exploration of UFOs as valid. Mainstream media and society still consider those of us who explore such topics as nut-cases. Belzer is brave to put himself out there with his insights.
Rating:
Summary: In the hippie vernacular, all I can say is, "WOW!"
Review: Can a mere mortal be a hilarious stand-up comedian, a marvelous actor in drama, AND a magnificent writer? In Richard Belzer's case, the answer is yes...AND he is married to a beautiful wife...AND he lives in France. Can a book be, at the very same time, a serious discourse on conspiracies AND be hysterically funny? This book of Richard Belzer's can. What a talent! I hope you don't think I'm being facetious. Believe me, I'm not. At the same time Belzer got me really thinking about his conspiracy thinking (and I am a conspiracy theory novice, so this is all new to me), he also had me literally laughing out loud. I call this remarkable. 99.9% of the books I purchase, I buy at Amazon. But I found this one in the "HUMOR" section of our local independent bookseller. I'd been reading such heavy-duty literature and non-fiction for so long, I thought I could use some humor...and I was NOT disappointed in that regard in Belzer's book. But what blew me away (I seem to be, in this review, totally talking in the hippie vernacular, so please, bear with me) is that along with laughing out loud, I found myself immersed in a beautifully and accessibly written treatise on conspiracies. I learned so much! I went running, upon being done to the book, to my computer to look things he'd recommended up. What a book! WHAT A CONCEPT! This guy is brilliant! I recommend it for humor, I recommend it for an introduction to conspiracy theory, and I recommend it for some truly excellent writing. Get this book, please! You'll thank me for it.
Rating:
Summary: Factoid: This book may crush some cherished delusions.
Review: I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much from this book when I bought it. I thought it would just provide a pleasant diversion during a long drive. (And, yes, I'm talking about the audiobook version. Reading while driving is just plain wrong, kids.) I didn't think a comedian/actor would have a proper understanding of the topics presented. Of course, I also never used to question such supposedly august institutions as the U.S. Department of Justice or The New York Times. It was a silly prejudice; Belzer is very knowledgeable. The references peppered throughout convinced me of this. The Belz provides an overview of various conspiracies that has surprising depth. In addition, the writing is very concise and powerful. I didn't find a dull moment in the entire book. And, even though the book would stand well on the organization of information and the excellent writing, the humor really helps put it above the standard conspiracy primer. It's not too over-the-top and not too desperately cynical. (The conspiracy rap at the end is a true masterpiece.) Get it and let the information work its way, unsettlingly, into your storehouse of popular delusions. Or scoff and go back to sleep like the rest of the sheep...but don't forget to keep laughing.
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasantly surprised
Review: I picked this book up not knowing what to expect. I was slightly familiar with Belzer's stand-up, but hadn't read anything he had written. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I have always been slightly interested in conspiracy theories, but with my interest came a bit of embarrassment. Belzer's humor effectively dissolved my embarrassment. If I started feeling a little ridiculous when I found myself seriously considering an off the wall idea, Belzer's wit would put me at ease. The humor made it easy to tell yourself, "I'm not crazy, Belzer is."
I can't say that Belzer was able to convince me of anything, but he certainly managed to pique my curiosity. Should I decide to learn more about the theories Belzer presents, I can simply turn to the helpful bibliography of conspiracy books and resources that Belzer recommends.
The bottom line - this book is a great blend of conspiracy and humor and I think it could be enjoyed by someone looking for either.
Rating:
Summary: Bite sized factoids to stir thought
Review: Mr. Belzer breaks down a few of the most talked about controversies in recent history into small, bite sized facts and viewpoints. This man is not a fanatic, just someone who is clearly well read and thoughtfull. I truely enjoyed this book. You can sit down and read one of the small chapters in three minutes, or read the whole book in three hours. The simple, but suprisingly thought provoking points he makes are great food for thought.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Not only is this book hilarious, it's informative, and educational as well. I didn't even know what FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was until I read this book, and that's just ONE of the things I learned. It's a good template for any aspiring conspiracy researcher. A thorough bibliography is included which lists all of the Belze's sources respectively.
I won't claim that I believed everything I read in this book, but I will say this: Anyone out there who is stupid enough to accept the "Single Bullet Theory" deserves to get shot in the head himself. That is all!
Rating:
Summary: Packed with real information and told as only Belzer can.
Review: Not too many people who are experiencing the kind of success that Richard Belzer is today would attempt to tackle such a controversial topic as conspiracy research. But Belzer does it with humor and style. This is a book for both the novice and the serious researcher. If you believe that JFK was killed by a lone nut or that UFOs are totally without any serious merit, then do yourself a favor and read this book. Belzer is a comedian but he is also a serious man with great insight into the folly of the world. The bibliography alone is worth the purchase price. Belzer is the real deal.
Rating:
Summary: Ought to be required reading in high school civics class
Review: Premise of the book, that they rip you apart for even suggesting that the official stories are less that truthful, is right on the money. It is inconceivable that anyone can take the Warren Report as the whole truth with any kind of open eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: For the Moon is Hollow and I Have Torched This Guy
Review: The first problem with UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have to be Crazy to Believer is the cover blurbs. They all state how funny he is, except for the CNN blurb. Bill Maher says it's "a treat to have his insanity in book form." This is a book about conspiracies and Belzer himself says in his introduction that he's trying to get the reader to ask questions and not accept the government's word on everything. If he's trying to do that, is it a good thing that he's called "insane" in a recommendation blurb? I don't think so. When I first picked this book up at the library (I'm a big fan of Belzer from his television roles), the subject matter intrigued me just enough that I wanted to see what Belzer had to say on it. I saw the three things mentioned in the title, but I thought the book would move beyond those three items and delve into other conspiracy theories as well. No luck, though. The entire first half of the book talks about the JFK assassination, and all of the theories behind it. The second half is about aliens and other space-based "cover-ups." He only mentions Elvis in passing. I was very disappointed. That was actually my reaction to the entire book: disappointment. I had so many problems with this book, but they boil down to two. First, the way the book is formatted and written, I had doubts on Belzer's credibility. This doesn't even involve cover blurbs. The JFK section of the book seems like nothing more than a rehash of the many theories that are already out there. Granted, it's nice to have them all in one place, but it would have been nice to get something new in there as well. Belzer talks about all of the different theories, but never really comes down on any one side. Was it the mafia? The CIA? Lyndon Johnson? The Communists? All of them combined? He probably thought that saying so many theories are possible is a good way to get people to question. It doesn't have that effect on me, however. Instead, I felt like I had been hit with a shotgun, with all of these pellets of theory hitting me in the head and none of them actually registering as a shot. Starting with JFK is the easy part. Even many people who think conspiracy-minded people are nuts think that something's fishy about the whole JFK thing. It's like throwing a rock at the ocean: you can't miss. Belzer spends over half the book on it, and I kept saying "yeah, fine, this is definitely a conspiracy...do you have anything interesting?" When Belzer finally does move on, he moves to the various UFO stories: alien abductions, sightings, close encounters, that sort of thing. He further damages his credibility, though, by bringing up the moon landing "hoax." Ok, he says in the introduction that this may be "a little over the top" but then he goes on to say that he wouldn't put it past the government to try and do something like that. Later, when he actually addresses it, he gives all the standard reasons for it being a hoax (no stars in pictures, moon dust, shadows, etc) which have been thoroughly debunked (check the web by putting "moon hoax" in the search engine). This does not help his credibility any. He quickly backs away from it and talks about people who believe that the beings inhabiting the moon and using it as a base kicked us off of it. Which is it Richard? The fact that he seems to believe a theory that's been completely discredited (though some people still cling to it) just takes away from the credibility of the rest of the text. The second problem is Belzer's writing style. I love Belzer's trademark wit, and he definitely applies it in this book. The trouble was, as I ground through the text, I found his asides and witticisms increasingly grating. That could be because I wasn't liking what I was reading, so maybe it's tied to my first problem. Whatever the case, I found his style cringe-worthy and it's only the fact that it's a short book that let me get through it without throwing it against the wall. Tied into the style is the format of the book. Theories are tossed in and then ignored with alarming regularity. Belzer brings up the supposed connection between Kennedy and Lincoln, even going so far as to imply that the John Wilkes Booth who was killed after Lincoln was shot wasn't the real assassin, but a patsy. What's the scoop behind that? I couldn't tell you, because Belzer drops it and goes back to JFK. The book is also filled with sidebars, which also makes it a bit annoying. You constantly have to leave the ongoing text to read the little side note or factoid that's also on the page. Other times, the sidebar has more space on the page then the regular text. I think this did add to the quickness of the reading, because there isn't as much as text to read as you would have thought. Overall, I couldn't find much to like about this book. It would be a good introduction to the various theories that are out there having to do with certain conspiracies. The UFO conspiracies are actually kind of interesting, though again the credibility gap is there. Since this is Belzer's stated goal, I guess the best question is: does it make you ask questions? My personal answer is no. To me, you would have to already be leaning that way before this book would push you over the edge. Does the government lie to us? Inevitably. But I don't necessarily buy the specific lies that Belzer is selling. Most importantly for a book review, I also didn't enjoy the sell-job. David Roy
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