by Renata Adler
First published 2002
In 1954, Western leaders convene secretly in Holland to establish what becomes the Bilderberg group. Officials from the United States join representatives from Germany and Italy, recently defeated powers now participating as equals among European nations. The organization grows to encompass presidents, prime ministers, bankers, princes, business magnates, labor chiefs, diplomats, NATO officers, and figures whose true roles remain obscure. Media moguls and reporters receive invitations only when they pledge silence about attendees and discussions. Adler obtained confidential Bilderberg records from high-ranking members who secretly provided access to internal archives. She traces the group's evolution from its founding through decades of influence, examining which connections between members actually exist and which remain speculation. The book reveals how this network of power brokers operates and considers whether such exclusive gatherings shape global events.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: conspiracy-theory, secret-society
Setting: Holland, Europe
Period: 1954
320 pages · Hardcover · Time Warner Paperbacks