Creature from Jekyll Island
Moderator: Global Moderator
Creature from Jekyll Island
I'm surprised no one's brought up this book by G. Edward Griffin - it's the (true) story of the creation of the Federal Reserve System with a detailed history of earlier central banks in the US, the relationship between banking and politics (and war), etc etc. Griffin has definite libertarian leanings, some critics seem to think he's a conspiracy nut. Anyone read it?
Re: Creature from Jekyll Island
It's been on my list for several years. I have not read it yet.
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A: “Not unless round is funny.”
Re: Creature from Jekyll Island
I've never read his book on the Federal Reserve so I can't really comment on it.
But whether or not you agree with his views on the Federal Reserve, you should be aware that G. Edward Griffin was one of the major boosters in the 1970s & 1980s of laetrille from peach pits as a miracle cure for cancer. Many people (e.g., the actor Steve McQueen) were lured into questionable cancer treatment centers in Mexico with what turned out to be false or extremely misleading, at best, claims that laetrille is an effective treatment for cancer. Most in the medical community consider it quackery.
But whether or not you agree with his views on the Federal Reserve, you should be aware that G. Edward Griffin was one of the major boosters in the 1970s & 1980s of laetrille from peach pits as a miracle cure for cancer. Many people (e.g., the actor Steve McQueen) were lured into questionable cancer treatment centers in Mexico with what turned out to be false or extremely misleading, at best, claims that laetrille is an effective treatment for cancer. Most in the medical community consider it quackery.
Re: Creature from Jekyll Island
I read it years ago when it was published. Extremely good history of the origins of the Fed. I'm going to dig it out and re-read it. Thanks for bringing it to mind.
Re: Creature from Jekyll Island
Yes, rickb, I have an autographed copy from an event several years ago at which I met G. Edward Griffin in person.
The Creature from Jekyll Island was the book that first opened my eyes to the fundamentally fraudulent nature of fractional-reserve banking and the Federal Reserve System. It also introduced me to the murky origins of the Fed, the people who drafted and pushed through the legislation in 1913, the air of secrecy with which it was done, and the disturbing conflicts of interest surrounding the Fed's key architects.
The book, however, is very conspiratorial in its tone. A lot of readers are turned off by that. My suggestion for anyone planning on reading the book is to take some of the more speculative conspiracies with a grain of salt and focus on the plain facts regarding fractional-reserve banking and the Fed's origins. Double-check the claims in other references, including the ones that Griffin provides. Those banking- and Fed-related facts alone are worth the read, and the more controversial/inflammatory conspiracy theories in the book do not invalidate them.
The Creature from Jekyll Island was the book that first opened my eyes to the fundamentally fraudulent nature of fractional-reserve banking and the Federal Reserve System. It also introduced me to the murky origins of the Fed, the people who drafted and pushed through the legislation in 1913, the air of secrecy with which it was done, and the disturbing conflicts of interest surrounding the Fed's key architects.
The book, however, is very conspiratorial in its tone. A lot of readers are turned off by that. My suggestion for anyone planning on reading the book is to take some of the more speculative conspiracies with a grain of salt and focus on the plain facts regarding fractional-reserve banking and the Fed's origins. Double-check the claims in other references, including the ones that Griffin provides. Those banking- and Fed-related facts alone are worth the read, and the more controversial/inflammatory conspiracy theories in the book do not invalidate them.