Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America

Written by Will Sommer

Narrated by Joe Knezevich

""A story so bizarre, only Will Sommer could report it.” —Molly Jong-Fast

The definitive book on QAnon from the reporter knows them best; Will Sommer explains what it is, how it has gained a mainstream following among Republican lawmakers and ordinary citizens, the threat it poses to democracy, and how we can reach those who have embraced the conspiracy and are disseminating its lies.

The Storm is Coming. Trust the Plan. WWG1WGA. You’ve seen the letter Q on TV and in the news – it’s been everywhere from Trump rallies to the January 6th insurrection. “QAnon” used to sound vaguely familiar, somewhat ominous, but not quite mainstream. But what was once a fringe conspiracy theory has now become a household name and its symbols recognizable around the world. How did this happen, who is actually involved, what do they believe, and what do they want?

Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer has been on the ground with Q’s followers since day one, and in Trust the Plan Sommer has written the definitive book on the movement—who started it and who grew it, what they really believe is going on, and what they want to see “the Storm” accomplish on the day of its reckoning. At once a character study and a journalistic exposé, Sommer lets his cast of characters do the talking as he visits them around the world, from their makeshift compounds to the rallies they are still holding.

The great tragedy of this story is ultimately the legitimization of this ideology by mainstream politicians eager to gain access to a large and growing cohort of voters. Though 2020 brought the end of Trump’s presidency, his following within the QAnon community has simply pivoted and grown stronger. Trust the Plan shows us in granular detail who we’ll be up against for years to come, in the US and abroad. Understanding why and how something like Q happens is an indispensable exercise, and in showing us how we got here we can chart a path out.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Feb 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063114517

Will Sommer

Will Sommer is a media reporter for the Washington Post. He previously worked as a politics reporter for the Daily Beast and as a host of the podcast Fever Dreams. His work covering QAnon and other conspiracy theories has been featured in multiple documentaries, including HBO’s Q: Into the Storm.

Reviews for Trust the Plan

[J-reads things · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful investigation from a reporter who spent years looking into the conspiracy phenomenon that just won’t die.

[Tao Zheng · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

What could you expect? The author is from the Daily Beast.

[GARY WIMBERLY · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Stupid. Probably a leftist writer. Sorry I listened to th e book

[Paul Himmelman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A zippy read on a subject that is inherently hilarious, unless it comes for you and your loved ones. I have a different prescription for getting people out of this cult, however: admit that some conspiracies/conspiracy theories are plausible and that fact is being used against these people to dupe them into believing total nonsense. Anyway, other than that, perfect score.

[skid0612 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A deep dive into the origins and beliefs of the QAnon movement. The closer one looks the more unhinged these followers appear to be. But there are many different flavors and styles within this lunacy. Will Sommer's does a commendable job documenting and sharing with the uninitiated the highlights (so far) of this infectious movement.

[Hans Jarle Kind · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A thorough book about an absurd phenomenon. Absurd and dangerous. Like Trump.

[thecrow2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting insight to the deepest layers of the meta conspiracy theory craziness called QAnon.

[froxgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This definitive history of the Q-Anon cult is a must-read for those who wish to gain an understanding of the origins of this mysterious movement. The first conclusion to draw is how these modern-day doomsday groups have used social media to spread their message. The author traces the beginnings to a theory posted to the internet site 4chan back in 2017 by a still unidentified conspiracy theorist who claimed that the Clintons, Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and the ever-scapegoated-by-Anti-Semites George Soros were holding children in underground tunnels to syphon off their adrenochrome, a chemical that allegedly provides superhuman energy to the aforementioned villains. The fact is that no person without mental illness would either believe or spread the idea that Donald Trump and his secret military will bring "The Storm", a rapture-like event when the children will be saved, the kidnappers punished, and all financial debts and obligations will be removed. But here we are in 2023 and the Republican Party is deep in thrall to Q-Anon believers. Sommers presents a factual exploration of this simultaneously ridiculous and chilling group, backed by his extensive research. But as he reminds us, the inflaming impact of Q-Anon upon the world, not just the USA, from this horrifying nonsense is far from over.