Inside secret societies : behind the scenes of the Knights Templar, the Order of Assassins, Opus Dei, the Illuminati, Freemasons, and many more / Neil Turitz & Barak Zimmerman.

Includes index.

Introduction: The lure of secret societies -- Chapter 1: Religious secret societies -- Knights of Malta -- Knights Templar -- Teutonic Knights -- Grand Orange Lodge -- Ancient Order of Hibernians -- Knights of Columbus -- Opus Dei -- Chapter 2: Fraternal orders -- The Freemasons -- The Illuminati -- Ancient Order of Druids -- The Odd Fellows -- Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks -- Shriners International -- Moose International -- Friars Club -- Rotary International -- Kiwanis International -- Black Secret Societies -- The Societies of Women -- Chapter 3: Magic & Mysteries -- Order of the Golden Dawn -- Ordo Templi Orientis -- The Rosicrucians -- Chapter 4: Academic Organizations -- Flat Hat Club -- Eucleian Society -- Skull and Bones -- Scroll and Key -- Nacoms and Sachems -- The Seven Society -- Cadaver Society -- Frats: Hiding in Plain Sight -- Chapter 5: Capital & Labor -- Foresters Friendly Society -- The Molly Maguires -- National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry -- Knights of Labor -- Bohemian Club -- Royal Arcanum -- Knights of the Maccabees -- The Veiled Prophet Organization -- Chapter 6: Political Animals -- White Lotus Society -- The Carbonari -- Order of the Star Spangled Banner -- Knights of the Golden Circle -- The Boxers -- The Chowder and Marching Club -- The Bilderberg Group -- Chapter 7: Criminal Elements -- The Order of Assassins -- The Black Hand -- The Ku Klux Klan -- The Bratva -- The Mafia -- The Yakuza -- Hong Kong Triads -- Chapter 8: Clandestine Groups in Pop Culture -- The Literary Landscape -- On the Silver Screen -- Small-Screen Secrets -- Fun-Filled Parodies.

"For centuries, humans have had a fascination with secret societies. Some societies that are hundreds of years old -- like the Illuminati and the Freemasons -- are still relevant today. Or, at least, they are thought to be. But why? After all this time, why do people still care about things like that? What is it about secret societies that so intrigues us? Is it the exclusivity? The desire to belong in a place where others can't? What are they up to behind those walls, do they know something I don't? Perhaps it's the secret nature of it, with special handshakes and rituals and customs. Whatever it is, Inside Secret Societies gets to the bottom of it. We're taking the oath to reveal some of the more secretive of the secret societies, as well as some of the less secretive ones. Packed with plenty of minutiae and little known facts, this will be popular addition to those into manifestos." -- Amazon.com.