Bohemian Grove and Other Retreats: A Study in Ruling-Class Cohesiveness

by G. William Domhoff

Book Overview

"Here we get hitherto denied snapshots of the upper padrones who manage the vast North American hacienda, fraternizing and disporting themselves in bosky byways while readying plans for the greater... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061318809
• ISBN13: 9780061318801
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Harpercollins College Div
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Fascinating and Bizarre Study of the Bohemian Grove.

_The Bohemian Grove and Other Retreats: A Study in Ruling-Class Cohesiveness_, published in 1974 by psychologist and sociologist G. William Domhoff, is a fascinating study of several important retreats frequented by elite businessmen, politicians, scientists, artists, and other members of the upper-class elite. These retreats and in particular the Bohemian Grove retreat are infamous for the bizarre rituals which take place during the time spent there and for the often scandalous behavior of otherwise "conservative" businessmen that allegedly takes place there. It has been further maintained by some that during these retreats important policy decisions are embarked upon and indeed it is this fact that makes such retreats so notorious given the fact that what goes on there is not covered by the press. While the Bohemian Grove has for a motto "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" and includes a bizarre ritual called the "Cremation of Care" in which a body symbolizing the cares of the world is cremated thus serving to remind the businessmen that they are not to engage in politicking while on the retreat, it has nevertheless been maintained that such retreats offer a socially cementing process whereby the elite become unified as a class. Such cohesiveness may ultimately serve to underpin policy decisions which have effects on the United States (and indeed the rest of the world) that serve the interests of the upper-class elite. Domhoff presents the essential thesis that such retreats (while frivolous affairs on the face of it) actually serve a deeper purpose in unifying the upper-class elite which in turn is reflected in the policy decisions of important political figures. Further, Domhoff will controversially maintain that this upper-class is really a ruling-class against the "pluralist" belief that various groups come together to make policy. However, whatever one thinks of Domhoff's ultimate thesis concerning the ruling-class, there is some fascinating and bizarre information to be found in this book concerning the goings-on at certain upper-class retreats (and in particular at Bohemian Grove). In recent times, certain conspiracy theorists have become fascinated with the events and bizarre rituals that go on at Bohemian Grove and have maintained that such rituals are linked to ancient cults, Satanism, etc. Whatever one thinks of these conspiracy theories however, the rituals and events of Bohemian Grove are certainly very strange indeed and ultimately serve to cement the social structures of the upper-classes. This book begins with a Preface in which the author discusses the importance of retreats for various groups including for example scouts, ministers, students, athletes, musicians, and even cheerleaders. However, the author notes that retreats become particularly interesting when they are accompanied by bacchanalian rituals, first-class entertainment, illicit sex, and some of the richest and most powerful men in the country. This book w

When will the media stop ignoring this story?

The Bohemian Club, a very elite club made up almost entirely, (the exception being Colin Powell) of rich, white, men who gather together in Northern California in late July. Anyone that has looked into this Club knows how fascinating the information is on this story and how elusive it is to try to get information about it. Let me just say how elite and how rich the members are that get into this club, our President, George W. Bush, his father, every Republican President since Hoover, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Powell, Gingrich, Andrew Card, Karl Rove, Walter Cronkite, many, many CEO's of numerous corporations, (I'm still trying to find out if any of Enron's people were Bohemian Club members)and more rich, white elite men.The interesting aspect of all this is what exactly goes on there and how come most Americans have no idea about this place when you would think the media would be all over it. There is high level security surrounding the club and it is located in a remote place in Northern California. There are many, many rumors of strange activities there but some things are almost beyond doubt: Bohemians get drunk, it is comparable to a college fraternity, there is some gay activity by at least SOME of the members, some drug use, (which almost points to a huge hypocrisy since most of these "conservative, religous, family values" types have spoken out publically against gay rights, and have spent billions on a so called drug war)Almost beyond doubt is the bizarre Pagan relationship with the Bohemian Club. First off, it is in midsummer, which is considered a very important time in the Pagan calendar, there is a huge owl statue that has been photographed there, there are widespread rumors of some sort of sacrifice being made there ALTHOUGH the Bohemians state that it is not a live human, but just a dummy. I don't want to get into that argument, BUT my question is WHY HAVE SOME SORT OF HUMAN SACRIFICE THERE ANYWAY? Fake or real? How bizarre and strange is that?There is a Bohemian Action Network there that makes regular protests against the Bohemian Club and until recently feminists have made protests there since no women were allowed to become members or work there, until recently. The Network's argument against the Club is not about the bizarre rumors but sticks to the more solid and mainstream argument that these elite and powerful people make speeches, Kissinger made one recently,and it is widely reported that in 68, Nixon convinced Reagan to stay out of the Republican primaries, and the 92, a Gulf War General told the Bohemians the actual number of Iraqi deaths but warned against telling the masses, (the other 95%), because we would not be able to handle it. That is a very common attitude at the elitist Club, that information and power should and ought to be put into the hands of the few since grassroots democracy would be dangerous, how dare the masses feel that they should rule.Anyway, the Action Network argues that important policy speeches made