Synopsis
Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power by Alexandra Robbins is an investigative exploration into Yale University’s secretive Skull and Bones society, a nearly 200-year-old organization that has long been the subject of fascination and conspiracy theories. Robbins, a Yale graduate and journalist, sets out to demystify the society by delving into its history, rituals, and influence, while also examining its place within the broader context of Ivy League culture and American power structures. Drawing on interviews with dozens of Bonesmen (as members are called), society documents, and her own insights as a member of a rival Yale secret society, Scroll & Key, Robbins constructs a narrative that seeks to separate fact from the myths that portray Skull and Bones as a shadowy cabal controlling global affairs.
The book begins by tracing the origins of Skull and Bones, founded in 1832 by William Russell as a response to a perceived slight when a classmate was overlooked by Phi Beta Kappa. Robbins details how the society evolved from its German university-inspired roots into an exclusive club that selects just 15 Yale seniors annually, fostering a sense of loyalty and elitism through secrecy and ritual. She describes the society’s headquarters, known as the Tomb, a windowless building that serves as the backdrop for elaborate ceremonies, including initiations involving symbolic coffins and retreats to a private island, Deer Island, off New York’s coast. These rituals, while sometimes juvenile—such as adopting special “Bones” names or engaging in theatrical antics—are portrayed as bonding mechanisms that create lifelong networks among members, many of whom go on to occupy influential positions in politics, finance, and other fields.
Robbins explores the society’s roster, which includes notable figures like Presidents William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, as well as other prominent leaders, highlighting how Bonesmen often support one another in their careers. She argues that this network, rather than a conspiratorial agenda, is the true source of the society’s power, concentrating wealth and influence among a small elite. The book also addresses myths, such as claims that the Tomb houses stolen relics like Geronimo’s skull or that Bonesmen receive large sums of money upon graduation, debunking some while acknowledging the society’s knack for cultivating an aura of mystery. Robbins is critical of the exclusivity and privilege embedded in Skull and Bones, connecting it to broader themes of Ivy League elitism and the perpetuation of “old-boy” networks in American society.
However, Robbins’ narrative doesn’t shy away from the mundane aspects of the society, revealing that much of what happens inside the Tomb is less sinister than rumored, resembling a glorified fraternity with a penchant for secrecy. She suggests that the public’s fascination with Skull and Bones fuels its mythic status, a point she drives home in the book’s conclusion, where she posits that the society’s influence stems as much from societal complicity in its legend as from its actual deeds. Critics of the book, as noted in some reviews, point out that Robbins’ reliance on anonymous Bonesmen raises questions about the veracity of her sources, and her own secret society membership invites skepticism about her objectivity. Nonetheless, Secrets of the Tomb offers a detailed, if occasionally uneven, portrait of a peculiar institution, weaving together historical context, personal anecdotes, and investigative reporting to illuminate the interplay of privilege, power, and secrecy at one of America’s most prestigious universities.