As a mod on a few garden and science subs at that time, they were pernacious and ethically inept. They would associate anything anti-pesticide or GMO with being an anti science quack. And they would dog pile on poor individuals expressing concern.
I had several debates with them, often reported them for brigading, and ultimately had to ban them.
The book that actually triggered a love of reading in me was the Dark Elf trilogy in the Dungeons and Dragons world.
The book that then grabbed me for serious reading was 1984.