America in the years leading into WW2 went through astonishing twists and turns in the efforts of homegrown Nazis and Fascists, who worked with great coordination and sophistication to destroy Democracy and install authoritarian rule. Their primary tools were propaganda, misinformation, and overwhelming antisemitism, and their funding was largely from the Nazi regime. Among their allies were celebrities, industrialists, influential politicians, and a cadre of right-wing militias who trained themselves in violent insurrection. They came frighteningly close to success, and it was private citizens and journalists who stood in their way, the Justice Department being concerned with Communism instead. The way things played out is far different from what you might expect, and indeed it is a battle for the soul of our country that has never ended. Fascinating, thrilling, and thoroughly researched, this work proves Maddow a masterful historian and storyteller.
–McNevin, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA
Find books you’ll want to discuss at Eagle Harbor Book Company and other independent bookstores. If reading about fascism makes you want to stand up against it, here is a resource for actions taking place on June 14, 2025 around the country.
