43 pages 1 hour read

Jason Stanley

How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us Versus Them by Jason Stanley is a nonfiction book analyzing ten strategies used by fascist politicians to gain and consolidate power in democratic states, from mythologizing the past to exploiting societal divisions and undermining intellectualism. Stanley uses historical and contemporary examples, such as Nazi Germany and the United States, to illustrate how fascist politics thrive in moments of socio-economic turmoil, creating fear and factionalism that undermine reasoned discourse and democratic values. Topics of sexual assault, violence, and racism are discussed in context.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley offers a compelling analysis of fascist tactics, exploring historical and contemporary examples. Readers appreciate its clear prose and timely relevance but note occasional repetitiveness and a U.S.-centric perspective. Despite these issues, it serves as a crucial primer on recognizing and combating modern authoritarianism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How Fascism Works?

An ideal reader for Jason Stanley's How Fascism Works would have a keen interest in political science, contemporary history, and the mechanics of authoritarianism. Comparable to readers of Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny and Madeleine Albright's Fascism: A Warning, they seek to understand the warning signs and societal impacts of fascist ideologies.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Politics / Government

Sociology

History: World

Themes

Society: Community

Genre

Psychology

Philosophy