“Albright outlines the warning signs of fascism and offers concrete actions for restoring America’s values and reputation. There is priceless wisdom on every page.”
NO MAJOR SPOILERS
This is a powerful and often frightening book. I listened to the audio version read by the author which I think probably made it more impactful. Albright writes from the unique perspective of coming from a Czech family who lost members in both the Nazi concentration camps and the communist regime that came in the wake of WWII. She herself was the first female Secretary of State in the Clinton administration and met many of the individuals she talks about in the book. Her calm, matter-of-fact and insightful manner throughout the book makes her illustrations and conclusions all the more chilling.
She starts off with a brief description of what we think Fascism is and then proceeds to take us through various regimes in the 20th-Century. As well as being a fascinating thumbnail sketch of recent history and full of interesting observations, this serves to show us that a “one size fits all” description of fascism is not appropriate – but like an elephant, we know it when we see it – often when it is too late and the damage is done. She concludes by asking questions we should be asking ourselves when faced with a leader/potential leader – and I have to say, many of those currently on the world stage do not fare well when this questioning is applied to them and their rhetoric.
This should be required reading for anyone who wants to educate themselves about recent political history, or who wishes to understand the world we live in better. It will scare the bejeezus out of you as well unfortunately – but maybe that is no bad thing.
Reviewed by:
Debbie McCarthy
Added 23rd April 2020
NO MAJOR SPOILERS
The author has served her adopted country in several different areas previously and is highly qualified to stand by what she has written in this work.
In the first chapter is an introduction to Fascism and the proper use of the term as it relates to past and present governments. Also she gives a brief glimpse into her early years and why this information is so very important especially at this time.
The next chapters gives the history of Benito Mussolini and how he came to power in Italy.. next we move on to Hitler… the cold war, Stalin, the McCarthy hearings… examining governments in other areas of the world.
Chapter 15 examines The President of the United States and that is the most alarming chapter of the book.
Albright has totally exposed Trump for what he is and what harm he has done already and is doing.
There is no way any of the book can be fluffed off as “fake news”, not this time… with history to back her up there is indeed cause for alarm and every person in the United States should take this warning very seriously.
I also think it of interest to anyone in any part of the world to learn from this work, or at least read it and make your own decision. Democracy is hard won and can slip away in the blink of an eye.
Personally I want to thank Mrs. Albright for writing this book, you are a light in a troubled time.
Reviewed by:
Diana S Long
Added 15th May 2018
