On Fascism

This book will alarm you, and it should. MacWilliams doesn't pull punches. It's not meant to be exhaustive. This small volume succinctly and bluntly makes the case that, frankly, we have problems. And the book seems to be intended for those who are perhaps less aware of our nation's history. I hope that such an audience is actually reached. 

MacWilliams front loads the text with a sort of state-of-the-union in which he shares some truly terrifying statistics. For example, he mentions that 42% of our population does not believe that all groups in America should have an equal chance at success. The list goes on and on.

He makes his point in 12 chapters, starting with the Lincoln-Douglas debates and concludes with the surveillance society that developed post-9/11, touching on the loss of a free press, our ever-crumbling belief in the value of truth, and how we treat immigrants.

I'm purposefully using first person because, like MacWilliams, I believe that we have to take ownership of the problems our nation faces. It's time to stop claiming that "they", the other side of the spectrum, are responsible for all of society's ills. This book makes it clear that we have never had a perfect union. There were no " good old days". And we're growing further and further from the ideals on which the country was founded.

As this book and history reminds us we have had leaders which have done horrible things in order to further their own interests, fears or hatreds, and we will probably have more leaders in the future. But it would help if we could learn from out past mistakes when choosing these people. This book was enlightening and disheartening at the same time. The US has a darker history of acts that are not so honorable. There doesn't seem to be anyone that the people of the US has not hated. It is easy to see why people are protesting. The people have had enough hatred. It is time to stop the vitriol that is spewed on a daily or hourly basis. It is up to us to stand up and fight for our republic or we will sadly fall into the abyss of fascism.

Every American political campaign, and every administration has produced its fair share of 'tell-all' books, but never before a book quite like ON FASCISM. Matthew C. MacWilliam points to and debunks American exceptionalism by citing authoritarianism as a practice known back to Plymouth Plantation and slave labor landing in Savannah Harbor right up to the brutal killing of George Floyd.

Every book I read, I do so, quite literally, from cover to cover… dedications, author's notes… everything but the index. When you read ON FASCISM, start at the very beginning and you will understand that this book is not only contemporary but as up-to-the-minute as is possible.

The subtitle of this book,  "12 Lessons from American History," is a clear indication of its intent. MacWilliams' goal here is to remove the rose-colored glasses and educate Americans in the actual history of their nation. The American Myth is just that… myth. That myth is the result of whitewashing (pun intended) our history to foster complacency based on lies and obfuscation. Each of these history lessons uses examples from the past that can be updated to the 21st century by simply removing names and dates. Did I learn anything? I most certainly did… and, in general, I think of myself as educated and informed. The rhetoric of the authoritarian is not limited to those on the right but crops up in some unexpected places.

The American media has used the word 'unprecedented' to describe the acts and actions of the current administration ad nauseum. By reviewing American history as codified since its inception, I have learned that this is just not so. Our current situation sees the media hanging on to every 'alternate fact' and outright lie and reporting them to the American people. This has happened before, and will undoubtedly happen again.

This is a book that every American should read. History, as it has been taught in school, tends to forget that Native Americans owned the land that was taken from them by European settlers. It doesn't tell us that the very foundation of our nation was for the benefit of white men. It doesn't tell us that long before there were 13 colonies, slave ships were bringing kidnapped Africans to our shores. These are inconvenient truths when you want to foment otherness for the benefit of a single elite.

Before the campaign that started in 2015 and its result in 2016, I was an avid reader of fiction. Over the years, there was the odd non-fiction book that caught my eye, but such books did not revolve around politics. In the past four plus years, I have learned much about the history of the United States of which I was unaware. I read ON FASCISM in less than a day. It is a fairly quick read that made me examine not only the American story, but my understanding of it. At the end of the day, we can choose to support and defend our republic or stand idle and let it become a fascist state. There are many things I could quote; however, the one statement that stood out in this Presidential election year: "When institutions like the Department of Justice ignore the Constitution and flaunt the rule of law, changing leadership at the top is not a sufficient remedy. The institution itself must be changed to protect democracy." To truly fix what is wrong today, we must start with our local officials and see what they are doing to push us toward "a more perfect union."

A timely read. I appreciate the historical background to a modern-day problem. The author is clear and concise with his arguments, and makes the history of fascism in America accessible to everyone. It's fascinating to see how undemocratic our country has always been.

I am glad I read On Fascism:  12 Lessons from American History by Matthew C. MacWilliams

Dr MacWilliams starts with survey data indicating that 46% of Americans inconsistently support  democracy (https://www.voterstudygroup.org/publication/follow-the-leader) and explores surveys that indicate support for various ideas inconsistent with democracies.

The 12 lessons are told in such a way that they serve as a reminder that although we are a good nation, we are far from perfect and at times some of our actions were more consistent with these undemocratic beliefs.

These history lessons are followed by a conclusion chapter with 10 steps to strengthen the American democracy.

That in turn is followed by 3 appendices discussing methods and so forth.  In particular I found interesting his discussion of measuring authoritarianism.

One method is a simple 4 question test.  I took it and was surprised to learn I scored very differently from the author, although we agreed on many of the issues he discussed in this book.

I highly recommend On Fascism and thank Netgalley for the chance to read it before publication

Fascism: 12 Lessons From American History is a powerful, eye-opening exposé on the death of democracy, and although this is specifically about the views of the American public this applies to pretty much every country in the world. The quote ”please, I can't breathe” - George Floyd’s Final Words (2020) had a big effect on me; seeing those words written in text somehow really moved and angered me even more. In this book, we learn that we have been gradually descending towards this situation for some time. MacWilliams dissects American exceptionalism, using 12 brief but potent lessons from history to illustrate that the dark forces of authoritarianism that face us today are not new. With the seemingly objective statistics presented it is difficult to conclude anything other than the fact that we are hurling inexorably towards even more major societal problems. I was utterly shocked by the facts gleaned from recent research as it shows just how fearful we have become of those who are different from us despite no genuine justification for it. It appears that the rampant propaganda has been successful in attempting to divide and all that's left to do now is conquer.

HL Mencken’s quote about fear is one that very much fits with the concept of this book. ”The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary”. This phrase encompasses exactly what has been taking place since the beginning of time on a political level, but has been ramped up exponentially of late. In succinct and accessible prose, MacWilliams presents a gut-punch of a book which should alarm those who believe in freedom and egalitarianism. This should be a rude awakening for any right-minded person and the use of research statistics, quotes and anecdotes certainly adds to the terror of this topic. Through the 12 chapters, he explores the surveillance state, lack of free press, the changing treatment of immigrants and the diminishing value of truth. Only through activism and stringently holding governments to account can the tide be turned. Highly recommended. Many thanks to St Martin's Griffin for an ARC.

Highly readable, 'On Fascism' is the ideal book for those wanting to know more about fascism and for library collections short on readily available clear, concise information.

This book was in a word: masterful. From the author's note about the promise of America through every last chapter it was clear that this book was based on facts, data and research. You don't have to like what MacWilliams is laying out to recognize the value.

Having read Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright I was excited to see that this text, while slightly more academic, was a great next step. As a Jewish reader, I appreciated the time given to anti-Semitism in Lessen 3: All Lies Matter discussing how conspiracies spread and Lessen 9: Galvanizing Group Identity.

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in understand the dangers of fascism, the warning signs, and how America's past continues to impact the present and future. America is not less susceptible to authoritarianism -- it's in our founding.

Just weeks away from an incredibly consequential election, this book is a good reminder to that democracy is on the ballot.

This book shows our time in history is nothing new. I was unaware of the racism and white supremacy that occurred under President Jackson. Now I am appalled that he is on our currency as favorite leader. It just shows the country has shown its underbelly before. Every lesson in the book brought new information to light. I was sickened as I read but glad to know the truth of our past history. The prejudice started with the Indigenous people and continues on today. The following are the lessons within the book.

Lesson 1: American Enlightened or Authoritarian?
Lesson 2: Fomenting Fear
Lesson 3: All Lies Matter
Lesson 4: Gagging the press, Quashing Dissent
Lesson 5: Taking What is Rightfully Ours
Lesson 6: Using Fear and Violence to Control and Subordinate Others
Lesson 7: The Driving Out
Lesson 8: Fear as a Path to Power
Lesson 9: Galvanizing Group Identity
Lesson 10: Silence of the Law
Lesson 11: Fear Breeds Repression; Repression Breeds Hate; Hate Menaces Stable Government
Lesson 12: The Surveillance Society and the Big Lie

The author did an amazing job writing this book. The information is presented in an easy to follow format. The book begins with an index of American Authoritarian Attitudes. This list could have been written in the 1770s, 1800s, or today. Even if the subject matter is difficult, I cannot say enough good about this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the past, present, and future of our country.

On Fascism is a timely book. It also is, in a nutshell, disturbing, and a little bit horrifying – as it should be. It serves to push against the idea of American exceptionalism. Its chapters focus on twelve times in American history where our democratic beliefs came up hard against authoritarian or even fascist ideals.

He opens the book with a bit of a gut punch with survey results on authoritarian attitudes and democracy that are alarming. A recent study reflects that 46% of Americans are inconsistent supporters of democracy and democratic institutions. It’s the perfect launching point for answer to the question: “How do we square these opinions with the story of American exceptionalism and the values that ostensibly anchor it?”

I consider myself a good student of American history. Still, I still had much to learn in these chapters, such as certain nuances forgotten or glossed over in their teachings. This is a quick read – only 208 pages in length – but it merited my full attention. I found On Fascism to be interesting and insightful.

It’s obvious where MacWilliams political leanings lie. (A few more examples of authoritarianism on the left would have softened his bias). However, he’s clear on the fact that the rhetoric of authoritarianism isn’t limited to one side, and that it has seeped into people’s belief system more than we realize.

Wow this book is a reality checker right from the start with alarming statistics. Just to present a couple (enough to be a shock!):  

46% of Americans are inconsistent supporters of democracy and democratic institutions
34% of Americans agree it is more important to follow the will of the people today than the principles laid out in the U.S. Constitution

And that's just two of them! This book goes over twelve lessons from our history that we really need to learn from. In a time when we are so divided and have a leader that tests the limits of the Constitution it is imperative people open their eyes, wake up and see the reality in which we live. The author makes it clear that all of our hands are dirty- not just those from the past but every single one of us now! We must work together, we all have to take action in order to save our country. Can we learn from our past? I sure as hell hope so! 

This is a disturbing, but necessary read. We have to face our past if there are any hopes of making the present right. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<i>Our fervent belief in the myth of American exceptionalism persuades us that we are uniquely immune to the activation of authoritarianism. Some of us contend that we are different from people in every other country in the world.

We are not.</i>

Many people, both within and outside the United States believe that Trump is as aberration. In his book On Fascism author Matthew CC Mac Williams, as the subtitle suggests, looks at '12 lessons from American history', interspersed with statistics on beliefs held by Americans today, to show this is untrue; that, in fact, the US has flirted with authoritarianism right from the beginning and it will not end with Trump's removal from office. As he shows, US democracy is much more fragile than most want to believe and it will take a conscious effort including a real reckoning with the past if it is to survive. 

On Fascism is a short but well-written and -researched book in language that is easily accessible to those without background in either US history or the politics of authoritarianism. It is a timely and important book and I urge, not only Americans, but others outside the US to read it.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and St martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

MacWilliams' book could also be titled: "12 Instances of America Behaving Badly." Each of the 12 'lessons' details a time in the history of the US when there have been elements of fascism. These range from the lynching of African Americans to the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. This was a book that made these events in history (even specific ones that I didn't have a lot of background on) immensely accessible. MacWilliams also did an amazing job tying in the mistakes we've made in the past directly to how our current White House administration is acting in a fascist or authoritarian stance. This book was well-researched and insightful, but unfortunately, it left me feeling rather depressed. It doesn't seem as though we've done much to learn from our country's troubled past. I worry that we're doomed to repeat a lot of these injustices (since that seems to be what we're already doing). I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a clearer understanding of fascism in the US and who would like to learn of connections between the past and present day examples of fascist behavior by our government.

A passionate critique of the notion of "American exceptionalism". MacWilliams has written a lucid, accessible, and engaging re-examination of American history and politics, identifying the authoritarian impulse that has, at times, driven policy and won public support. The author does this by examining 12 important moments in American history. This is not solely a critique, however, as MacWilliams also identifies and examines the impact of select Americans who have confronted, battled, and strived to push against this authoritarian impulse.

A valuable book, especially today. Very highly recommended. A must read.