43 pages • 1 hour read
Jason StanleyHow Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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
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 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.