Doubleday Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

Aún no lo leo, pero llegó a tiempo.

The irony is not lost on me that I finished this book just as the Jan 6 hearings were starting. Applebaum's thesis for this book is clear and terrifying, that "given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy," which until 2016 I wouldn't have believed. She explains those conditions and reveals the playbook for authoritarianism, particularly orchestrated in Poland, Hungary, Britain, Spain, Italy, (other parts of the world) and yes, America.I find this book authoritative, compelling, and objective. Keep in mind that the author identifies as a Republican, which for me, a "card-carrying, bleeding-heart, tree-hugging" liberal, to even read her work is a big deal. She doesn't just give the overview for the "right conditions" in a far-right world, but for the far-left as well, who both have similar tactics, motivations, and methodologies in delivering authoritarianism. So Applebaum's conclusions drawn for either party extreme is insightful. She's a perceptive historian who has a gift for explaining these complex ideas, definitions, and trends clearly.Although this book feels objective throughout, meaning she views and explains multiple perspectives, she also acts as participant and gives firsthand knowledge of many of the individuals that she's discussing. She also has lived and worked in America, Britain, Poland, and other parts of the world, and she's both a journalist and academic, so she brings a mix of life lived and historical research, both theory and practice, to this work. She makes this topic and the evolution of authoritarianism not just something in the past but something real with much currency and relevance for right now, especially in her discussion of nostalgia, nationalism, and fake news and especially in her view of Ukraine, the United States, and the overview of the circular themes in Europe concerning the far right.Her detailed overview of the persuasive techniques used by "this club" is chilling. She discusses those conditions which she mentions in her thesis, and after reading this text, I feel as if I've attended a university history course on authoritarianism (with a dynamic, creative, and deep-diving professor). This is my first text by Anne Applebaum, and I hope to read Red Famine and Gulag next.

I enjoyed this book. Well written and informative. I have lent it to friends who have also enjoyed it. I highly recommend.

Brillantly written and deeply documented

Relevant in today' world. Brilliant