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jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and disturbing book. I'm glad I listened to the "Ultra" podcast first. It helped me contextualize as I read and I think it made for a richer reading experience. I hate that I didn't know any of this. How is that possible? I was a history major, for crying out loud! It's terrifying to see our country repeating this history. We have learned nothing.
msiyleen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
cmanson16's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.25
This was a highly informative and richly detailed book about the Nazi/fascist infiltration prior to the American entry into WWII. Maddow did skilled research as she easily explains how Nazis stoked isolationist and Anti-Semitic leaders into doing their bidding including MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. This books really paints pre-WWII America as deeply divided and susceptible to foreign influence, while also highlighting the brave Americans who stood up to American Nazis. Maddow does not directly allude to the success of the far-right in 2024 but the parallels are eerily present (a Nazi aligned congressman wanted to build a wall on the border to keep out Jews fleeing the Holocaust, I wonder which orange conman likes that idea).
Sometimes Maddow does go off into unnecessary tangents and some chapters could have been combined into others.
Overall, this book is quite fantastic and shows how delicate the American Experiment is.
Sometimes Maddow does go off into unnecessary tangents and some chapters could have been combined into others.
Overall, this book is quite fantastic and shows how delicate the American Experiment is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism