Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow

15 reviews

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.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism

emma_sky's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Antisemitism

wildadventures's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Antisemitism

goatpush's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Antisemitism

Moderate: Violence and War

amachonis's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

squidbillyinvictus's review against another edition

dark informative reflective fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicide

thischarmingamy's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism and Xenophobia

eliasaurus's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

This book was great, and terrifying. Everyone should be scared of how well the Nazi propaganda machine inserted itself into this country. The parallels with current efforts by Russia to undermine the integrity of our political system are undeniable.

Rachel Maddow is very good at taking facts that seem disparate and trying them into a compelling narrative. That said, this book was a little slow because of how many threads and characters needed to be followed to get the whole story. It's worth it to stick it out, though. Her writing is as funny and entertaining as you'd expect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism

Minor: War

mamabadger's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.25

A well researched account of an important but largely overlooked bit of US history. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Racism

Minor: War

jess_justmaybeperfect's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

5.0

A fascinating deep dive into the pre WW2 roots of US anti-semitism and fascism. Reads like a spy novel. Well sourced, narrated by Maddow herself, moving, and frightening.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Racism