History

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism

  • Downloads：2982
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2023-10-24 07:21:48
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Rachel Maddow
  • ISBN：0593868315
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Lisa Hall ，

Maddow does not disappoint。 As an amateur history buff this really hits home。 Everyone has heard about McCarthyism and Hoover's communist witch hunts。 I remember that from a couple history classes and other sources， but no one covered the fascism angle。 We didn't see Hitler for what he was and were late to WWII was as far as it went。 Just how deep the support for Hitler and fascism went in this country was something I was unaware of。 I'm more optimistic about the place we find ourselves now。 Maddow does not disappoint。 As an amateur history buff this really hits home。 Everyone has heard about McCarthyism and Hoover's communist witch hunts。 I remember that from a couple history classes and other sources， but no one covered the fascism angle。 We didn't see Hitler for what he was and were late to WWII was as far as it went。 Just how deep the support for Hitler and fascism went in this country was something I was unaware of。 I'm more optimistic about the place we find ourselves now。 。。。more

Louise Sullivan ，

An in-depth investigation of the prominence of fascist organizations and rhetoric of the 1930s and 40s in the US。 The parallels to current right wing rhetoric and influence is eerie。 This book is an expansion of Maddow's 2022 podcast， Ultra。 An in-depth investigation of the prominence of fascist organizations and rhetoric of the 1930s and 40s in the US。 The parallels to current right wing rhetoric and influence is eerie。 This book is an expansion of Maddow's 2022 podcast， Ultra。 。。。more

Monte Price ，

I don't think any book Maddow writes will be as impactful on me as Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power was， or even Blowout: Corrupted Democracy， Rogue State Russia， and the Richest， Most Destructive Industry on Earth。 I do think that this is slightly undermined by the fact I spent weeks listening to the podcast this feel like a companion piece to， and so some of the information felt more repetitive because I'd already had the part where the information could land like a shock。 I do I don't think any book Maddow writes will be as impactful on me as Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power was， or even Blowout: Corrupted Democracy， Rogue State Russia， and the Richest， Most Destructive Industry on Earth。 I do think that this is slightly undermined by the fact I spent weeks listening to the podcast this feel like a companion piece to， and so some of the information felt more repetitive because I'd already had the part where the information could land like a shock。 I do think that the book does a good job of expanding on the information first presented in the podcast and even allowing some of the other tendrils that were part of the zeitgeist that allowed for other events to happen。 I definitely don't regret pre-ordering and I do think that it does a valuable service of shining a light on a period of history that while so often discussed might also be leaving out other aspects of the conversation。 I think you sort of know if you're the kind of reader that wants to read about a 20th century fascist effort in America in the run up to WWII or not， but even if you're just a little curious I think that you'll find the book is engaging and easy to follow。 。。。more

Erin ，

4。5 Stars！ Back when I watched mainstream news Rachel Maddow was one of my favorite people to watch。 I loved Chris Hayes， Keith Olbermann， Joy Ann Reid and Lawrence O'Donnell。 While I no longer watch cable news I do still enjoy those people in other forms。 A couple months ago I came across Rachel Maddow's podcast Ultra。 It was an exploration of how close America came to falling into Nazi Fascism in the lead up to and during WW2。 It was fascinating and scary with how prescient it was to our curre 4。5 Stars！ Back when I watched mainstream news Rachel Maddow was one of my favorite people to watch。 I loved Chris Hayes， Keith Olbermann， Joy Ann Reid and Lawrence O'Donnell。 While I no longer watch cable news I do still enjoy those people in other forms。 A couple months ago I came across Rachel Maddow's podcast Ultra。 It was an exploration of how close America came to falling into Nazi Fascism in the lead up to and during WW2。 It was fascinating and scary with how prescient it was to our current political climate。 Prequel is fast read。 Once I picked this book up I didn't want to put it down。 Just how close the Nazi's plan to add stress to our already shaky foundation came to being successful was wild。 While it was mostly Republicans， the Nazi's plan was rather bipartisan and extremely well funded。 The German government under the control of the Nazi's spent roughly $100 to $150 million in today's money trying to defeat President Franklin D Roosevelt in his reelection bidding in 1936， 1940， 1944（ Roosevelt was President was a very long time）。 The Nazi's actively wanted to defeat Roosevelt because they didn't want the U。S。 entering the war and the felt that Roosevelt was too powerful a leader。 The Nazi's even wrote the official party platform for the 1940 Republican National Convention。 The largest radio show in the country was a pro Nazi Catholic priest who helped radicalize countless citizens。 Prequel is a terrifying look at how fragile our democracy was/is。 Ultimately it was the American voters and not the government or any politicians who stopped the rise of far right authoritarianism。 Politicians have never saved us and will never save us。 Prequel is overall a hopeful book。 We stopped it once and Rachel Maddow believes we can do it again。 A must read！ I think I'm going to take a break from my Racism/ Antisemitism reads。。。。。I do still need to finish the Elon Musk biography but after that I should be reading some good old fashioned Hollywood gossip and Tell Alls。。。。。Jada & Britney are on the way。 。。。more

Bradley Anderson ，

Shocking Gripping Tale of Craven CrimeI read the recently released “Fall of Fox News” and found it kind of a dry slog， except in its revelation of the depth of Roger Ailes’ sins。 I was braced for a possible slog when I pre-ordered this book and opened it on Day One。 I’m thrilled to report Rachel Maddow’s “PREQUEL” reaches deep into the time of the World Wars and vibrantly unearths the plot by Nazi Germany to cultivate and exploit people and resources in the US in the 1930s - to stop the US from Shocking Gripping Tale of Craven CrimeI read the recently released “Fall of Fox News” and found it kind of a dry slog， except in its revelation of the depth of Roger Ailes’ sins。 I was braced for a possible slog when I pre-ordered this book and opened it on Day One。 I’m thrilled to report Rachel Maddow’s “PREQUEL” reaches deep into the time of the World Wars and vibrantly unearths the plot by Nazi Germany to cultivate and exploit people and resources in the US in the 1930s - to stop the US from entering the war against Germany， and even split the country for eventual conquest and subjugation。 Maddow is at the top of her game as a journalist assembling the facts， and as a commentator inserting wry subtle comparisons to you-know-who-and-what from 2021。 I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN。 You gotta read this。 。。。more

Prayerpilgrim ，

Excellent and important “history we never learned in school” plus the extra bonus of being read by Rachel herself。 An important read about fascism in the US in the 30s and 40s reaching into the highest levels of society and government， and how it was deliberately spread by unregistered agents of the German government and the US citizens they recruited。

Deb ，

Rachel is a fantastic writer。 No matter what your political persuasion， this book is a MUST READ。 She presents a historical story of the people and politicians who took the side of Nazi Germany before and during WWII。 The story has many parallels in modern day America - the stark divide between the Republicans and Democrats， the Christian Right and everyone else， blacks and whites， etc。 I highly recommend - I couldn’t put it down （except to take care of my grandson）。

Christopher Saunders ，

Rachel Maddow's new book Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism reminds us of the struggles waged against American far right groups in the '30s and '40s。 Long neglected by historians， this topic has received significant attention in recent years due to its obvious timeliness， with books like Charles Gallagher's Nazis of Copley Square and Steven J。 Ross's Hitler in Los Angeles exploring specific groups and movements of Nazi sympathizers and their disturbing parallels to the alt-right。 Maddow Rachel Maddow's new book Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism reminds us of the struggles waged against American far right groups in the '30s and '40s。 Long neglected by historians， this topic has received significant attention in recent years due to its obvious timeliness， with books like Charles Gallagher's Nazis of Copley Square and Steven J。 Ross's Hitler in Los Angeles exploring specific groups and movements of Nazi sympathizers and their disturbing parallels to the alt-right。 Maddow （building on her podcast） ties these stories together into an engaging narrative， introducing （or reintroducing） readers to the creeps， crooks and would-be dictators who sought to emulate Hitler。 Some of these movements are relatively well-known， like the Nazi-backed German-American Bund， racist "Radio Priest" Father Charles Coughlin， and Charles Lindbergh's America First movement。 Others， however， are so bizarre: William Dudley Pelley's wacko Silver Shirts， a combination political movement-religious cult that preached spiritual enlightenment through extermination of Jews; George Deatheridge， a professional Southern bigot who orchestrated an elaborate plot to overthrow the American government in the late '30s; George Van Horn Moseley， a high-ranking Army General who ranted about Jewish conspiracies and toyed with becoming America's Fuhrer; Lawrence James， the Nazi intellectual who proved to be a Black man "passing" as a white fascist 。 Where historians often tend to dismiss or downplay these groups， Maddow makes clear that， if often ineffectual in practice， their ideology and intentions were extremely serious， plotting massacres of Jews， mass poisoning of celebrities and plotting against the government。 She also demonstrates that a shocking number of isolationist congressmen， including well-known figures Burton K。 Wheeler and Hamilton Fish， were actively fed Nazi propaganda by German agent George Sylvester Viereck （who besides his fascist activities， Maddow tells us， authored "the first gay vampire novel in history"）。 Maddow demonstrates how a team of unlikely heroes， from journalists Eric Sevareid and Arthur Derounian to Los Angeles businessman Leon Lewis and prosecutor O。 John Rogge， worked to expose and foil their efforts， to general ridicule and indifference。 A circuslike Sedition Trial of key fascist leaders in 1944 fizzled out when the Judge died during the trial; afterwards， the Justice Department buried Rogge's report， allowing the indicted to escape justice。 Maddow's book is well-researched and fluently written， though her snarky， conversational style （referring to one pro-Nazi businessman as a "gazillionaire" or wondering if James would make a killing on Substack today） might grate on some readers。 Still， Maddow's to be commended for re-introducing this subject to a wider audience; hopefully， readers will take the appropriate lessons from her work。 。。。more

Conrad ，

Unfortunately Maddow is a proponent of everything this book condemns， this is simply virtue signalling for profit while she ignores modern day fascism because she has invested interest。 It is nauseating to watch hypocrisy on full display with zero sense of shame or remorse， while knowingly peddling propaganda due to fear of losing profit or career。 History will not look kindly upon individuals like this as we live in the age of information are able to see what is happening and dissemble lies and Unfortunately Maddow is a proponent of everything this book condemns， this is simply virtue signalling for profit while she ignores modern day fascism because she has invested interest。 It is nauseating to watch hypocrisy on full display with zero sense of shame or remorse， while knowingly peddling propaganda due to fear of losing profit or career。 History will not look kindly upon individuals like this as we live in the age of information are able to see what is happening and dissemble lies and propaganda output by certain countries that profit from fascism and continuous war。 Make no mistake， Maddow is in full support of genocide and is complicit in war crimes that benefit her personally。 Keep your eyes and ears open。 。。。more

Shaz ，

In Light of our Fractured and Divided Political Climate currently playing out within USA and beyond- Maddow has expertly crafted an absolute Must Read！ Meticulously researched， Maddow takes the listener on a Sombre yet Beautifully Melancholic Journey into American History， Tracing with Vivid Imagery Our Past- the Forgotten Sufferings and Remembered Triumphs。 Identifying that Humanity finds itself once more at the precipice of collapse， Maddow outlines two possible Trajectories- one of our Impend In Light of our Fractured and Divided Political Climate currently playing out within USA and beyond- Maddow has expertly crafted an absolute Must Read！ Meticulously researched， Maddow takes the listener on a Sombre yet Beautifully Melancholic Journey into American History， Tracing with Vivid Imagery Our Past- the Forgotten Sufferings and Remembered Triumphs。 Identifying that Humanity finds itself once more at the precipice of collapse， Maddow outlines two possible Trajectories- one of our Impending Doom which will follow failures’ to act or the exact opposite: A Future Destiny Shaped through Hope and Love， provided we choose correctly from here on。 With emotive yet sound language， Prequel sets out the stakes clearly- Her audience leaves with a sound understanding that through Unity and Compromise， we will be able to mould a Future of Increased Peace， Prosperity and Success， and most importantly， these fruits are shared equitably amongst the many Magnificent Peoples who Proudly call themselves American。 Employing Reasoned Grace， Rachel implores Unity， and choosing a path which Honours our Founding Ideals: Liberty Equality and Fraternity。 Remembering the pain of Yesterday， Rachel advocates that we。 Choose a Today that Unequivocally rejects the Old Ideologies of those seeking to Inject within our National Conscience the Failed and Destructive Malignancies of Bigotry， Racism， Sexism， Xenophobia， Homophobia， Religious Intolerance and Isolationism。 Drawing on the Record of Past and Present Stalwarts who willing Risked their Lives， their Security and their Individual Happiness for the Greater Ideals of bringing about a Better Tomorrow。 A Tomorrow- Fashioned by a National Character imbued with Moral Courage， Inclusivity， Respect， Reason， Diversity， Equity， Empathy， Mercy， Intelligence and Integrity。 Prequel， urges the reader/listener to confront an Ominous Truth-The Enemies of Progress have never been entirely Vanquished， and are likely to never completely fade into Oblivion。 These Insidious Forces， can however， be Kept entirely at Bay， never being allowed to garner traction and Poison the Collective Discourse with their False Promises of Increased Wealth and Power through Scapegoating those deemed lesser than by the Status Quo。 These undercurrents of Hate， Serpentine in their behaviour; patiently wait for Opportune Moments-Moments of Terror， of Uncertainty， of Distrust and of Division。 These Mind Controlling Parasites lie in Ambush， until the People are at their most Vulnerable， then Strike with Painful Precision， and Envenomate a Nation's Soul with a Toxic Blend of Hate and Enmity。 A Murderous Impulse， born from Baseness， Perceived Victimhood and the Old Lie: "Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori。" Only through Solidarity， Compassion and Vigilance are we able to expose the Empty Rhetoric for it is- a Vacuous and Sinister attempt to Reclaim Power through the Manipulation of those most Fragile within Societies。 Convincing them on Mass that their Day-to-Day Difficulties are a result of Theft by Hidden Bad Faith Actors living amongst them。 Pernicious Forces; who， from Underneath the Black of Night， Usurped all Control of their Institutions， Culture， Economy and Paragons of Intellectual Discourse。 Though Painful， it is imperative that We look inside Ourselves and Confront the Difficult Truths of who we have allowed to Define us， through Apathy or Worse- Deliberate Action。 At an Indefinable Point， We Lost Ourselves， somewhere out there between the Intersection of Fear and Hate， A Common Crossroad， but one arising from Divergent Journeys。 The Fork in the Road， some arriving on a Path of Obscene Decadence， where others arrive Hungry， Weary and Dejected。 It is at this Dangerous Meeting of Storms that Man can easily become again that which his Forefathers has always Despised， that which His Ancestors has Fought so Valiantly Against， that which His Previous Generations have Suffered such Enormous Losses for choosing Incorrectly and which History has shown is both the Antithesis and Core Essence of who and What Humanity Truly Is。Today， it is an Irrefutable Fact that the Ascension of Donald Trump， a man without Principle， Integrity， Honour， Empathy， Decency and Humanity， is without Equal in Exploiting the Grievances and Paranoia’s of those who feel Ignored and Scorned。 Trump has without pause， used their Pain only for the Betterment of Himself。 He possesses a Remarkable Understanding of Envy， Anger， and Vanity， seeing it clearly in others as it Mirrors his own Cretinous Reflection。 This Gift enables him to accurately appeal to almost every Negative Character Trait present in Humankind， thus moulding himself into the Far Right's Divinely Inspired Messiah。 They see in Trump their Deliverance， a Vessel which can be used to Legitimise their Darkest Nature， and Permission to crawl out from the Dark Undergrowth and Walk Proudly in the Light， without Fear of Reprisal， More Menacing and More Determined than ever before。 Finally， though the premise and subject matter of Prequel is Bleak- There is Always Hope。 History is littered with Anecdotes which bear Testament to the Power and Goodness of the Human Spirit and its ability to Triumph， even when faced with Grave Evil。 This Powerful Phenomenon should never be underestimated and those who are Fearful can find Solace in its Promise。 We are Not Defined by these last years， nor are We Eternally bonded to Trumpism。 Yes， We are Flawed。 We are， afterall， only Human which is both Beautiful and Terrifying。 Paradoxically， it is our Flawed and Fragile humanity that will also prove our Salvation and Redemption。 Man's true Beauty lies entirely in Culmination of his Follies， Dancing exquisitely with His Binaries， Ringed with Flame and Pulsing like that of a Sensual Salsa Routine。My Prayer: Like the Phoenix， that Immortal Bird of Fire， which Rises from its Bed of Ashes， so to will We Rise from the Charred Debris that Fell upon Us through the Mistaken Fealty to Trump。 Trump， though Justly Despised， should also Evoke within Us a sense of Pity。 Trump's Legacy will remain a Testament to Selfishness。 A Lifetime of Lies and Cruelty that has left Him in a World without Wonder， A World of Thirsts that can Never be Quenched。 He has Never nor will He Ever Know Genuine Love and Friendship。 His Narcissism is so Innate， His Soul so Rancid; that were he capable of Remorse， The ensuing Reality of His Broken Existence would lead Him into an Abyss of Insanity。 Of the Phoenix， Trump will Never Understand that the True Beauty of the Creature lies not in its Majestic Extravagance， but in the Ashes that Framed and Defined all it Lived to Be。 XOXOShaz 。。。more