The World's Best Book Summaries
Why are there celebrities in politics? How did this culture inspire someone like Trump to run for office? There are numerous instances of celebrities in politics in the U.S. Arguably the most successful campaign run by a celebrity was Donald Trump’s presidential election in 2016. Read more about celebrities in politics and how it lead to the the election of Donald Trump.
What is the book How Democracies Die about? How does it explain democratic principles and how to preserve them? The book How Democracies Die explains how authoritarians come to power, and the terrifying path the U.S. is on. But it also explains how we can save our country from authoritarianism and save democracy. Read more about the book How Democracies Die and what it says about the future of the U.S.
Was fascism a part of Trump’s presidency? What were the signs of fascism and authoritarianism? Trump was accused of fascism throughout his presidency by those in opposing political parties. Trump and his administration had clear and dangerous signs of authoritarianism. Read more about fascism, Trump, and authoritarian decisions in his presidency.
Is there fascism in the United States? How has fascism manifested in the U.S., and how does the country protect itself? There is undoubtedly a history of fascism in the United States. Though the political system is often successful in ensuring fascists don’t get the top office in the U.S., fascism is still a huge part of our political history and system Read more about fascism in the United States.
What’s the relationship between Trump and the GOP? How did the failure of the GOP lead to Trump’s nomination and eventual presidency? Trump and the GOP didn’t always see eye to eye, but the GOP failures in gatekeeping are what allowed Trump to be nominated in the first place. The GOP chose party over country and allowed Trump’s nomination despite obvious fascist and authoritarian tendencies. Read more about Trump and the GOP below.
What happened at the 1968 Democratic National Convention? Why was this part of safeguarding democracy? At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the party officially nominated for president a candidate who hadn’t won any primaries. This caused many to push for change in how candidates were nominated, so they could be chosen by the people and not party elites. Read more about the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the democratic safeguards that were put in place.
Is the U.S. a failed democracy? What makes a failed democracy, anyway? The U.S. is not a failed democracy, but it has faced numerous challenges, and there are those in power who threaten the rights and freedoms of Americans every day. This is why it’s important to prioritize democratic principles. Keep reading to find out how we can prevent the U.S. from becoming a failed democracy.
Was the Clinton impeachment an example of abuse of power in the government? Why should we take abuses of power like this seriously? In the 1990s, the rise of pundit-like political figures like Newt Gingrich changed the political landscape. This paved the way for further party polarization, and abuse of power in government wherein one party uses government systems to harm another, such as the Clinton impeachment. Keep reading to find out why the Clinton impeachment was an abuse of power in government.
Is the restoration of democracy possible? Does American democracy need to be restored, and what steps are required to make it happen? After years of authoritarianism and testing democratic norms, the U.S. faces challenges to our democracy like never before. In the Trump era and beyond, restoration of democracy needs to take center stage. Read more about restoration of democracy below.
What’s a democracy coalition? How can it help the U.S. refocus and reprioritize democratic norms and principles? The U.S. political environment is highly polarized and currently under threat from anti-democratic forces. It’s possible that a democratic coalition that includes a diverse, bipartisan group of people could refocus on democratic ideals. Read more about the current state of U.S. democracy and how a coalition can help.