APRIL 2018 - AudioFile
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright knows fascism when she sees it. Her personal look at this recurring global political trend takes listeners back to her early childhood, when she witnessed some of the consequences of fascism in Czechoslovakia. Known for her frank manner and direct approach, Albright brings these traits to her performance. Both qualities make her a strong narrator for this serious work. In an interesting departure from her formal persona, she shares insights about her private life all the way back to her teenage years in an American high school. Her experiences as a diplomat serve her well as a narrator—she is confident, steady, and engaging. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - Sheri Berman
Why has the momentum toward democracy and international comity slowed? Why, as Madeleine Albright asks early in her new book, "are we once again talking about fascism?" Who better to address these questions than Albright, whose life was shaped by fascism and whose contribution to the cultivation of democracy as a stateswoman and private citizen is unparalleled? In Fascism: A Warning Albright…draws on her personal history, government experience and conversations with Georgetown students to assess current dangers and how to deal with them.
Publishers Weekly
03/05/2018
Yes, it can happen here—and in other countries—according to Albright’s far-ranging exploration of the history and latter-day prospects of fascism. The Georgetown professor and former Clinton secretary of state identifies various characteristics of fascism, including hypernationalism and populism mixed with authoritarian-leaning rule, militarism, contempt for democratic customs, persecution of minority populations, a dread of disorder and decadence, charismatic leaders, and public spectacles. After probing accounts of the fascist models of Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany, she finds that toxic brew in present-day Venezuela, Turkey, Hungary, Poland, Russia, North Korea, and right-wing parties generally. And then, she writes, there’s Donald Trump, “the first anti-democratic president in modern U.S. history,” whose bluster, “paranoid bigotry” against Muslims and immigrants, America-firstism, and rhetorical attacks on the press and judiciary set a fascistic example for world leaders and abdicate America’s role as global protector of democracy. Albright’s incisive analyses are enriched by her experiences as a refugee from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia—her Jewish grandmother died in a concentration camp—and as America’s diplomat-in-chief; her vivid sketch of a surprisingly rational Kim Jong-Il anchors a sharp critique of Trump’s erratic approach to North Korea. Albright sometimes paints with too broad a brush in conceptualizing fascism, but she offers cogent insights on worrisome political trends. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Fascism: A Warning is dedicated to victims of fascism, but also to “all who fight fascism in others and in themselves”. Mrs Albright has earned the right to that ambitious mission-statement. At a moment when the question “Is this how it begins?” haunts Western democracies, she writes with rare authority.... [Yet] if her learning is to be expected, her way with words is a happy surprise, as is her wisdom about human nature. Free of geopolitical jargon, her deceptively simple prose is sprinkled with shrewd observations about the emotions that underpin bad or wicked political decisions.” — Economist
“Albright [has] serious credibility on the subject. She witnessed the evils of Fascism firsthand, as her book movingly chronicles. And she effectively makes the case: pay more attention to the signals, subtle and strong. A lot more.” — The New Yorker
“Why, as Madeleine Albright asks early in her new book, ‘are we once again talking about fascism?’ Who better to address these questions than Albright, whose life was shaped by fascism and whose contribution to the cultivation of democracy as a stateswoman and private citizen is unparalleled? In Fascism: A Warning Albright (with Bill Woodward) draws on her personal history, government experience and conversations with Georgetown students to assess current dangers and how to deal with them.” — New York Times
“Fascism [is] the work of a woman who knows authoritarianism when she sees it. And she sees the seeds of it not only in a slew of leaders hell bent on subverting democratic norms—Turkey’s Erdoğan, Venezuela’s Maduro, Hungary’s Orbán, and others—but also in Donald Trump, whom she calls in the book ‘the first antidemocratic president in modern U.S. history.’” — The Daily Beast
“Besides providing an overview of the careers of Mussolini and Hitler, Albright looks at leaders such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, Turkey’s Recep Erdogan, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.... Sage advice in perilous times.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Incisive… [Albright] offers cogent insights on worrisome political trends.” — Publishers Weekly
“Albright outlines the warning signs of fascism and offers concrete actions for restoring America’s values and reputation. There is priceless wisdom on every page.” — Booklist (starred review)
New York Times
Why, as Madeleine Albright asks early in her new book, ‘are we once again talking about fascism?’ Who better to address these questions than Albright, whose life was shaped by fascism and whose contribution to the cultivation of democracy as a stateswoman and private citizen is unparalleled? In Fascism: A Warning Albright (with Bill Woodward) draws on her personal history, government experience and conversations with Georgetown students to assess current dangers and how to deal with them.
The New Yorker
Albright [has] serious credibility on the subject. She witnessed the evils of Fascism firsthand, as her book movingly chronicles. And she effectively makes the case: pay more attention to the signals, subtle and strong. A lot more.
Economist
Fascism: A Warning is dedicated to victims of fascism, but also to “all who fight fascism in others and in themselves”. Mrs Albright has earned the right to that ambitious mission-statement. At a moment when the question “Is this how it begins?” haunts Western democracies, she writes with rare authority.... [Yet] if her learning is to be expected, her way with words is a happy surprise, as is her wisdom about human nature. Free of geopolitical jargon, her deceptively simple prose is sprinkled with shrewd observations about the emotions that underpin bad or wicked political decisions.
The Daily Beast
Fascism [is] the work of a woman who knows authoritarianism when she sees it. And she sees the seeds of it not only in a slew of leaders hell bent on subverting democratic norms—Turkey’s Erdoğan, Venezuela’s Maduro, Hungary’s Orbán, and others—but also in Donald Trump, whom she calls in the book ‘the first antidemocratic president in modern U.S. history.’
Booklist (starred review)
Albright outlines the warning signs of fascism and offers concrete actions for restoring America’s values and reputation. There is priceless wisdom on every page.
Economist
Fascism: A Warning is dedicated to victims of fascism, but also to “all who fight fascism in others and in themselves”. Mrs Albright has earned the right to that ambitious mission-statement. At a moment when the question “Is this how it begins?” haunts Western democracies, she writes with rare authority.... [Yet] if her learning is to be expected, her way with words is a happy surprise, as is her wisdom about human nature. Free of geopolitical jargon, her deceptively simple prose is sprinkled with shrewd observations about the emotions that underpin bad or wicked political decisions.
The New Yorker
Albright [has] serious credibility on the subject. She witnessed the evils of Fascism firsthand, as her book movingly chronicles. And she effectively makes the case: pay more attention to the signals, subtle and strong. A lot more.
The Economist
Fascism: A Warning is dedicated to victims of fascism, but also to “all who fight fascism in others and in themselves”. Mrs Albright has earned the right to that ambitious mission-statement. At a moment when the question “Is this how it begins?” haunts Western democracies, she writes with rare authority.... [Yet] if her learning is to be expected, her way with words is a happy surprise, as is her wisdom about human nature. Free of geopolitical jargon, her deceptively simple prose is sprinkled with shrewd observations about the emotions that underpin bad or wicked political decisions.
APRIL 2018 - AudioFile
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright knows fascism when she sees it. Her personal look at this recurring global political trend takes listeners back to her early childhood, when she witnessed some of the consequences of fascism in Czechoslovakia. Known for her frank manner and direct approach, Albright brings these traits to her performance. Both qualities make her a strong narrator for this serious work. In an interesting departure from her formal persona, she shares insights about her private life all the way back to her teenage years in an American high school. Her experiences as a diplomat serve her well as a narrator—she is confident, steady, and engaging. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2018-03-05
A close observer of world governments sounds an alarm about threats to democracy.Former Secretary of State Albright (Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948, 2012, etc.) offers an authoritative and well-grounded analysis of the growing rise of fascism around the world. Why, she asks, "has international momentum toward democracy slowed, and why are so many charlatans seeking to undermine public confidence in elections, the courts, the media," and science? She counts the current president among the charlatans. "Trump's eyes light up," she writes, "when strongmen steamroll opposition, brush aside legal constraints, ignore criticism, and do whatever it takes to get their way." A fascist leader, Albright asserts, uses any means necessary to command obedience and therefore depends on a popular base willing to take orders. Preying upon the "fears and hopes of average people," fascism begins insidiously, with "a seemingly minor character" who professes to be the single person to solve a nation's problems. Deteriorating social and economic conditions offer an opportunity for "a gifted pied piper" to rise. As Mussolini observed, those seeking power should "do so in the manner of plucking a chicken—feather by feather" to keep the process as quiet as possible. "Soon enough," warns Albright, "the government that silences one media outlet finds muffling a second easer." Besides providing an overview of the careers of Mussolini and Hitler, Albright looks at leaders such as Venezuela's Hugo Chávez, Turkey's Recep Erdogan, Hungary's Viktor Orban, and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Putin, she observes, is not yet a "full-blown" fascist, but he "has flipped through Stalin's copy of the totalitarian playbook and underlined passages of interest to call on when convenient." Albright concludes with 10 questions to ask of any prospective leader: Do they inflame prejudices and incite desire for revenge; encourage contempt for governing institutions, the press, and the judiciary; exploit symbols of patriotism; brag about their power to solve all problems; and exhibit "pumped up machismo about using violence"?Sage advice in perilous times.
