Thread by @Teri_Kanefield

There is no book that brings together my threads because I draw from a very broad range of scholarship (history, philosophy, political psychology, law, Constitutional history, etc).

But I can give a reading list of books that I think help understand our current politics.

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https://twitter.com/lets_past/status/1262574205893148674

I have a book on disinformation coming out from Macmillan, which pulls together a lot from my threads, but not all, and it contains things I haven't tweeted about.

My last reading recommendation will be most important (tease!)

If I'd select one, this is it ⤵️

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Here’s an excellent interview with one of the authors, Steven Levitsky.


The earthquake analogy is fabulous, as is the reasons for why Democrats should avoid hardball tactics.

The ad that came on when I clicked was horrifying, so yikes. Skip the ad.

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Max Weber, Politics as a Vocation, lays out three sources of authority for government. It's here:
archive.org/details/weber_…

It's a classic work.

Current politics is the Democratic Party (rule of law) v. Republican Party (charismatic leader)

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Another classic work, and essential reading for understanding the American right wing and the conspiracy theory mindset.

(By the way, I have discussed each of these works on my blog)

You can read it free here.
archive.org/details/ThePar…

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This is a complex and brilliant book. @TimothyDSnyder is fluent in numerous languages (I believe 11!) and uses primary sources in the original languages.

He has a youtube series that I recommend:


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The author, @HC_Richardson, also offers a daily email analyzing the days news from the perspective of a (brilliant) political historian.

You'll learn that authoritarianism, do-nothing administration, and oligarchy are not new in America. Important perspective.

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Yale philosophy professor @jasonintrator writes about propaganda and fascism, showing patterns in American history.

Here's a lecture in which he lays it out: this was the one where the reactionary political ad popped up.)

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That may have been the lecture in which @jasonintrator said what I think one of the most brilliant things ever:

Without truth, we cannot speak truth to power. So there is only power.

A classic work on fascism⤵️

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@karen_stenner and @JonHaidt's essay, "Authoritarianism is not a Momentary Madness but an Eternal Dynamic Within Liberal Democracies" appeared in this volume⤵️

(I've summarized it in various threads.)

Karen made it available free, here: …e-4700-aaa9-743a55a9437a.filesusr.com/ugd/02ff25_370…

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MacLean traces the rise of the modern libertarian movement and connects today's right wing politics to a backlash against Brown v. Board.

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The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue, by @ohahl, Minjae Kim, and @ewzucker

Explains a lot: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

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Disclaimer: This is a very personal list. These are the books that did the most to help me understand how we got here and how we get out.

I'll go ahead and throw in one of mine (cites the "Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue" in the last tweet) slate.com/news-and-polit…
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I was asked today to recommend a book that sums up our legal history but I felt stumped and couldn't think of one because the topic is too enormous.

Too many sub-parts.

This is good for the history of the Second Amendment.

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I said my last reading recommendation would be the most important.

Here it is: Take a break. Read something for fun. Escape. A murder mystery. A time travel story. (I have some favorites).

Trump right now is trying to wear you out and overwhelm you. That's the strategy.

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Yes, it's a strategy. He knows how to read the polls. He knows the virus is spinning out of control and he has no idea what to do. It's the "flood the zone" strategy.

You can stay informed without driving yourself crazy.

I can guarantee . . .

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. . . that between now and November, Trump will do some totally crazy outrageous stuff designed to make you think democracy is dead.

People who want you to think democracy is dead will be hammering away at you.

Don't. Let. Them. Win.

Get your hands on a ballot.

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Make sure everyone you know gets their hands on their ballots. (I know it's sort of hard right now in Texas and elsewhere) but 30 states including D.C. allow no excuse absentee ballot.

The way to prepare for whatever crazy stuff Trump will pull . . .

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. . . is to get ready for the election. Get your ballot and find a way to support Democratic candidates (and volunteer)

He wants to fire up his base so they turn out to vote, and wear you out.

So find a fun, relaxing book ☕️📚

and take care of yourself.

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