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Antifascist Dad: Urgent Conversations with Young People in Chaotic Times
How to talk with kids about fascism—and what you can do about it
"This book is a parent’s trusted companion through roiling political waters, and just in time. A skillful, urgent and loving intervention.”
—Naomi Klein, author of Doppelganger
From Conspirituality co-host Matthew A timely, bold, and necessary guide for parents who want to fight the rise of fascism and right-wing extremism—starting at home.
From hit shows like Adolescence to hand-wringing pieces in The Atlantic, we’re being told that today’s boys are not ok. The algorithm feeds manosphere content straight to their screens. Brofluencers sell alpha answers to complex problems. And far-right radicalization is at a fever pitch.
But if there’s a crisis among young people in 2026, it won’t be solved by talking about them. We should be talking to about their needs, their fears, the world they’re inheriting…and what they can do about it. We also need to get clear about why fascism appeals, and why it doesn’t get anyone closer to real friendship, belonging, empowerment, or self-worth. How, despite what the manosphere tells them, it's the opposite of cool.
Conspirituality co-host Matthew Remski explores 12 urgent conversations for antifascist homes. He breaks down complex ideas in age-appropriate ways to help families
The cultural, political, and economic landscape we’re in—and why the alt-right mirror world is so seductive to this generation of young peopleBody-based tools and emotional regulation techniques to help kids ground their nervous systemsStrategies for practical community defense, moral courage, and defining your own role in antifascismHow to stand with marginalized classmates and scapegoated communitiesThe intersections of capitalism, fascism, cult dynamics, and schoolyard politicsWhy fear-based, authoritarian, or condescending parenting styles backfireWhat antifascism has to do with equity, ethics, and belonging—and why it’s relevant to discussions of porn, consent, intimacy, embodiment, and gender
This book is written from Remski’s own perspective as a dad. It will resonate with parents and kids of all genders, but it hits especially hard for parents of boys—the kids most actively targeted by alt-right messaging, who must think hard about who they are within the system that makes them; about who they will stand with in dangerous times; and about what they need to learn to create safety, care, and community.
"This book is a parent’s trusted companion through roiling political waters, and just in time. A skillful, urgent and loving intervention.”
—Naomi Klein, author of Doppelganger
From Conspirituality co-host Matthew A timely, bold, and necessary guide for parents who want to fight the rise of fascism and right-wing extremism—starting at home.
From hit shows like Adolescence to hand-wringing pieces in The Atlantic, we’re being told that today’s boys are not ok. The algorithm feeds manosphere content straight to their screens. Brofluencers sell alpha answers to complex problems. And far-right radicalization is at a fever pitch.
But if there’s a crisis among young people in 2026, it won’t be solved by talking about them. We should be talking to about their needs, their fears, the world they’re inheriting…and what they can do about it. We also need to get clear about why fascism appeals, and why it doesn’t get anyone closer to real friendship, belonging, empowerment, or self-worth. How, despite what the manosphere tells them, it's the opposite of cool.
Conspirituality co-host Matthew Remski explores 12 urgent conversations for antifascist homes. He breaks down complex ideas in age-appropriate ways to help families
The cultural, political, and economic landscape we’re in—and why the alt-right mirror world is so seductive to this generation of young peopleBody-based tools and emotional regulation techniques to help kids ground their nervous systemsStrategies for practical community defense, moral courage, and defining your own role in antifascismHow to stand with marginalized classmates and scapegoated communitiesThe intersections of capitalism, fascism, cult dynamics, and schoolyard politicsWhy fear-based, authoritarian, or condescending parenting styles backfireWhat antifascism has to do with equity, ethics, and belonging—and why it’s relevant to discussions of porn, consent, intimacy, embodiment, and gender
This book is written from Remski’s own perspective as a dad. It will resonate with parents and kids of all genders, but it hits especially hard for parents of boys—the kids most actively targeted by alt-right messaging, who must think hard about who they are within the system that makes them; about who they will stand with in dangerous times; and about what they need to learn to create safety, care, and community.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 6, 2026
A remarkable book with valuable insights for these dangerous and chaotic times. I'll be referring back to it a lot, I think. The final chapter was the most powerful for me.
September 13, 2026
Unfortunately, this is one where preaching to the choir does not suffice. The subtitle to this is "Urgent Conversations with Young People in Chaotic Times", but there are no conversations, either real or imagined. There are no tactics for having these conversations. There are no models. What we get, instead, is a random assortment of Progressive grievances without data to back them up, and this might be my biggest issue with the book. I don't personally need data for many of the points Remski makes (I already have that data from better, more well-researched books), but there are many potential readers who do need the data. If they're a lefty, they need it in order to better navigate conversations with their kids. If a conservative, they need it to keep them from being even more convinced that the left are all vibes-based woo woo dipshits.
The worst example of Remski's failure to research is when he talks about ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). ABA, he claims, is a method for forcing children with autism to behave in ways they don't want to in order for them to more fully participate in capitalism. This isn't just dead wrong and infuriating; it's dangerous. Credibility being a non-renewable resource, this is not something you want to sacrifice when talking about fascism. I can't even begin to imagine how he came to this "conclusion" about ABA, but it came mere paragraphs after confessing that society might have steered him away from being gay via shame and homophobia. I assume that Remski now has a hair trigger for any methodology that attempts to correct a default tendency. ABA is life-changing for those with severe autism, but not to the point where they become good little capitalists. To suggest as much is to admit you haven't researched it even a little bit. Remski cites his autistic son (who I can only assume is high-functioning) and that Resmski and family have learned to accommodate his behavior organically (admirable). But, newsflash, Remski - not everyone is so privileged, and arguing against ABA lends credence to the likes of worm-ridden RFK. This point will be hard for Remski to understand, being that they've arrived by different routes, but both argue against compassion in order to satisfy their own armchair conspiracy theories.
We've got to get it through to people that you don't need to sacrifice intellectual rigor in order to be compassionate. Confident assertion is not persuasion. This is why AOC is now (shamefully) trying to distance herself from "Woke 1.0" - because too many loudmouths asserted without persuading and now she's embarrassed to be associated. The frustrating thing is that the assertions are often correct, but because they're reiterated by thoughtless - albeit well-meaning - sponges, they give the appearance of mere histrionics.
At one point in the book, Remski talks about falling prey to a yoga cult not once, but twice. I don't know how to put this delicately, but when you're this susceptible to cults, about the only think you're a suitable authority on is being cult-pilled. But position yourself as an authority on anything else and you only weaken the overall argument. Asserting without persuading only convinces opponents that you're still just in a cult. Put another way, these are not the mouthpieces we need. Just as Graham Platner, for example, may be fit to speak about the temptation to be a murderous rapist nazi fuck, surely we can do better when it comes to spokespeople for actual progress.
The worst example of Remski's failure to research is when he talks about ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). ABA, he claims, is a method for forcing children with autism to behave in ways they don't want to in order for them to more fully participate in capitalism. This isn't just dead wrong and infuriating; it's dangerous. Credibility being a non-renewable resource, this is not something you want to sacrifice when talking about fascism. I can't even begin to imagine how he came to this "conclusion" about ABA, but it came mere paragraphs after confessing that society might have steered him away from being gay via shame and homophobia. I assume that Remski now has a hair trigger for any methodology that attempts to correct a default tendency. ABA is life-changing for those with severe autism, but not to the point where they become good little capitalists. To suggest as much is to admit you haven't researched it even a little bit. Remski cites his autistic son (who I can only assume is high-functioning) and that Resmski and family have learned to accommodate his behavior organically (admirable). But, newsflash, Remski - not everyone is so privileged, and arguing against ABA lends credence to the likes of worm-ridden RFK. This point will be hard for Remski to understand, being that they've arrived by different routes, but both argue against compassion in order to satisfy their own armchair conspiracy theories.
We've got to get it through to people that you don't need to sacrifice intellectual rigor in order to be compassionate. Confident assertion is not persuasion. This is why AOC is now (shamefully) trying to distance herself from "Woke 1.0" - because too many loudmouths asserted without persuading and now she's embarrassed to be associated. The frustrating thing is that the assertions are often correct, but because they're reiterated by thoughtless - albeit well-meaning - sponges, they give the appearance of mere histrionics.
At one point in the book, Remski talks about falling prey to a yoga cult not once, but twice. I don't know how to put this delicately, but when you're this susceptible to cults, about the only think you're a suitable authority on is being cult-pilled. But position yourself as an authority on anything else and you only weaken the overall argument. Asserting without persuading only convinces opponents that you're still just in a cult. Put another way, these are not the mouthpieces we need. Just as Graham Platner, for example, may be fit to speak about the temptation to be a murderous rapist nazi fuck, surely we can do better when it comes to spokespeople for actual progress.
September 30, 2026
In Antifascist Dad: Urgent Conversations with Young People in Chaotic Times, author and Conspirituality co-host Matthew Remski delivers a 280-page parenting manual designed to address the rise of far-right radicalization, algorithm-driven manosphere content, and political chaos impacting today's youth. Moving past alarmist rhetoric, Remski grounds his analysis in direct dialogue providing families with 12 structured, age-appropriate conversations to demystify the appeal of fascism, cult dynamics, and authoritarianism while promoting genuine belonging, equity, and ethical courage.
Remski’s approach excels at pairing macro-level political analysis with somatic, household-level practices. Drawing on his experience as a father and researcher of high-demand groups, he explores topics ranging from nervous system regulation and digital literacy to consent, body autonomy, and standing in solidarity with marginalized communities. By exposing why fear-based parenting backfires and demonstrating how real strength lies in empathy and community care, Antifascist Dad provides parents especially those raising boys with a vital blueprint for fostering critical thinking and resilience against extremism.
Urgent, insightful, and profoundly empathetic, Antifascist Dad is a standout recommendation for parents, educators, and community organizers alongside works by Naomi Klein, Richard Reeves, and Soraya Chemaly.
Remski’s approach excels at pairing macro-level political analysis with somatic, household-level practices. Drawing on his experience as a father and researcher of high-demand groups, he explores topics ranging from nervous system regulation and digital literacy to consent, body autonomy, and standing in solidarity with marginalized communities. By exposing why fear-based parenting backfires and demonstrating how real strength lies in empathy and community care, Antifascist Dad provides parents especially those raising boys with a vital blueprint for fostering critical thinking and resilience against extremism.
Urgent, insightful, and profoundly empathetic, Antifascist Dad is a standout recommendation for parents, educators, and community organizers alongside works by Naomi Klein, Richard Reeves, and Soraya Chemaly.
September 15, 2026
Good. Like radical political education but written from someone you may consider a "dad friend." I felt like huge sections were more about justice and fascism and not about parenting at all. Maybe it was meant as more of an introspective for parents and caregivers and less parenting advice or just parenting-related writing. I thought the sections on misogyny and friendship were particularly spot-on. Remski grew up Catholic, like me, and so I think this book resonated more with me. Remski used some slang that I wasn't prepared for and was a little off-putting in a book like this, like "sus" and "rizz." I hope this book can open the eyes of some parents and caregivers about the capitalist and fascist air we breathe in every day.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a parent to a young boy, I can’t help but be concerned about the future. Particularly on whether or not my parenting will stand up against outside influences.
This deep dive into fascism, capitalism and society acts as a great guide, with accessible language and explanations alongside reasonable, actionable advice.
Great for every parent who shares the same worries.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This deep dive into fascism, capitalism and society acts as a great guide, with accessible language and explanations alongside reasonable, actionable advice.
Great for every parent who shares the same worries.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2026
A good summary of Socialist, Feminist, and Antifascist thinking geared towards people who do not have a lot of experience in the subject. While I would normally like this kind of book- and I certainly agree with the politics and the message- the author tends to go off on tangents and does not circle back to the “parenting” of it all. On the whole, a good gateway for the uninitiated and a stirring call to action for us parents raising kids in these uncertain times.
July 13, 2026
A very thoughtful exploration of a lot of different themes around antifascism. The connection to parenthood isn’t always clear, but some of the sections are incredibly, incredibly insightful. The section on bullies in schools had some particularly powerful insights.
August 17, 2026
amazing, i’d give it a 10 star if i could
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews