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The Secret War Against Hate: American Resistance to Antisemitism and White Supremacy
Bloomsbury presents The Secret War Against Hate by Steven J. Ross, read by John Moraitis
From the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Hitler in Los Angeles, the definitive story of the intrepid activists and spies who fought against a resurgent movement of hate in America—a book that "should be read by every American who wants to know how courageous men and women can resist hatred." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
Americans today like to believe that the end of World War II brought a new era of tolerance in the United States. But antisemitism and racism went up—not down—after the war’s end. Violence broke out in cities across the country, and the number of organized hate groups more than doubled from 1940 to 1946. In this shocking account of a resurgence of White Supremacy in America, celebrated historian Steven J. Ross reveals how four key leaders—Emory Burke, J. B. Stoner, James Madole, and George Lincoln Rockwell—worked together to “finish the job Hitler had begun,” launching deadly attacks on Jews and African Americans and building a network of terrorists across the U.S. In response to this “war of hate,” three men—Arnold Forster of the Anti-Defamation League, George Mintzer of the American Jewish Committee, and James Sheldon of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League—along with dozens of men and women, launched a multipronged They infiltrated, monitored, and undermined these hate groups, putting their own safety on the line and scoring important victories that, today, have been all but forgotten.
Tracing the extraordinary work of these unsung heroes, The Secret War Against Hate provides a groundbreaking reconsideration of the legacy of the “Good War,” and essential reading on how America today can beat hate once again and build a just and united nation.
From the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Hitler in Los Angeles, the definitive story of the intrepid activists and spies who fought against a resurgent movement of hate in America—a book that "should be read by every American who wants to know how courageous men and women can resist hatred." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
Americans today like to believe that the end of World War II brought a new era of tolerance in the United States. But antisemitism and racism went up—not down—after the war’s end. Violence broke out in cities across the country, and the number of organized hate groups more than doubled from 1940 to 1946. In this shocking account of a resurgence of White Supremacy in America, celebrated historian Steven J. Ross reveals how four key leaders—Emory Burke, J. B. Stoner, James Madole, and George Lincoln Rockwell—worked together to “finish the job Hitler had begun,” launching deadly attacks on Jews and African Americans and building a network of terrorists across the U.S. In response to this “war of hate,” three men—Arnold Forster of the Anti-Defamation League, George Mintzer of the American Jewish Committee, and James Sheldon of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League—along with dozens of men and women, launched a multipronged They infiltrated, monitored, and undermined these hate groups, putting their own safety on the line and scoring important victories that, today, have been all but forgotten.
Tracing the extraordinary work of these unsung heroes, The Secret War Against Hate provides a groundbreaking reconsideration of the legacy of the “Good War,” and essential reading on how America today can beat hate once again and build a just and united nation.
Audible Audio
Published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 23, 2026
This is a well-researched book complete with extensive notes. The title indicates that the focus would be on the people who exhibited great courage and intelligence in spying on and becoming immersed in hate groups in the US following WWII. It exposes the extraordinary amount of activity by hate groups focused on Jews and Blacks, primarily. What seemed to be missing, and the reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars is that the focus seemed to be more on the members of the hate groups than on those opposing them. During these times I was very interested in reading about the good guys rather than all the corruption in the government. Still, it was well written and thorough.
May 20, 2026
An excellent book but difficult to read because of all the scary things that hate groups have done in the past. Even more disturbing are the reports of the white supremacy groups who are continuing to function today.
May 31, 2026
I had such high hopes for this book, and was quite disappointed overall. I don’t mind reading books where I may disagree with the author’s opinion. However, to represent this as nonfiction, as opposed to more of an opinion piece is disingenuous at best. I listened to the audiobook and almost stopped early on when the author attributed President Trump to the rise in the white nationalist movement (lack of capitalization intentional). However, I wanted to give it a chance and am glad I did. It was fascinating to learn about the beginnings of certain racist groups, including the fact that many had undercover Jewish spies infiltrating those groups!
However, the TDS which led the author to take President Trump’s statements in Charlottesville out of context, led me to call into question the veracity the other facts which he asserts throughout the book. President Trump is often misquoted with regard to his statement in Charlottesville by publishing a small snippet out of context, which is done here. The references to January 6th being orchestrated by President Trump were shocking, as that has since been debunked. In fact investigations by the new administration have established that many on the played a significant role in orchestrating the events. Perhaps when the contract for this book was signed, the premises which the author argues with regard to President Trump had yet to be debunked. However, once that did occur, the author should have either scrapped the anticipated second half and instead focused on horseshoe theory and the rise of hate groups on both sides of the aisle, OR negotiated with the publisher to only focus on the rise of white nationalism post WWII, despite the lower page count.
To close with Thomas Jefferson’s ideals of free education to combat threats to democracy is a bit wild when the history of free public education dates to the Industrial Revolution when Horace Mann and others sought to create compliant factory workers and not free thinkers. Jefferson may have hoped for free education for all to combat threats to democracy. However, by the time free education for all was instituted, the goals of free education were quite different from the enlightenment views of Jefferson.
While the first half of this book was eye opening with regard to the rise of white nationalism in the United States post WWII, the second half of the book attempts to shove a round peg in a square hole to prove President Trump is responsible for the recent rise in white nationalism, which leads me to call into question the veracity of the first half.
However, the TDS which led the author to take President Trump’s statements in Charlottesville out of context, led me to call into question the veracity the other facts which he asserts throughout the book. President Trump is often misquoted with regard to his statement in Charlottesville by publishing a small snippet out of context, which is done here. The references to January 6th being orchestrated by President Trump were shocking, as that has since been debunked. In fact investigations by the new administration have established that many on the played a significant role in orchestrating the events. Perhaps when the contract for this book was signed, the premises which the author argues with regard to President Trump had yet to be debunked. However, once that did occur, the author should have either scrapped the anticipated second half and instead focused on horseshoe theory and the rise of hate groups on both sides of the aisle, OR negotiated with the publisher to only focus on the rise of white nationalism post WWII, despite the lower page count.
To close with Thomas Jefferson’s ideals of free education to combat threats to democracy is a bit wild when the history of free public education dates to the Industrial Revolution when Horace Mann and others sought to create compliant factory workers and not free thinkers. Jefferson may have hoped for free education for all to combat threats to democracy. However, by the time free education for all was instituted, the goals of free education were quite different from the enlightenment views of Jefferson.
While the first half of this book was eye opening with regard to the rise of white nationalism in the United States post WWII, the second half of the book attempts to shove a round peg in a square hole to prove President Trump is responsible for the recent rise in white nationalism, which leads me to call into question the veracity of the first half.
August 9, 2026
The Secret War Against Hate: American Resistance to Antisemitism and White Supremacy, Steven J. Ross, author; John Maraitis, narrator
Although this author concentrates on a time period that excludes the present, until the very end, anyone who pays attention to the news today, knows that the fascist movement is no longer coming from the right. It is the left that has put them in power by supporting them to the point of electing them to Congress and other high offices of influence. The hate is being fomented by the marchers who openly shout out their venom. and instead of being condemned, they are rewarded by the dysfunctional in society with their support. Sadly, we seem to have too many who are dysfunctional who vote, and too many who are functional that do not. The left somehow escapes condemnation for their actions. They control the message and point fingers at the innocent who are trying to stop them from destroying our country and our freedom, by wrongfully accusing the victims of their hate for their own sins.
We must honestly consider who determines those deemed worthy and those deemed hateful? Who gets to decide how much is too much to earn? Is it fair for these people who are antagonizing the masses to protest against our norms, to be getting richer and richer while they demand those that they deem their subjects to become poorer and poorer? These are obvious conundrums. Who will solve them? We are witnessing a new kind of fascist movement, and it is not coming from the right-wing as this author protests, it is coming from the left and it is rolling swiftly down the track with devastating consequences for America. There are many examples of the negative influence of the left on society that Ross has overlooked. He completely omitted the fact that Robert Byrd rode with the Ku Klux Klan, a hateful organization. Yet Byrd was a man elected to office by the Democrats and was also the longest serving Democrat Senator in Congress. He was highly honored at his funeral by both the left and the right.
Ross did not condemn the left’s “Occupy Wall Street” or the unfortunate and tragically memorable “Summer of Love” with its supposedly “mostly peaceful” demonstrations. David Dorn, a retired sheriff was murdered. The accused Black Lives Matter and Antifa rampaging mobs seemed to be excused for their actions. Their atrocious behavior was attributed to the looting instead of their politics. Meanwhile, there were other crimes committed too, like rape, the destruction of private property, and physical assaults. In another instance, because the leftists believed that George Floyd, a criminal with a record, was unjustly murdered while resisting arrest, the officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested and convicted. There are still questions, however, about the cause of Floyd’s death. It may very well have been due to the excess presence of illegal drugs in his body. It seems that Chauvin was following legal protocol as he subdued him. Left-wing politics caused the rioting that followed. Ross places hardly any blame on the Democrats. You would not know that liberals were even involved. He completely whitewashes Antifa as an innocent anti-fascist movement, which it has proven itself not to be. He never mentions the criminal activity of the BLM movement or its violence.
If you read this book, you would never know that liberals are marching and calling for the end of Israel and its Jews today. They are chanting “from the river to the sea” which for all intents and purposes means the annihilation of Israel and the Jews. Much of this heinous behavior has been supported and encouraged by elected Democrats. Still, the author seems to choose to remember things like the Charlottesville March, by a right-wing group, and to further the disproven claim that Trump supported them. Just as his remarks on January 6th were deliberately misquoted, so were these. He also never mentioned that “hands up, don’t shoot” was a democrat fabrication to instigate divisiveness and riots, but instead, he emphasized what he views as a singular right-wing, white supremacist effort to remove Jews and people of color from the world, to maintain a whites-only society in America. Ross seems to choose deliberately never to focus on the largely liberal South and Democrat Party that was responsible for a great deal of the historic Civil Rights abuses and instigation of hate throughout our history. He does not explain that the tragedy of the Ruby Ridge and Branch Davidian debacles were instigated and carried out by the left. He never mentions or condemns the crimes of the terrorists and illegals who came into America through Joe Biden’s open border policy or the hateful division created by Barack Obama’s identity politics. Instead, he promotes every possible point of view that screams right-wing conspiracy and guilt, making it seem that even left-wing hate was the fault of the right.
Ross maximized the right’s participation while minimizing even the idea of a Democrat Party participating in hate, so much so that they seemed rarely involved because, wouldn’t you know, they were far more virtuous. He never mentions the antisemitic marches that the left supports today. He doesn’t mention the antisemitic members that they have elected to Congress, like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, and now the hopeful Abdul El Sayed or the disgraced Graham Platner, though they were absolutely in the forefront when he published the book. One would think he might have even incidentally mentioned Zohran Mamdani and his openly antisemitic wife, as a thorn in the backs of Democrats, but no, the silence condemning the left prevails. There is no mention of Obama’s promise that you can keep your doctor if you approve of Obamacare, or that Nancy Pelosi said to pass it without reading it. There is no mention of Hillary Clintons smashing of her cell phone evidence or of her private server or her corruption in starting the Russian Collusion scandal. There is no mention of the illegal wire-tapping of the left, which fomented hate and pit party against party. Only an emphasis on right-wing instigation of hate appears on these pages. Only the charges of homophobia, antisemitism and xenophobia, etc. rang out. The Democrats seemed to be innocent, which is really untrue, so the hate and the inability for the left and right to get along became palpable.
Ross disingenuously cheers on Liz Cheney and points out the conclusions of the January 6th Kangaroo Court which I believe was disgracefully glorified. Their false and disproven charges were totally inspired by the work of biased democrats who stretched the rules and used political lawfare against a former President. Even though the charges are being overturned, one by one, Ross still seems to accept the left-wing’s heinous behavior with planted FBI agents in the crowd that may have encouraged some of the violence. He remains committed to trashing the right-wing. There is no mention of the murder of the unarmed Ashli Babitt by a Capital policeman who was never charged and actually was rewarded. There is barely a mention of the left-wing and their violent language that has inspired several attempts on President Trump’s life. Their false accusations and their total rejection of any conversation or negotiation with those who disagree with them shamefully persists. It is obvious and evident in this book. Ross even presents the Jewish organizations that had spies and secret agents infiltrating hate groups in order to stop the spread of the antisemitism, as a bit incompetent and definitely disloyal to their underground workers. Whether or not that was the intent, is immaterial. That was the result.
This author often used “so-called” disputed facts to promote his own opinion. I refuse to dignify this book’s information with a comment that might promote even one left-wing hater to rate it well. I apologize if I have offended anyone, but I highly recommend that you leave this book on the shelf if you want a fair, unbiased appraisal of hate in America. In my own personal opinion and interpretation of the known facts, this book does not serve that purpose at all.
I had hoped to read a fair and unbiased representation of the development and promotion of various kinds of hateful behaviors in America. I had hoped to get the kind of message that would suggest ways to overcome this prejudice proliferating in society, even today, but instead, I was faced with a book that on every page seemed to be engineering a political message designed to subtly, or not so subtly, imply that only the right-wing and Trump were responsible for all of society’s hate, negative feelings, and behavior. Yet, hate has been in existence forever, has it not?
Unfortunately, because of what seemed to be a book that was deliberately being published and promoted at such a critical junction in time, with an upcoming election, a book that seemed to be intended to solely act as a hit job against Trump and his supporters, I was less interested in those who showed the courage and fortitude to try to stop the proliferation of antisemitism and racism, especially after World War II and the devastating results of The Holocaust, and I became far more interested in those responsible for promoting this book, the author and the publisher that seemed to be trying to wrongfully place the blame, for all of the hate we are experiencing, on the shoulders of those who least deserve it. So, let’s try to fairly examine why I feel this book was published for political purposes and not to enlighten anyone.
Although the left has had an unhealthy history of influence on the promotion of hate, prejudice and violence in America, this author seemed to deliberately avoid focusing on their background. He glossed over any involvement by the Democrats and the Progressive Movement with the idea of eugenics and using birth control to selectively breed humans. Yet the entire idea can be laid at the feet of Margaret Sanger, a radical Socialist and feminist. The left has been actively involved in spreading and creating various forms of hate and division for decades and decades. It was the Southern Democrats who fought in the Civil War in order to maintain slavery.
Overly simplifying these issues, let us cordially accept that the Democrats and their radical left-wing, inspired by Saul Alinsky and those who prefer Socialism and Communism, like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have borrowed the tactics of the far-right to gain the support of the marginalized in society. However, the left’s marginalized in society differ dramatically from those sought by the radical-right. Instead of seeking the support of those who are uneducated and in need because of their inability to earn a living, the radicals of the Democrat Party have chosen to go after those who are dysfunctional and outside the norms of society, those who are in need because they don’t fit in and their education has not prepared them for success or to be gainfully employed.
The left has gamed the system to serve their own purpose. Once the left had control of the media, the schools and the entertainment world, they were on easy street. Their supporters apparently could blame those who have money for the fact that they do not. It was not their fault that they were unsuccessful, it was the fault of those who were. It seems like nonsense when put like that, does it not? Yet, it is not nonsense to the Democratic Socialists. It is not nonsense to the Jews who find themselves on the wrong side of history, once again.
People like George Soros will promote Zohran Mamdani and Graham Platner. They will prey on those in society who are weak and outside the mainstream. They will blame others for their plight. They will give them the tools they need to support their claims and promise free everything to everyone, except the very rich and the Israelis. They have signs, newspapers, podcasts, influencers who are all on their side. So, now they feel that they are entitled to what others have worked hard to earn, and that those very hard workers should willingly give a share of their wealth to them, to those who don’t work hard, or don’t even work at all. Because fascism is generally thought to be coming from the right, the left and their actions seem to be getting a pass. I have never been more saddened or disappointed by a book than by this one.
Although this author concentrates on a time period that excludes the present, until the very end, anyone who pays attention to the news today, knows that the fascist movement is no longer coming from the right. It is the left that has put them in power by supporting them to the point of electing them to Congress and other high offices of influence. The hate is being fomented by the marchers who openly shout out their venom. and instead of being condemned, they are rewarded by the dysfunctional in society with their support. Sadly, we seem to have too many who are dysfunctional who vote, and too many who are functional that do not. The left somehow escapes condemnation for their actions. They control the message and point fingers at the innocent who are trying to stop them from destroying our country and our freedom, by wrongfully accusing the victims of their hate for their own sins.
We must honestly consider who determines those deemed worthy and those deemed hateful? Who gets to decide how much is too much to earn? Is it fair for these people who are antagonizing the masses to protest against our norms, to be getting richer and richer while they demand those that they deem their subjects to become poorer and poorer? These are obvious conundrums. Who will solve them? We are witnessing a new kind of fascist movement, and it is not coming from the right-wing as this author protests, it is coming from the left and it is rolling swiftly down the track with devastating consequences for America. There are many examples of the negative influence of the left on society that Ross has overlooked. He completely omitted the fact that Robert Byrd rode with the Ku Klux Klan, a hateful organization. Yet Byrd was a man elected to office by the Democrats and was also the longest serving Democrat Senator in Congress. He was highly honored at his funeral by both the left and the right.
Ross did not condemn the left’s “Occupy Wall Street” or the unfortunate and tragically memorable “Summer of Love” with its supposedly “mostly peaceful” demonstrations. David Dorn, a retired sheriff was murdered. The accused Black Lives Matter and Antifa rampaging mobs seemed to be excused for their actions. Their atrocious behavior was attributed to the looting instead of their politics. Meanwhile, there were other crimes committed too, like rape, the destruction of private property, and physical assaults. In another instance, because the leftists believed that George Floyd, a criminal with a record, was unjustly murdered while resisting arrest, the officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested and convicted. There are still questions, however, about the cause of Floyd’s death. It may very well have been due to the excess presence of illegal drugs in his body. It seems that Chauvin was following legal protocol as he subdued him. Left-wing politics caused the rioting that followed. Ross places hardly any blame on the Democrats. You would not know that liberals were even involved. He completely whitewashes Antifa as an innocent anti-fascist movement, which it has proven itself not to be. He never mentions the criminal activity of the BLM movement or its violence.
If you read this book, you would never know that liberals are marching and calling for the end of Israel and its Jews today. They are chanting “from the river to the sea” which for all intents and purposes means the annihilation of Israel and the Jews. Much of this heinous behavior has been supported and encouraged by elected Democrats. Still, the author seems to choose to remember things like the Charlottesville March, by a right-wing group, and to further the disproven claim that Trump supported them. Just as his remarks on January 6th were deliberately misquoted, so were these. He also never mentioned that “hands up, don’t shoot” was a democrat fabrication to instigate divisiveness and riots, but instead, he emphasized what he views as a singular right-wing, white supremacist effort to remove Jews and people of color from the world, to maintain a whites-only society in America. Ross seems to choose deliberately never to focus on the largely liberal South and Democrat Party that was responsible for a great deal of the historic Civil Rights abuses and instigation of hate throughout our history. He does not explain that the tragedy of the Ruby Ridge and Branch Davidian debacles were instigated and carried out by the left. He never mentions or condemns the crimes of the terrorists and illegals who came into America through Joe Biden’s open border policy or the hateful division created by Barack Obama’s identity politics. Instead, he promotes every possible point of view that screams right-wing conspiracy and guilt, making it seem that even left-wing hate was the fault of the right.
Ross maximized the right’s participation while minimizing even the idea of a Democrat Party participating in hate, so much so that they seemed rarely involved because, wouldn’t you know, they were far more virtuous. He never mentions the antisemitic marches that the left supports today. He doesn’t mention the antisemitic members that they have elected to Congress, like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, and now the hopeful Abdul El Sayed or the disgraced Graham Platner, though they were absolutely in the forefront when he published the book. One would think he might have even incidentally mentioned Zohran Mamdani and his openly antisemitic wife, as a thorn in the backs of Democrats, but no, the silence condemning the left prevails. There is no mention of Obama’s promise that you can keep your doctor if you approve of Obamacare, or that Nancy Pelosi said to pass it without reading it. There is no mention of Hillary Clintons smashing of her cell phone evidence or of her private server or her corruption in starting the Russian Collusion scandal. There is no mention of the illegal wire-tapping of the left, which fomented hate and pit party against party. Only an emphasis on right-wing instigation of hate appears on these pages. Only the charges of homophobia, antisemitism and xenophobia, etc. rang out. The Democrats seemed to be innocent, which is really untrue, so the hate and the inability for the left and right to get along became palpable.
Ross disingenuously cheers on Liz Cheney and points out the conclusions of the January 6th Kangaroo Court which I believe was disgracefully glorified. Their false and disproven charges were totally inspired by the work of biased democrats who stretched the rules and used political lawfare against a former President. Even though the charges are being overturned, one by one, Ross still seems to accept the left-wing’s heinous behavior with planted FBI agents in the crowd that may have encouraged some of the violence. He remains committed to trashing the right-wing. There is no mention of the murder of the unarmed Ashli Babitt by a Capital policeman who was never charged and actually was rewarded. There is barely a mention of the left-wing and their violent language that has inspired several attempts on President Trump’s life. Their false accusations and their total rejection of any conversation or negotiation with those who disagree with them shamefully persists. It is obvious and evident in this book. Ross even presents the Jewish organizations that had spies and secret agents infiltrating hate groups in order to stop the spread of the antisemitism, as a bit incompetent and definitely disloyal to their underground workers. Whether or not that was the intent, is immaterial. That was the result.
This author often used “so-called” disputed facts to promote his own opinion. I refuse to dignify this book’s information with a comment that might promote even one left-wing hater to rate it well. I apologize if I have offended anyone, but I highly recommend that you leave this book on the shelf if you want a fair, unbiased appraisal of hate in America. In my own personal opinion and interpretation of the known facts, this book does not serve that purpose at all.
I had hoped to read a fair and unbiased representation of the development and promotion of various kinds of hateful behaviors in America. I had hoped to get the kind of message that would suggest ways to overcome this prejudice proliferating in society, even today, but instead, I was faced with a book that on every page seemed to be engineering a political message designed to subtly, or not so subtly, imply that only the right-wing and Trump were responsible for all of society’s hate, negative feelings, and behavior. Yet, hate has been in existence forever, has it not?
Unfortunately, because of what seemed to be a book that was deliberately being published and promoted at such a critical junction in time, with an upcoming election, a book that seemed to be intended to solely act as a hit job against Trump and his supporters, I was less interested in those who showed the courage and fortitude to try to stop the proliferation of antisemitism and racism, especially after World War II and the devastating results of The Holocaust, and I became far more interested in those responsible for promoting this book, the author and the publisher that seemed to be trying to wrongfully place the blame, for all of the hate we are experiencing, on the shoulders of those who least deserve it. So, let’s try to fairly examine why I feel this book was published for political purposes and not to enlighten anyone.
Although the left has had an unhealthy history of influence on the promotion of hate, prejudice and violence in America, this author seemed to deliberately avoid focusing on their background. He glossed over any involvement by the Democrats and the Progressive Movement with the idea of eugenics and using birth control to selectively breed humans. Yet the entire idea can be laid at the feet of Margaret Sanger, a radical Socialist and feminist. The left has been actively involved in spreading and creating various forms of hate and division for decades and decades. It was the Southern Democrats who fought in the Civil War in order to maintain slavery.
Overly simplifying these issues, let us cordially accept that the Democrats and their radical left-wing, inspired by Saul Alinsky and those who prefer Socialism and Communism, like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have borrowed the tactics of the far-right to gain the support of the marginalized in society. However, the left’s marginalized in society differ dramatically from those sought by the radical-right. Instead of seeking the support of those who are uneducated and in need because of their inability to earn a living, the radicals of the Democrat Party have chosen to go after those who are dysfunctional and outside the norms of society, those who are in need because they don’t fit in and their education has not prepared them for success or to be gainfully employed.
The left has gamed the system to serve their own purpose. Once the left had control of the media, the schools and the entertainment world, they were on easy street. Their supporters apparently could blame those who have money for the fact that they do not. It was not their fault that they were unsuccessful, it was the fault of those who were. It seems like nonsense when put like that, does it not? Yet, it is not nonsense to the Democratic Socialists. It is not nonsense to the Jews who find themselves on the wrong side of history, once again.
People like George Soros will promote Zohran Mamdani and Graham Platner. They will prey on those in society who are weak and outside the mainstream. They will blame others for their plight. They will give them the tools they need to support their claims and promise free everything to everyone, except the very rich and the Israelis. They have signs, newspapers, podcasts, influencers who are all on their side. So, now they feel that they are entitled to what others have worked hard to earn, and that those very hard workers should willingly give a share of their wealth to them, to those who don’t work hard, or don’t even work at all. Because fascism is generally thought to be coming from the right, the left and their actions seem to be getting a pass. I have never been more saddened or disappointed by a book than by this one.
July 4, 2026
If they were half stars, I would’ve given this 3 1/2 stars rather than three stars. It’s clearly very well researched, but it suffers from the same issue that similar books about the far right phenomenon in the United States suffer from. They focused too much on the perpetrators in terms of their biographies, rather than seeing the big picture.
In this case, the focus on the far right attempting to work across communities left out their work with Islamist antisemites and people who align with them. We can see clearly that these groups are joining together, we now have David Duke praising Mamdani and the DSA candidates. This was a huge factor in the rupture between Jews and Black people as well with the rise of Farrakhan, which gets only a small mention.
The author mentions that the ADL pulled on fighting of white supremacy, which isn’t entirely accurate. They continue to fight this while also fighting the rise of antizionism, which is a hate movement. Other groups like the southern poverty law center are focusing more on the right, taking some of the weight off the ADL.
I was hoping to learn more about how these groups declined other than the leaders dying off, and the lull between those declines and the rise of white power movements after the election of President Obama. I was also hoping to learn more about the inspiring and dangerous work that leaders within the black and Jewish community among others did to infiltrate and expose these groups.
In this case, the focus on the far right attempting to work across communities left out their work with Islamist antisemites and people who align with them. We can see clearly that these groups are joining together, we now have David Duke praising Mamdani and the DSA candidates. This was a huge factor in the rupture between Jews and Black people as well with the rise of Farrakhan, which gets only a small mention.
The author mentions that the ADL pulled on fighting of white supremacy, which isn’t entirely accurate. They continue to fight this while also fighting the rise of antizionism, which is a hate movement. Other groups like the southern poverty law center are focusing more on the right, taking some of the weight off the ADL.
I was hoping to learn more about how these groups declined other than the leaders dying off, and the lull between those declines and the rise of white power movements after the election of President Obama. I was also hoping to learn more about the inspiring and dangerous work that leaders within the black and Jewish community among others did to infiltrate and expose these groups.
August 29, 2026
Hate is a very strong emotion. Hate can drive decision making, it can have an impact on rational thought, and can damage belief systems. In America, hate has taken on many different forms. Professor Steven J. Ross, in his latest book, The Secret War Against Hate: American Resistance To Antisemitism and White Supremacy (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2026, xx, 396 pgs., $32.99 US, $43.99 CAN), has written an important and detailed history of the hate that has gripped America since the 1930s. Hate, unfortunately, is still alive and well in America and present across a wide spectrum of daily life. Professor Ross chronicles this hate and its impact on the modern age.
Hate comes in many forms. In The Secret War Against Hate, Professor Ross writes about entities such as the American Nazi Party, the National States Rights Party, and the Dixiecrats championed by people like the late Senator Strom Thurmond. This hate is underscored by racism, antisemitism, fear, paranoia, and unproven conspiracy theories. The years after World War II witnessed a great rise in hate and efforts to curb its’ influence were hindered by J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI. The Vietnam Era and the ‘80s and ‘90s saw events like the shootings at Ruby Ridge, the Waco fiasco, and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Efforts by groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, have resulted in hate groups in the twenty-first century being publicly monitored, and even defeated in their efforts to influence the minds of average Americans through incidents such as the rally by right-wing activists in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
The Secret War Against Hate is an amazing book. It is well-researched and reads like a cloak and dagger spy novel. The characters, men like Jesse Stoner and George Lincoln Rockwell, are described honestly and with documented evidence of their efforts to change the course of American History. This medium sized volume is a how-to manual on fighting hate and prejudice in our society. It is an excellent read and should have a place of emphasis on the bookshelf of any reader concerned with the modern American societal and political environment.
Matt
The Secret War Against Hate
Bloomsbury Press
bloomsbury.com
ISBN 9781635578003 xx, 396 pgs, $32.99 US, $43.99 CAN, $13.99 Kindle.
Hate comes in many forms. In The Secret War Against Hate, Professor Ross writes about entities such as the American Nazi Party, the National States Rights Party, and the Dixiecrats championed by people like the late Senator Strom Thurmond. This hate is underscored by racism, antisemitism, fear, paranoia, and unproven conspiracy theories. The years after World War II witnessed a great rise in hate and efforts to curb its’ influence were hindered by J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI. The Vietnam Era and the ‘80s and ‘90s saw events like the shootings at Ruby Ridge, the Waco fiasco, and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Efforts by groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, have resulted in hate groups in the twenty-first century being publicly monitored, and even defeated in their efforts to influence the minds of average Americans through incidents such as the rally by right-wing activists in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
The Secret War Against Hate is an amazing book. It is well-researched and reads like a cloak and dagger spy novel. The characters, men like Jesse Stoner and George Lincoln Rockwell, are described honestly and with documented evidence of their efforts to change the course of American History. This medium sized volume is a how-to manual on fighting hate and prejudice in our society. It is an excellent read and should have a place of emphasis on the bookshelf of any reader concerned with the modern American societal and political environment.
Matt
The Secret War Against Hate
Bloomsbury Press
bloomsbury.com
ISBN 9781635578003 xx, 396 pgs, $32.99 US, $43.99 CAN, $13.99 Kindle.
June 16, 2026
It isn't a surprise to me that we had Nazis in the US in 1945. We have had them since the party got started in Germany. Madison Square Garden hosted thousands of American Nazis. But in this case we learn about the young Nazis who were too young to have been part of the war effort or only got in after V-E day, which meant they were involved in the Pacific Theatre.
Unite the Right was tried multiple times and perhaps it's a good thing so many of the groups suffered from the problem that every leader wanted to be the ultimate Fuhrer. They couldn't just be the supporting storm troopers.
Likewise, we read how often various government agencies were apprised of the situation with fascists but time and time again they preferred to instead deal with the Red Scare and only gave a small amount of effort to keeping young Nazis in their files.
This is a good book for noting that the Nazis have always been in the US but likewise anti-fascists have always been in the US and fighting these homegrown Nazis. Especially in a time like now where it seems like we take down one neo-nazi group only for another to pop up in its place. This happened throughout the Cold War, as well.
Because of this long history we have a choice: do we give up because of the seeming hydra or do we keep fighting because we know to do otherwise would mean the deaths of millions? When we say never again we absolutely must mean: Never Again. And those of us worried about antisemitism before October 7th were laughed at. But not anymore, are we?
And for those who continue to claim Jews are the real Nazis? We see that it's been a fascist talking point since 1945. (Not to be confused with the fact that some self-hating Jews were Cold War Neo-Nazis.) And they have done all they could to keep Jews and Black folks from working together on civil rights and equality. As soon as some realize that the Jewish and Black divide is orchestrated by White Supremacists (or at least very much watched with glee), there would be incredible cooperation and positive changes in the government.
The only problem with the book is narratively it goes back and forth, diagonally in numerous areas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the review copy.
Unite the Right was tried multiple times and perhaps it's a good thing so many of the groups suffered from the problem that every leader wanted to be the ultimate Fuhrer. They couldn't just be the supporting storm troopers.
Likewise, we read how often various government agencies were apprised of the situation with fascists but time and time again they preferred to instead deal with the Red Scare and only gave a small amount of effort to keeping young Nazis in their files.
This is a good book for noting that the Nazis have always been in the US but likewise anti-fascists have always been in the US and fighting these homegrown Nazis. Especially in a time like now where it seems like we take down one neo-nazi group only for another to pop up in its place. This happened throughout the Cold War, as well.
Because of this long history we have a choice: do we give up because of the seeming hydra or do we keep fighting because we know to do otherwise would mean the deaths of millions? When we say never again we absolutely must mean: Never Again. And those of us worried about antisemitism before October 7th were laughed at. But not anymore, are we?
And for those who continue to claim Jews are the real Nazis? We see that it's been a fascist talking point since 1945. (Not to be confused with the fact that some self-hating Jews were Cold War Neo-Nazis.) And they have done all they could to keep Jews and Black folks from working together on civil rights and equality. As soon as some realize that the Jewish and Black divide is orchestrated by White Supremacists (or at least very much watched with glee), there would be incredible cooperation and positive changes in the government.
The only problem with the book is narratively it goes back and forth, diagonally in numerous areas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the review copy.
May 19, 2026
Jesse Benjamin (JB) Stoner. George Lincoln Rockwell. James H. Madole. Emory Burke. Connie Lynch. Ever heard of them?
These men, their underlings and their organizations are the children of the Klan and the grandparents of The Proud Boys, The Oath Keepers, The Three Percenters and a thousand other white supremacist groups around the country.
Ross, an American historian and professor at USC, has produced a disturbing chronicle of the white supremacist movement, picking up it malevolent evolution from the early 1900's to the present. Detailed and heavily sourced, Erik Larson'esk in feel and deeply unsettling, it is the story of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League efforts to infiltrate and spy on these organizations and their members at a time when the FBI and other law enforcement agencies not only turned a blind eye to them but in many cases were members of the organizations.
Undressing the shameful history of southern white male bigotry, he provides a glimpse into the existential threat to the America we think we know, only to reveal that what we sense today is really who we are.
Our work is cut out for us.
These men, their underlings and their organizations are the children of the Klan and the grandparents of The Proud Boys, The Oath Keepers, The Three Percenters and a thousand other white supremacist groups around the country.
Ross, an American historian and professor at USC, has produced a disturbing chronicle of the white supremacist movement, picking up it malevolent evolution from the early 1900's to the present. Detailed and heavily sourced, Erik Larson'esk in feel and deeply unsettling, it is the story of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League efforts to infiltrate and spy on these organizations and their members at a time when the FBI and other law enforcement agencies not only turned a blind eye to them but in many cases were members of the organizations.
Undressing the shameful history of southern white male bigotry, he provides a glimpse into the existential threat to the America we think we know, only to reveal that what we sense today is really who we are.
Our work is cut out for us.
August 3, 2026
Listened to the audiobook version. After first having apprehensions about reading the book the author quickly sucked me in by pointing out that the WWII hate didn't stop with the death of Hitler in April 1945. Overall the book is well written with emphasis on the Big 4 hate evangelists of Burke, Madole, Stoner, and Rockwell. I had heard rare news accounts of the latter two growing up in the South so it is good to have those clowns sorted out now.
The only content I found missing from the book was peoples of the last half of the nineteenth century reactions to the deadly abuse caused by these idiots and their followers. Seems like that would be an interesting part of the whole story.
Note on the narrator - assuming he is a live human and not an AI generated voice as stated at the end of the audiobook disavowing no AI allowed here - this narrator on occasion would stumble on certain words, i.e., Decatur (Georgia) become Do-cat-ter (or something like that), Matt Gaetz is now Matt Getts, and a few other malaprops along the way.
The only content I found missing from the book was peoples of the last half of the nineteenth century reactions to the deadly abuse caused by these idiots and their followers. Seems like that would be an interesting part of the whole story.
Note on the narrator - assuming he is a live human and not an AI generated voice as stated at the end of the audiobook disavowing no AI allowed here - this narrator on occasion would stumble on certain words, i.e., Decatur (Georgia) become Do-cat-ter (or something like that), Matt Gaetz is now Matt Getts, and a few other malaprops along the way.
September 14, 2026
The history of white Christian nationalism in the U.S. from WWII to the 1990s is both surprising and disturbing. The evidence of groups thinking Hitler was too moderate or the perfect model in the US even just a few years after 1945 is beyond sad. This book is dense and packed with detail. There were certainly courageous individuals who risked their lives to expose anti-democracy and pro-hate leaders and groups. The book is a bit of a slog to read and the importance of the topic is significant. It is difficult to comprehend how people could think of others with different skin color or religion as sub-human and advocate for their murder, annihilation, and other treatment as reasonable such that reading it is jarring. 3.5 stars.
August 9, 2026
This review is for the audiobook.
The book itself is...fine. It jumps around quite a bit so the structure isn't completely obvious. There is a lot of information but it stops when it would have gotten interesting: Aryan Nations, WAR, etc.
Good lord though, the reader is simply awful. Mispronunciations abound:
Diatribe -> "diatrabb"
Swastika -> "swotstika"
There was another really egregious one I can't remember. Or I blocked it out.
Worse, though, was his delivery. You know Alan Arkin 's character in Grosse Pointe Blank? How he stops sentences
in random places that
make no sense?
That's what this guy does. I got through it but it was rough.
The book itself is...fine. It jumps around quite a bit so the structure isn't completely obvious. There is a lot of information but it stops when it would have gotten interesting: Aryan Nations, WAR, etc.
Good lord though, the reader is simply awful. Mispronunciations abound:
Diatribe -> "diatrabb"
Swastika -> "swotstika"
There was another really egregious one I can't remember. Or I blocked it out.
Worse, though, was his delivery. You know Alan Arkin 's character in Grosse Pointe Blank? How he stops sentences
in random places that
make no sense?
That's what this guy does. I got through it but it was rough.
September 27, 2026
This book was a very interesting, although very frightening, story of the racist, antisemitic, hate filled groups who tried to end our democracy from the end of World War II up to today. It tells about the different groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Congress, and others, who spied on these groups to keep them from being successful in their efforts to overthrow our government. He also touched on the current crop of groups, such as the Proud Boys and the others who are much more successful in their hate than the older groups, thanks to Trump and his cohorts. A very important book that everyone should read.
July 30, 2026
Detailed Information overload. Whew. Can't say this is an uplifting book.
Harrowing information. , especially the epilogue
I liatened but also have the book. If I were a history buff I might have read it but I'm not and I probably would have not finished the book but because it's audio I did
The who's who on the front is invaluable.
I read Otavia Butler's parable of the Talents in parallel as I read this book It was interesting . She probably drew on some of the activities that were going on to write her two books
Harrowing information. , especially the epilogue
I liatened but also have the book. If I were a history buff I might have read it but I'm not and I probably would have not finished the book but because it's audio I did
The who's who on the front is invaluable.
I read Otavia Butler's parable of the Talents in parallel as I read this book It was interesting . She probably drew on some of the activities that were going on to write her two books
August 13, 2026
This book is beyond disturbing and yet explains so much about current events in the USA. Even if you think you understand the depth and breadth of American racism and antisemitism and its intermarriage with Christianity it will stun you. Like a seam of coal through bed rock it has always been there. And while not all of Christianity knowingly traffics in the filth there are undertones throughout. It is especially prevalent among the more vitriolic of the patriarchal churches and their teachings.
It’s 3.5 stars.
It’s 3.5 stars.
July 8, 2026
THE SECRET WAR AGAINST HATE: AMERICAN RESISTANCE TO ANTISEMITISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY by Steven J. Ross -- The title says it all. This is a well-researched, well-written history of Nazi and pro-Nazi groups in the United States from World War II to the present. Antisemitism and racism did not decrease after WWII, they increased, and this tells their terrifying story and the effect they have on our culture.
September 12, 2026
I did the audio version and it was hard to listen to so much hate rhetoric. Interesting topic but not an easy subject. Seems similar to cults and gangs. Prey on people that are lost or disatisfied. Make promises, take away accountability, place blame and isolate. Seems like so many people want someone to make it all better for them and that they shouldn't have to earn it. The marketing was pretty gross, the divisiveness, the violence. Not an easy read but definitely worth reading
September 27, 2026
Steven Ross may not be the most compelling writer, yet I acknowledge his research. I took breaks, at times had to push myself to keep reading. I am very glad I stayed with it and finished the book. Who knew? This history of American hate is eye-opening. I better understand the reasons and processes that brought us to our current state of affairs. Stand up people- don’t let the hate win. Don’t let the greedy and power-hungry use that hate to rabble-rouse and ruin our democracy.
Read
June 8, 2026A difficult read!
After reading this book I felt dirty, reading about the ugliness of hate and racism.
It never ceases to amaze me that people can feel so much hatred towards the other among humans. It actually scares the hell out of me.
When can we learn to live together an appreciate our differences?
After reading this book I felt dirty, reading about the ugliness of hate and racism.
It never ceases to amaze me that people can feel so much hatred towards the other among humans. It actually scares the hell out of me.
When can we learn to live together an appreciate our differences?
June 5, 2026
A weighty ready but very well done. It surprised and bothered me that the professional narrator mispronounced as many words as he did. Most notably, swastika, which he pronounced as “swads-tika”. That seems to be a pretty basic one to nail in a book about antisemitism.
June 17, 2026
Americans today like to believe that the end of World War II brought a decrease in hate and a new era of tolerance in the United States. Nothing could be further from the truth. Antisemitism and racism went up-not down-after the war's end.
There is evil in the world.
There is evil in the world.
August 2, 2026
I highly recommend this detailed account of the courageous spies who risked their lives by embedding themselves in the antisemitic and racist groups that arose in this country starting after WWII. Sadly, despite their efforts, such groups still pose a threat to our country today.
August 18, 2026
Extremely thorough, this was almost four biographies in one detailing the leaders of white supremacist groups in the US. It was a lot. General conclusions were sound but I found this pretty crazy overall just because people are, indeed, crazy.
August 31, 2026
This was difficult to read because there was/is so much hate in the world - so much of it based on lies and deception and HATRED!! It is encouraging to know there have always been fighting for LOVE of others.
October 1, 2026
Whew! Not every read is fun. And this is an excellent example. I now know how The Three Percenters. Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys were born and why Roe V Wade was reversed. This country has been full of hate forever. Hopefully we can change the future.
June 4, 2026
required reading
This is an excellent history of pro-nazi movements in the US since WWII. It is a cautionary study of antisemitism and racism in our culture.
This is an excellent history of pro-nazi movements in the US since WWII. It is a cautionary study of antisemitism and racism in our culture.
June 11, 2026
It was awful .. one everyone should read
June 11, 2026
Difficult to read-not because of how it is written-but because of the subject matter the author covers. Very good insights as to why we are so divided as a nation.
July 2, 2026
I had to slip to the Epilogue to really get where this book was headed. Read it & see what I mean.
July 7, 2026
I read this via Whispersync and I did not like the narration, it may as well have been virtual voice. Go for the print/kindle version if you want to read this book.
July 10, 2026
This was the most frightening book I've ever read. It should be required reading for anyone who believes he or she is a well- educated person.
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