4 ratings (5.00 avg)
1 review

Caleb Ensley

Add friend

Caleb’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (187)

currently-reading‎ (12)

read‎ (43)

fso-exam‎ (4)

Stats | More…

Caleb is Currently Reading

Caleb Ensley is currently reading

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 25, 2022 03:11AM

Caleb Ensley is currently reading

The Anatomy of Fascism

by Robert O. Paxton

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Caleb Ensley said: " The best way to understand fascism in the modern day is to fully understand the history of it, and how it contextualizes itself within the confines of certain states. It doesn’t look the same across the board. Rather, it takes unique elements that ar The best way to understand fascism in the modern day is to fully understand the history of it, and how it contextualizes itself within the confines of certain states. It doesn’t look the same across the board. Rather, it takes unique elements that are engrained in the makeup of one’s country. This quote sums it up best: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”

Paxton demonstrates how fascist regimes come to power, and how to identify the clues within non-fascist societies that offer credence to the notion that this said country and/or countries can fall victim to fascist ideas and policies. He offers the question "what is fascism?". He posits the idea that fascism, historically, is a form of ultra-nationalism that is characterized by anti-globalist rhetoric, the rejection of feminism and homosexuality, and the obsession with a mythical past (that never existed) and that we as a nation should go back to that said past (see the Nazi movement in Nazi Germany). The movement will also rely on a charismatic leader that plays on the fears and emotions of the audience he/she holds captive (although to be fair, Paxton argued that this said "charismatic leader" will always be male, but to that I reject wholeheartedly). The identification of in-groups and out-groups are made, and the formulation of the "other" is made the common enemy (i.e. immigrants, minorities, political enemies, ect).

Paxton will also breakdown the five stages of fascism into digestible sections that is easy for the reader to understand. This ideology is way more complicated than arguments on social media may make it out to be, but that is in no way indicative of reality. The way in which it's portrayed by the author makes the readers come out with a better idea of what fascism is and the stages that come before it reaches it's full potential. Something our educational system fails to even address.

I can't recommend this enough. I think everyone should give this a read because it impacts us all. The point of history is to learn from the past and to apply those lesson to our present in order to better impact our future. We should know what constitutes as "fascist adjacent" rhetoric or line-of-thinking to prevent a future that has fascism as the dominant ideology. I'll end on a quote that I think is relevant to the subject of this book: "American fascism would be pious, anti-black, and, since September 11, 2001, anti-Islamic as well." "It would simply demonize immigrants, muslims, homosexuals, "degenerate" liberals, globalist, wealthy urban elites, and socialist." ...more "

progress:

(95%)
"The best way to understand fascism in the modern day is to fully understand the history of it, and how it contextualizes itself within the confines of certain states. It doesn’t look the same across the board. Rather, it takes unique elements that are ingrained in the makeup of one’s country. This quote sums it up best: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”" — Jan 27, 2022 09:20AM

Jan 27, 2022 02:24PM · see review

Caleb Ensley is currently reading

Cash

by Johnny Cash

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 27, 2022 07:30AM

See all 12 books that Caleb is reading…

Caleb’s Quotes

“Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.”
― George Orwell

tags: nationalism, patriotism

59 likes