Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future

Stanley here clearly uses history, philosophy and culture to explain what America is barreling toward politically. He clearly connects the dots for anyone to understand. An important read in 2025.

Professor Stanley has written a very timely book. Given that we are in an election year where one presidential candidate is calling many things fake news, there is a need for comprehensive and holistic education of history. Professor Stanley describes many examples in history where dismissing, denying, omitting, and lying about historical facts are part of authoritarian regimes. The U.S. is no different other countries such as Germany during Hitler's regime that can change and undermine the direction of a country from democratic to authoritarian. The U.S. is experiencing that today with one party embracing lies and distortions about history to the point of banning books and firing college professors. This is an important book to read and recognize that if we don't honestly confront these lies, we will be like Hitler's regime.

Read this right after reading his book HOW FASCISM WORKS (which I recommend.) This book is for you if you: - Want to understand why some people are trying to get on school boards in order to control the curriculum. Seriously, like, what’s the big deal? - Realize now as an adult that the history you learned in school was missing a lot of people and/or their voices. Why? How? And why would there be pushback on making sure it was more accurate and thorough now that we know better? - Have heard that the information you hear/see/read is different than that of other people on social media, news/media coverage, books you can access in public libraries. Why don’t we all have the same thing? - Keep hearing people use words like ‘fascism’ and ‘autocracy,’ but don’t really understand what that means. And is it really a thing that could happen here in the US? - Don’t understand why we don’t have national automatic voter registration once we turn 18 or become American citizens. Wouldn’t that save a lot of hassle? - May still think it’s not that big a deal that people who have been convicted of a crime can’t vote anymore. Isn’t it their own fault? - Are doing the work to fight against people, organizations that are trying to limit access to books and a full public education. Want some reference points, examples. It took me about 4.5 or 5 hours to listen to it, and it made so many connections happen in my brain about what’s going on and why as I took my walks, did my chores, and drove around, all in language I could understand. Definitely recommend.

Wow great book if your not afraid of truth.

superbly written book

Stanley has plainly examined the various intentional means of right wing groups using a mythical American past to support the move toward an authoritarian future. He reminds readers how these methods have been used in the past successfully to protect and advance vested interests securing their continued power and privilege in society. The book is an attempt to inspire all those who support democracy to be aware and fight back to protect the freedom to be educated through a compassionate understanding of the complex history of the country and it's diverse population.

I recently completed a four year term on a local school board. The efforts to censor books, demonize diversity, equity, and inclusion, and label anything that questions the mythic narrative of the United States as a nation without any sin were commonplace in the public comments we received at monthly meetings, in the public comments made social media, and in the emails board members received weekly . As I read Professor Stanley’s book, I found so much that was familiar to me. This book performs a great service in calling out the efforts to destroy public education, and to infuse indoctrination of a mythic narrative into whatever might take the place of public education. It’s very hard to come to grips with the notion that fascism is coming to the United States. Professor Stanley’s use of historical and current examples of how fascism attacks education systems to re-write narratives in support of it’s desired myths, helps to shine a spotlight on what is happening in the United States. And even then, it is still difficult to accept that it is really happening.

Bought the book after seeing an interview of the author as I wanted to know details. The book is information is how authoritarian governments use certain propaganda to dehumanize groups they don't agree with or to consolidate power. I read this book after reading Strong Men by Ben-Ghiat. This book goes into details of how propaganda is spread while Strong Men by Ben-Ghiat goes into details how such authoritarian governments consolidate power, maintain power and how they might end. Once you read Erasing History you'll have a greater sense of aware when you see such propaganda on TV or articles. I learned a lot and you can walk away learning a lot as well. It's a good read given the current political time in the US.

Stanley has hit the nail on the head with this seminal book. He discusses all the elements of facism and authoritianism and how they threaten our - often taken for granted - freedoms. Read the book. Wake up and fight back!

Me ha gustado mucho la acertada explicación de la progresiva perdida actual de capacidad crítica de nuestras sociedades llamadas democraticas .