Naomi Wolf

By Naomi Wolf
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World-renowned feminist and best-selling author of the landmark The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf is back with The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot, a brief, 155-page look at the historical patterns found in all dictatorial regimes.Extensively footnoted, this book draws out astounding parallels between Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Pinochet and more.Laid against the backdrop of 21st century America, Wolf shows those currently in power have followed the playbook closely.

Wolf refers to "historical echoes" when describing such recurrent totalitarian manifestations as: secret prisons, mercenary or paramilitary forces, surveillance of ordinary citizens and infiltration of their organizations, restrictions on the press and speech in general, arbitrary detainment and release of citizens, evocation of a constant internal and external threat, allegations of espionage and treason at critics and dissenters and subversion of the rule of law.

This book is very much the warning the subtitle promises.The introduction of such authoritarian practices typically occurs gradually, and in a similar sequence.Wolf calls this the "fascist shift" and describes tell-tale signs that an open democratic society is being closed down.
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For those who already understand, Wolf offers compelling if not exhaustive material ideal for reframing understanding of the changes our country has undertaken, in our name and without our consent.