Fascism

TL;DR it is quite possible, even easy, for a democracy to destroy itself through entirely democratic means. (This may not come as a complete surprise to you). Albright offers up example after example, from 1930s Europe through present-day Venezuela, Turkey, Hungary. She writes of court-packing, of lies and liars, of tinpots who offer entertainment instead of thoughtfulness and of the moronic masses who gobble it up. It is depressingly easy to slide into despotism.

I nearly abandoned it a third of the way through: the history is familiar to me, and her concern is one I already share. I kept going because I was enjoying the book. Albright is a great storyteller; she hooked me. I do not feel better informed from having read it, nor better prepared to fight fascism, but I enjoyed my reading experience and that's perfectly okay.