Authoritarian Nightmare

Trump and His Followers

By: John W. Dean, Bob Altemeyer

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

How did America end up with a leader who acts so crudely and despotically, and counter to our democratic principles? Why do his followers stick with him, even when he acts against their interests?

To fully understand, John Dean, a man with a history of standing up to autocratic presidents, joins with Bob Altemeyer, a psychology professor with a unique area of expertise: authoritarianism.

Together, using psychological diagnostic tools, as well as exclusive research and analysis from the Monmouth University Polling Institute - one of America's most respected public opinion research foundations - the authors provide us with an eye-opening understanding of the Trump phenomenon...and what we may be able to do to stop it.

©2020 John W. Dean and Robert A. Altemeyer (P)2020 Kalorama

Riveting

A must read to understand our current situation and save democracy in 2020! Highly recommend.

Folks That Idolize Trump: The Psychology Behind It

Made important psycological points about his supporters and I noticed the mentioned qualities in them. Well done.

Incredibly insightful

Best thing I've come across to give insight into Trump and his supporters. The review of the research base for the arguments in this book is excellent.

Just the facts, nothing, but the facts

It’s a pleasure to read a book that backs up their statements with data.. it’s a scary book about how half the country is uneducated and insane or narcissistic, bullies!!

Do you wonder why people support Trump?

One of the discussions I have within my brain and with other like minded friends is "why do many intelligent people support Trump and the "new" Republican party! Listening to this excellent book, as well as the equally outstanding and even handed "The Republican Mind"" largely answered answered the question. ( My Republican friends do not see the observations in the book as objective, rather as anti-Trump "Fake News".)
One of the reasons I don't read nearly as much as I used to is time, I simply don't have much of it! Audible books let me use my driving time very productively; I split it 1/2 and 1/2 between listening to the books and thinking.
I look at both of these books as well researched and documented "scholarly" works and in order to delve into their complex details and references in depth I also purchased the books. Spoken and written words each have their place in helping me understand complex topics.

Now I understand

No breaking news in this book about Trump's authoritarian tendencies, but it provides a vocabulary and framework to understand the authoritarian longings of his supporters. The first half details Trump's personality traits which come straight out of the authoritarian playbook - nothing new, but strangely captivating. The second half was really useful, describing psychological research which supports the concept that many of Trump supporters have Right Wing Authoritarian tendencies. I will be buying a hard copy so I can highlight the lists of traits which unifies them!

Americans Who Enable Autocracy

Important social science and political psychology work to be found here. If you want a science-based understanding of why millions of Americans support, defend and enable autocracy in general and fmr. President Trump in particular, this book is for you. Narration is very good.

Excellent!

The author has put together an very educational read with supporting data as well as many examples of why Trump is the authoritarian nightmare.

Bob was a better narrator than rick imho

Not surprising, but it really serves to explain the political situation that led to the Trump Era.

Well worth your time

Since 2015, I have been asking, “ why do people support Donald Trump?”. I have read several books in an effort to understand how we, as a citizenry, have arrived at this point in our history, to have a solid 35% of the public support a lying, autocratic-leaning, malignant narcissist.

These books have been insightful regarding our political system and the power brokers who moved us towards a Trumpian presidency. But none of these books explained WHY people support him.

This book, Authoritarian Nightmare, offers a deep dive into the personality traits and socioenvironmental contributors of those who follow/support/promote authoritarian leaders.

I listened to chapters 5-11, four times. I also looked up many of the referenced research. The book leaves this listener with a far better understanding of the “why”.

I have integrated this book’s information with the “how” books I have read which leads me to the astonishing conclusion that our democratic republic is in very serious, grave danger; basically at a tipping point of survival.

Chapter 12 includes a clarion call for citizens to be diligent in protecting our now-fragile democracy & to engage the youth of our nation to be active participants in our system of government. I completely agree.

Finally, I appreciated the sarcastic, humorous quips interspersed throughout the book as it periodically ‘broke’ the content’s grave nature.

I highly recommend this book.