Rebellion

How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again

By: Robert Kagan

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

A chilling and clear-eyed warning about the threats to our democracy posed by the increasing radicalization of the Republican Party, from a leading historian and intellectual

The 2024 election could be the last free election held in a unified America. So warns Robert Kagan in this brilliant and terrifying analysis of the perilous state of democracy in the United States today. If Donald Trump loses the upcoming election, as he did in 2020, but refuses to accept the result, as he also did in the last election, he is likely to call on his millions of followers to repudiate the election results. It will be a short step from there to Republican-dominated states rejecting the legitimacy of the federal government and effectively seceding. The United States at that point will cease to be united, with grave consequences for both Americans and the world.

In Rebellion, Kagan dives deeper than the op-eds and think pieces to explore the historical forces that have brought us to this moment—in particular the long history of opposition to liberalism, and to government, that has shaped America’s character from the time of the Revolution to today. Trump’s unique capacity to tap into that tradition of dissent and circumvent the American system has brought us to the edge of dissolution—not for the first time in our history but possibly the last. This is an elegant and deeply informed synthesis of history, contemporary politics, and ideas that sheds light on this crucial moment.

©2023 Robert Kagan (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"An alarming but useful perspective on antiliberalism....[A] timely, well-informed analysis....Kagan cogently examines the bright long-term prospects for the Founders’ concept of liberalism, especially with the nation’s rapidly changing demographics—if Trump does not win the election....A powerful, much-needed political and social analysis that all lovers of democracy should read."–Kirkus, starred

Short and clear - and powerfully correct.

A clear understanding of the stakes in 2024. Same as it ever was, but never so important.

Erudite and timely, Kagan‘s presentation is factually compelling and his opinions do not at all require leaps of faith.

Such a grim topic to consider and yet here it is, like it or not.

Best Book In Its Class

I read a lot of political nonfiction in these troubled times. Many of the popular books are Trump diatribes and/or calculated to appeal to an audience on the Left. It gets old.

This book takes a completely different path.

It starts with a succinct and cogent summary of the history of American political liberalism from the Founding to the present time, bringing us up to this moment in history. It explains how we got here and why, while some things have changed, certain unpleasant things about human nature have remained the same and are now imperiling the American Experiment.

Kagan is extremely analytical about what’s driving the Trump voter. He makes no excuses for them and identifies them with language and perception I have never heard before. At the same time, he avoids hyperbole and remains objective. He backs every point with research and examples.

Finally, he tells us what to expect from the upcoming election.

This is a short, but informationally dense, analysis from a former high ranking Republican. It’s the only one in this genre that I’ve read without at least a few eyerolls. He nails it.

The narration is professional but has one or two minor glitches. They did not interfere with my understanding.

History explained

This is an excellent book about the history of our country in relation to the liberalism that underlies the founding of the USA. The part about how Trump fits into this is pretty short but it's enough to tie everything together. The book is a warning but it also shows us a glimpse of a positive future that we can enjoy if we stay the course.

This message is one to be listened to for our very future.it was presented in the form of a road map

It was presented in the form that was easy to follow and understand. It showed the progress of the loss of the freedom of America can be lost in the next election. I can only hope that American bands together and tells Trump to go away

Rebellion

A clear, well reasoned argument concerning the roles of liberalism and illiberalism in the political construction of America from the revolutionary war to the present. A stark warning concerning the current threat to democracy posed by the concurrent tide of illiberal conservatism and amplified and manipulated by Trump’s malignant narcissism .

Surprisingly Simplistic

I was hoping for a more thoughtful and nuanced book given the author’s link to the arguably moderate Brookings Institute. I was thoroughly disappointed in the attempt to assert the current ideological divide is purely about race dating back to the issue of slavery at the nation’s founding.