American Hysteria: The Untold Story of Mass Political Extremism in the United States
Book Details
Author(s)Andrew Burt
PublisherLyons Press
ISBN / ASIN1493003348
ISBN-139781493003341
AvailabilityUsually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank420,641
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
This debut from Andrew Burt details the pivotal moments in American political history when outliers moved to the center, capturing the national spotlight and turning fringe politics mainstream. American Hysteria puts readers at the center of the nation's most prominent periods of political extremism, from the Anti-Illuminati movement of the 1790s to McCarthyism in the 1950s to the Anti-Sharia movement of today. Both a deep dive into American history and a riveting narrative account, American Hysteria is as much history as it is drama.
Burt argues that political hysteria arises in periods of profound uncertainty about American identity, and that when Americans lose their sense of who they are, they lash out against perceived threats with blacklists, scapegoating, conspiracies, cover-ups and more. By exploring the infamous and sometimes forgotten movements and characters of our nation's past, this fascinating book provides a unique view into America's history, its identity, and ultimately its future.
Burt argues that political hysteria arises in periods of profound uncertainty about American identity, and that when Americans lose their sense of who they are, they lash out against perceived threats with blacklists, scapegoating, conspiracies, cover-ups and more. By exploring the infamous and sometimes forgotten movements and characters of our nation's past, this fascinating book provides a unique view into America's history, its identity, and ultimately its future.
