Philipp Ruch

This book draws parallels between the Weimar Republic and today's situation when once again a right-wing extremist party, the AfD, is reaching for power in Germany. The author argues that while usually we look upon the Weimar politicians and society as weak because they did not prevent the Third Reich, they did in fact much more than we do today.
The author then proceeds to prove how dangerous and radical the party is. Of course I knew that they were, but still it is something different to show more read endless quotes, from speeches to social media posts to messages from private chats, to learn in detail how their anti-democratic plans are financed by the very system of democracy itself, how much power they already have. I am feeling sick to my stomach and I will never understand why they haven't been forbidden long ago.

The only aspect I must criticize is that the book is written in a very casual, often snippy style, which I found exhausting to read and which, in my opinion, is not that appropriate. I would have preferred the book to be written in a clearer style. This doesn't take away from the importance and urgent message of the book, though. show less