Author Talk, David Corn
Date and Time
Nov 13, 2023 6:00 pm
Location
Takoma
Nov 13, 2023 6:00 pm
Takoma
Busboys and Poets Books welcomes David Corn to discuss “American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy”, in conversation with Andy Shallal - CEO & Founder, Busboys and Poets
Through this exclusive interview, we will explore the rise of authoritarianism, the erosion of democracy, and the dangerous political landscape that has gripped our nation.
about the book
#1 New York Times bestselling author and investigative reporter David Corn tells the wild and harrowing story of the Republican Party’s decades-long relationship with far-right extremism, bigotry, and paranoia.
A fast-paced, rollicking, behind-the-scenes account of how the GOP since the 1950s has encouraged and exploited extremism, bigotry, and paranoia to gain power, American Psychosis offers readers a brisk, can-you-believe-it journey through the netherworld of far-right irrationality and the Republican Party’s interactions with the darkest forces in America.
In a compelling and thoroughly-researched narrative, Corn reveals the hidden history of how the Party of Lincoln forged alliances with extremists, kooks, racists, and conspiracy-mongers and fostered fear, anger, and resentment to win elections—and how this led to Donald Trump’s triumph and the transformation of the GOP into a Trump personality cult that foments and bolsters the crazy and dangerous excesses of the right.
The Trump-incited insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, was no aberration. American Psychosis shows it was a continuation of the long and deep-rooted Republican practice of boosting and weaponizing the rage and derangement of the right.
The gripping tale in American Psychosis covers the last seven decades. From McCarthyism to the John Birch Society to segregationists to the New Right to the religious right to Rush Limbaugh to Newt Gingrich to the militia movement to Fox News to Sarah Palin to the Tea Party to Trumpism, the Republican Party has deliberately nurtured and exploited rightwing fear and loathing fueled by paranoia, grievance, and tribalism. This powerful and important account explains how one political party has harnessed the worst elements in politics to poison the nation’s discourse and threaten American democracy.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
This program will be recorded for "Next Up to the Mic with Andy Shallal", a weekly program to air on WPFW 89.3 FM