First published 2011
Ann Coulter examines what she sees as the mob mentality driving liberal politics in America. She draws connections between Democratic Party tactics and the psychological patterns identified by Gustave Le Bon in his foundational work on crowd behavior. Coulter argues that liberals display classic mob characteristics including the creation of messiah figures, resistance to scientific progress, mythmaking tendencies, and casual acceptance of contradictory beliefs. She traces this political style back to Robespierre and the French Revolution, contrasting it with the American founding tradition. The book catalogs various liberal movements from student radicals to anti-war protesters, arguing they consistently employ violence to advance their vision of the general will. Coulter contends that Americans have lost their historical wariness of mob rule, particularly since the civil rights era of the 1960s. She calls for recognition of what she terms the demonic nature of mob politics as essential for defending American institutions.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Period: French Revolution
354 pages · Hardcover · Crown Forum