by Rod Dreher
First published 2020
Former Soviet bloc emigrants see troubling patterns in contemporary America that remind them of their homeland's authoritarian past. Rod Dreher investigates their concerns about what they call "soft" totalitarianism taking root in the United States. These survivors point to identity politics penetrating everyday interactions, freedoms being recast as security risks, and the growing isolation of traditional Christians and other nonconformists. Dreher contends this modern authoritarianism operates through mental conditioning rather than brute force. He gathers testimonies from religious leaders, ordinary believers, and martyrs who opposed Soviet control, distilling their experiences into actionable wisdom for today's resistance movements. Drawing from a World War II pastor who prepared Eastern European Christians for communist persecution, Dreher outlines a practical framework: SEE current conditions clearly, JUDGE them according to Christian principles, and ACT to preserve truth. He cautions that Americans make the same mistake Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn observed elsewhere, assuming their country remains immune to tyranny. The book serves as both warning and preparation manual for Christians facing diminishing religious liberty.
Genres: history, christian, american, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: resistance, warning
Setting: America, Soviet Bloc, Eastern Europe
Period: World War II, Communist Rule
240 pages · Hardcover · Sentinel