It Can't Happen Here -- Sinclair Lewis (Full Book Review) (CC)

I delve deep into Sinclair Lewis's 1935 dystopian novel, in which he describes the rise of a fascist and authoritarian state in the United States, under conditions eerily similar to those that still exist today.

As a quick disclaimer, I'm no expert on these topics and am just trying to learn more about it... I'm doing my best, but I almost certainly have a made a few mistakes here and there :)

0:00 Intro
2:28 Fascism in response to Communism
4:42 Gaining popular support
7:36 A rosy portrayal of intellectualism? (Doremus vs. Shad)
14:28 Women of the novel
15:25 Reading this book in the (post-)Trump era
18:15 The many fa(s)ces of fascism
19:33 Learning more on the topic
20:46 Wrapping things up

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IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE by Sinclair Lewis

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FASCISM: A WARNING by Madeleine Albright

In my recording, I misstated the title of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's book. Her book is called "Fascism: A Warning", not "On Fascism" as I said in the video.

[jovialbivouacker]

I just came across this YouTube video today, (14 April 2024), because I was looking for a commentary on Sinclair Lewis’, “It Can’t Happen Here”. I realize that your channel is not political, however, I think that you should revisit this commentary soon as the 2024 election is looming and we are on the brink of the very story line that Lewis wrote about long ago. Thank you for your observations.

[StarblazerTV]

Given everything that's been going on the past couple months, I would definitely be interested in an updated review at some point.

[susanegley]

Hey, 2024 checking in with new fears. Your video is great and thoughtful.

[waynemuehlenbein]

Well done, my friend! I’ve read most all of Lewis’s work, many of them more than once,

[AJxxxxxxxx]

When i first enlisted in the military we were all asked after boot camp in SOI if we would open fire on American civilians if ordered too, and this was just a group discussion type of thing we were engaged in and of course everyone said they would refuse those orders because it’s wrong and we are patriots and we were all taught about the Geneva convention and international laws and we where all told that following unlawful orders can get you in trouble as well, and we all understood this and were all on the same page, ………… this was back in 2017 when trump was first taking office

Fast forward to now and I’m about to end my contract after serving the military for 5 years now and my unit was in a group discussion about the same topic of “would you open fire on American civilians if ordered” ………. I honestly wasn’t ready for what I heard that day, my stomach was turning and I was biting my tongue, I was disgusted by what I was hearing but at the same time I kept quiet because I knew exactly what was fueling a lot of people that day and clearly I was the only person in that room that day who was on the opposite spectrum politically but I didn’t want anyone knowing because I knew it would turn everyone in my unit against me and I knew no matter what I said I wouldn’t be able to change anyone’s mind, politics where not discussed at all that day but it was very clear that politics was the driving force behind what some of them were saying that day

When the question was first purposed their was some amount of discussion on it, not much really, but when they chose a city or state that most of them didn’t agree with politically that’s when things took a turn for the worst

I now realize that what happened in nazi Germany wasn’t so unique to just that time period or that nation, I now know that it could happen in any “civilized” nation including our very own, and all it takes is a political motive and a group of people that you despise or disagree with

[AgenaNega]

I say Hello from Russia 2023. This book is our reality today in many points in my country. I just finished reading and I feel sad😢
Я посмотрела немало литературных обзоров. Многие американские граждане спорят об этой книге сегодня, я часто встречаю их мнения и недоумение - почему люди не протестовали, почему тоталитарный режим наступил так быстро, почему никто не боролся за демократию… Но в России в прошлом году каждый месяц выходили новые законы, за которые никто не голосовал. Правительство просто решило единолично, что теперь страна будет жить по новым правилам. Эти правила направлены на то, чтобы лишить граждан свободы. И вот год спустя мы получили уже другую страну. Мы даже не успели понять, что происходит. Но уже нельзя выйти и протестовать… Все это ближе чем кажется. Все это возможно.

[ashleycarr]

I just finished this book and just searched out videos on others who have read it since it is a bit obscure. It is very interesting to have another perspective on its ideas. First I would make comment on your thought that it was atypical for the dictatorial regime to be from the Democratic party. The thing that struck me as I read, fully understanding that 1935 politics are different than current day politics, is that I recognized character traits in both parties of modern-day politics that seemed representative of potential dictatorship ideals. That was a part of the book I enjoyed, it seemed to enlighten my perspective on modern day politics through a historical lens. As to the character of Shad, I personally thought that Lewis was making a a social comment on the class struggle between what would seemingly be the lower class that Shad was a part of and the middle class that Doremus was a part of. Shad's counterpart would be Miss Candy who a part of the working class / lower class was a hard worker and loved the family she worked for. I felt that later on the concentration camp Doremus even had a tenderness still towards Shad that was surprising considering Shad's callus treatment of him. I must admit I did laugh out loud when you made the comment about the book not being a total sausage fest! The female characters are surprisingly strong yet balanced just like in real life. With Emma being juxtaposed against the Lorinda character. I would even argue that Emma has a male counterpart in her son Philip who essentially plays the same role in using the political circumstances to further his position in life. And of course the merry character is just BA! Since I just finished it literally in the past hour I'm still contemplating what I think of the ending. I know that this video was put out a while back but hopefully you see this because it is fun to talk to someone who has read this book.

[justinmonisit]

Great video. Touches on many of the same points I was making in discussing the book.

[brianbess]

This is an outstanding review of 'It Can't Happen Here'! I just finished reading the novel yesterday and noticed that you pointed out many of the same issues with the heavy political content and the character of Doremus Jessup. I agree with you about the character flaws of Doremus. In fact, Doremus is self-analytical enough to question how effective he's been with his newspaper and editorials, wondering if he has been so quick to criticize because he has been secure in his 'ivory tower' existence and can easily pass judgment on a cretin like Shad Ledue. I think Lewis must have felt an urgency to pack as much in to his 'of the moment' dystopia that he got sloppier with his craftsmanship and characterization than he was with his much more polished and nuanced earlier novels such as 'Main Street' and 'Babbit' (the only others of his that I have read so far). Great job, Mike!

[marylou-zmkb]

I've discovered your chanel recently and I already love it ! Ty sm for the cc and love the hard work Always good reviews and good books :D

[nicholasjones]

I think having spent some previous time reading about fascism made this a much easier going read. Good book

[dawynn]

Excellent review and commentary. You gained a fan because of your comment at the 18 min mark; labeling.

[robertuchman]

Another point or several points of view is always absolutely necessary. Never see anything through the limited scope of one's own narrow-minded education discover it for yourself that's one point of freedom you don't always have to agree with everyone or anyone in particular but one thing that most if not all should learn or educate themselves on is what we have available and how we utilize it for a continued shared existence of individuality on this rock, enticing knowledge out with benefits for that person's ideas while also benefiting society through those ideas.

[tomronollo]

I think it could happen to either party if the right things are said to the population- However we have leaders who have recently said that if they are elected they will get rid of political enemies-- thus it is a template that should function to help readers recognize fascism from the get go.

[lisavitale]

I’m currently listening to It Can’t Happen Here and it is a tough read. It’s pretty heavy.

[k-mwylie]

Very nice and fair review 👍
How do you think this administration applies to your thoughts in this video ?
Do you see a dictatorship in all those EO's ?
How about basic constitutional rights ?

[Judahthedudah]

Very well said. Just finishing this book up now. I think you are very on point with your remarks on today’s politics and presidents.

[Paulieinspiration]

Good review I'm struggling to finish this book. I'm on chapter 6. I found it to not be an easy read also with alot of words if never heard before. I didn't know what the book was about before I started and probably wouldn't be interested if I did know it was political. It was free so I grabbed it.

[Stogey]

duh-reem-us of "dormeus" pronunciation totally threw me off... I read it in my head as door-me-us

[Judahthedudah]

Very well said. Just finishing this book up now. I think you are very on point with your remarks on today’s politics and presidents. We cannot fall into the trap of calling someone a name and discounting them or following them on either side.