How to Be a Fascist

A Manual

By: Michela Murgia, Alex Valente - translator

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

How fascist are you? A sharp, provocative conversation-starter about the authoritarian in us all

The first and only guide to turning your 21st century democracy into a fascist paradise

Democracy is difficult, flawed and unstable. It involves barely distinguishable political parties taking part in lengthy, overcomplicated and expensive decision-making processes. Trying to engage so many people with political issues seems to lead only to complexity and disagreement. So why bother? Doesn't fascism guarantee a more effective and efficient management of the state?

In this short, bitingly ironic mixture of On Tyranny and The Psychopath Test, Italian political activist Michela Murgia explores the logic that is attracting increasing numbers of voters to right-wing populism. Far from its origins in the 20th century, fascism is once again on the rise in an age of increased connectivity and globalism. Murgia shows how many of the elements of our society that we might think would combat closed-mindedness and xenophobia actually fan the flames. Closing with a "fascistometer" to measure the reader's own authoritarian inclinations, How to be a Fascist is a refreshingly direct, polemical book that asks us to confront the fascisim in our governments, in our societies, and in our own political leanings.

Critic reviews

“Murgia…exposes the insidious nature of authoritarianism in this tongue-in-cheek guide to remaking a democratic society into a fascist one…Readers will gain new insight into why illiberalism is on the rise.” —Publishers Weekly

"Murgia’s manual...translates fascism into a thoroughly contemporary phenomenon, where democracy is not a given, but a continuous struggle." -- Jamie Richards, Words without Borders

"Among the many strengths of Murgia’s book are the connections she draws between the political methodologies of fascism on the one hand, and on the other the cultural norms they promote. Indeed, the return to normativity – of the traditional family, of gender relations, of social and political hierarchies – and the alleged naturalness of this normativity, are shown to lurk beneath the most basic of political activisms." -- Jennifer Sarha, European Literature Network

"Throws a light on our times." -- Irish Times (Dublin)

provocative and clever

A quick read (or listen) suggested for all anti-fascists, of course. I'm afraid the fascists would not understand the point of this pamphlet.