Antifa

The Anti-Fascist Handbook

By: Mark Bray

Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

In the wake of tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Donald Trump's initial refusal to denounce the white nationalists behind it all, the "antifa" opposition movement is suddenly appearing everywhere. But what is it, precisely? And where did it come from?

As long as there has been fascism, there has been anti-fascism - also known as "antifa." Born out of resistance to Mussolini and Hitler in Europe during the 1920s and '30s, the antifa movement has suddenly burst into the headlines amid opposition to the Trump administration and the alt-right. They could be seen in news reports, often clad all in black with balaclavas covering their faces, demonstrating at the presidential inauguration, and on California college campuses protesting far-right speakers, and most recently, on the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, protecting, among others, a group of ministers including Cornel West from neo-Nazi violence. (West would later tell reporters, "The anti-fascists saved our lives.")

Simply, antifa aims to deny fascists the opportunity to promote their oppressive politics, and to protect tolerant communities from acts of violence promulgated by fascists. Critics say shutting down political adversaries is anti-democratic; antifa adherents argue that the horrors of fascism must never be allowed the slightest chance to triumph again.

In a smart and gripping investigation, historian and former Occupy Wall Street organizer Mark Bray provides a detailed survey of the full history of anti-fascism from its origins to the present day - the first transnational history of postwar anti-fascism in English. Based on interviews with anti-fascists from around the world, Antifa details the tactics of the movement and the philosophy behind it, offering insight into the growing but little-understood resistance fighting back against fascism in all its guises.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Informative and Enlightening

I liked the review of Antifa’s preWW2 history and the development of the thesis that fascist ideology limits democratic values thereby limiting free speech thus necessitating the aggressive response thereto. Democracy that begets fascism is not democracy but protofascism under the guise of popular sovereignty.

Polemic literature is essentially biased and this is no exception-the attack on white identity unaccompanied by any exploration of positive aspects of European or American culture, of which there are many, as they pertain to the very ideals of free speech, rule of law...etc; or detailed exploration of fascistic ideology in the Islamic, East Asian, African, Latin American or minority groups within the US gives the idea that there is little antifascist activity in those areas or among those groups. The lack of this exploration creates the image that causes some of the issues that Antifa would like to eliminate-defensive ethnic nationalism being chief among them.

Excellent

The orator was great, he needs to work on his European accents though. They all sound Russian.

exactly what I needed

Perfect for a history buff or a newbie on fascism. this title helps you understand the fight for the people against a fascist menace.

whew

what were they thinking with this narration ?? lol i absolutely died laughing at the trump impression. but i shouldn't have been laughing- great book, mark. hopefully it'll get a better narration in the future

Kind of boring, but very informative

I decided to read this after learning that a family member has gotten deeply involved with white supremacy. I am already involved in many social justice causes but haven’t involved myself in the kind of direct action that Antifa is known for. Overall I enjoyed the book and felt I got a lot of very useful information out of it. I don’t see myself getting deeply involved in some of the more radical of antifa’s activities but I do think overall the movement is a good one, and the book did convince me to start taking some self defense training, just in case I find I need to defend myself from violent white supremecists in the course of my other activism work. It is pretty intellectual, so it felt slow to listen to at times. I guess I expected a book about militant, anti racist, punk rockers to be a little more riveting, lol. Also, I could have done without all the accents the dude reading it did, that was cheesy and obnoxious. Still, worth a listen!

Excellent, necessary history of the tactics used against authoritarian movements

With an authoritarian movement on the rise in America, this unique book details how ordinary people have fought fascists at home and abroad through the 20th century. Deplatforming, mocking, outnumbering, interrupting events and marches, standing with the threatened, and frightening the bullies, are all in here. It’s a handbook of 20th century case studies in tactical action. A good compliment to the many greater histories of authoritarianism and dying democracies.

Wonderful History and Perspective

95% of the book moves well and keeps interest with facts, quotes, perspectives and historical accounts of the birth and growth of Anti Fascist movements around the world.
The narrators use of accents, though occasionally helpful to differentiate quotes, became tiring at times.
overall good history and broad understanding of a highly misunderstood philosophy, political stance, and organization, or lack there of.

Excellent

Very informative read whose truth is evident by the right wing babies pretending to be intellectuals (that’s smart people to all you right wingers) trashing it

Good content, awful accents

The background of Antifa is fascinating, as is the story of how it is playing out today. However, the narrator’s compulsion of mimicking every accent of the Germans, Brits, Danes, and different regions of the US was so annoying and cringey, I almost left the book several times. I recommend reading this rather than listening to it.

Great introductory book

Great overview of anti-fascist groups and history before and after the WWII to the present. The author also makes several arguments in favour of anti-fascist organising today and responds to common critique.