After the Fall: The Rise of Authoritarianism in the World We've Made

The book "After the Fall" is a dystopian odyssey through the dark authoritarian landscape of the modern world, exploring how the legacy of American exceptionalism was taken apart and what it means to be American again. The author traveled to dozens of countries, meeting with politicians, activists, and dissidents confronting nationalism and authoritarianism, and learning how America's fingerprints are on a world it helped to shape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The New York Times bestselling author delves into a dystopian odyssey through the dark authoritarian landscape of the modern world. Born American in the late twentieth century, the author assumed a state of exceptionalism as a given, a belief that emerged after all other attempts had failed. However, this assumption would be shattered in just thirty years.

After the fall, the author embarked on a journey to understand what it meant to be American again. In 2017, as Ben Rhodes assisted Barack Obama in beginning his next chapter, the legacy they had built for eight years was being dismantled. Rhodes decided to look outward, seeking to understand the events unfolding in America. Over the next three years, he traveled to dozens of countries, engaging with politicians, activists, and dissidents confronting the same nationalism and authoritarianism that was tearing America apart.

Along the way, Rhodes encountered a Russian opposition leader who was poisoned, witnessed the suppression of Hong Kong protesters, and saw America teetering on the brink of losing democracy before giving itself a second chance.

After the Fall is a monumental and indispensable work of discovery. Throughout, Rhodes realizes the profound impact that America has had on the world, influenced by the excesses of the post-Cold War embrace of unbridled capitalism, the aftermath of 9/11 nationalism and militarism, the obsession with technology and social media, and the racism that shaped the backlash against the Obama presidency.

At the same time, he learns from a diverse range of characters, including Obama, rebels, and a rising generation of leaders, about the importance of confronting America's past mistakes to fight for what America is supposed to be—for itself and for the world.

The author's exploration of these themes is thought-provoking and deeply relevant, offering a timely reminder of the challenges and opportunities facing the United States in the twenty-first century.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526642073