Book Overview
Description
We are here to remember what happened and to declare solemnly that ‘they’ must never do it again. But who are ‘they’?
How to Spot a Fascist is a selection of three thought-provoking essays on freedom and fascism, censorship and tolerance – including Eco’s iconic essay ‘Ur-Fascism’, which lists the fourteen essential characteristics of fascism, and draws on his own personal experiences growing up in the shadow of Mussolini.
Umberto Eco remains one of the greatest writers and cultural commentators of the last century. In these pertinent pieces, he warns against prejudice and abuses of power and proves a wise and insightful guide for our times.
If we strive to learn from our collective history and come together in challenging times, we can hope for a peaceful and tolerant future.
Freedom and liberation are never-ending tasks. Let this be our motto:
"Do not forget."
Umberto Eco (1932–2016) wrote fiction, literary criticism and philosophy. His first novel, The Name of the Rose, was a major international bestseller. His other works include Foucault’s Pendulum, The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, The Prague Cemetery and Numero Zero along with many brilliant collections of essays.
Genres
Highlights & Quotes
(7)Mussolini had no philosophy: all he had was rhetoric.
the other hand, you can play the Fascism game many ways, and the name of the game does not change.
official Fascist intellectuals were mainly committed to accusing modern culture and the liberal intelligentsia of having abandoned traditional values.
community sees dissent as a tool with which to promote the advancement of learning. For Ur-Fascism, dissent is betrayal.
The first appeal of a Fascist or prematurely Fascist movement is a call against intruders. Ur-Fascism is therefore racist by definition.
those with no social identity at all, Ur-Fascism says that their only privilege is the most common privilege of all, that of being born in the same country. This is the origin of nationalism. Moreover, the only ones who can provide the nation with an identity are the enemy
While we educate our fellow citizens and especially our children to open-minded tolerance, we should also recognise that there are customs, ideas and behaviours that are – and must remain – intolerable to us. Some values typical of the European world view represent a heritage we must not relinquish. To