I saw Joe Conason at Book Passage in Corte Madera yesterday. He has a new book out called It Can Happen Here: Authoritarian Peril in the Age of Bush, which builds on the uncanny resemblance between contemporary American politics and the bestselling Sinclair Lewis novel, It Can't Happen Here (1935).
Joe is a real pro--great control over the facts, a talent for selection and emphasis, and a trenchant style. I'm not alone in my admiration. He's a New York Times bestselling author, director of investigative reporting at the Nation Institute, a columnist at Salon and the New York Observer, and a PoliPointPress author and advisor. Did I mention his great pipes? Perfect for radio and public speaking.
This is all very well, fanatical readers of this blog will say, but where's the Carey McWilliams connection? Ah, here we go again. Have you forgotten that McWilliams wrote a pamphlet in 1935 called It Can Happen Here: Active Anti-Semitism in Los Angeles? Also, he ran one of Joe's first pieces back in the day. Now stop doubting me and go buy Joe's new book and The Raw Deal.
I'm adding a link to Joe's blog--highly recommended.
1 comment:
Thanks Peter! It was great to see you the other day -- and thanks for the lift to the airport too. JC
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