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Published by Radius Book Group
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Words on Fire is about the power of communication to do great harm, and how civic leaders and engaged citizens can hold leaders accountable to prevent such harm. Author Helio Fred Garcia focuses on the language President Trump uses that conditions an audience to accept, condone, and commit violence against a targeted group, rival, or critics.
The book includes a history of such rhetoric, and identifies a playbook consisting of twelve forms of communication that typically precede genocides and other acts of mass violence. The Nazis used all twelve; the Rwandan Hutu used ten. Trump uses all twelve. The language triggers lone wolves to commit violence. Since 9/11 the use of rhetoric that provokes violence has been known as “stochastic terrorism,” a phrase that tends to confuse and that makes discussion difficult. The author suggests a more accessible name: lone-wolf whistle violence, on the model of “dog whistle” politics. The book draws on the most recent scholarship on lone wolves, their mindset, and what it takes to activate them to commit violence.
The book documents Trump’s increasingly dangerous rhetoric through his campaign and first term, and how some lone wolves were motivated by the rhetoric to commit violence. It also describes the changes in the nation’s political culture and media that led to Trump’s nomination and presidency. It profiles leaders who dialed back their rhetoric when it was shown to put people’s lives in danger. Words on Fire closes with a call to action: We can learn the lessons of today to prepare for tomorrow, to help civic leaders, engaged citizens, journalists, and public officials recognize the phenomenon and take steps to hold other leaders accountable in the future when they use such language.
The book includes a history of such rhetoric, and identifies a playbook consisting of twelve forms of communication that typically precede genocides and other acts of mass violence. The Nazis used all twelve; the Rwandan Hutu used ten. Trump uses all twelve. The language triggers lone wolves to commit violence. Since 9/11 the use of rhetoric that provokes violence has been known as “stochastic terrorism,” a phrase that tends to confuse and that makes discussion difficult. The author suggests a more accessible name: lone-wolf whistle violence, on the model of “dog whistle” politics. The book draws on the most recent scholarship on lone wolves, their mindset, and what it takes to activate them to commit violence.
The book documents Trump’s increasingly dangerous rhetoric through his campaign and first term, and how some lone wolves were motivated by the rhetoric to commit violence. It also describes the changes in the nation’s political culture and media that led to Trump’s nomination and presidency. It profiles leaders who dialed back their rhetoric when it was shown to put people’s lives in danger. Words on Fire closes with a call to action: We can learn the lessons of today to prepare for tomorrow, to help civic leaders, engaged citizens, journalists, and public officials recognize the phenomenon and take steps to hold other leaders accountable in the future when they use such language.
Product Details
- Publisher: Radius Book Group (June 30, 2020)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781635769036
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Raves and Reviews
“Many of us were taught a lie as youngsters that sticks and stones can break our bones, but words will never hurt us. Garcia courageously, graphically, and powerfully illustrates that it is words on fire that cause deep internal permanent damage while often triggering accompanying physical damage. Words On Fire should be mandatory reading and a guide book for every journalist, business school, religious leader, and elected official. Important institutions in our society and culture have the affirmative responsibility to stand up and speak out against the users and use of dangerous language.”
- James E. Lukaszewski, America’s Crisis Guru®
“Drawing on history and his deep expertise in communications, Helio Fred Garcia documents how Trump's barrage of hate, divisiveness, and falsehoods are even uglier and more dangerous than we thought, right out of the autocrat's playbook. This is a highly readable guide to how we can call out and combat Trump's toxic language and malignant agenda, and push back against the corrosive forces that enable Trumpism and put our country in peril.”
- Evan Wolfson, Founder, Freedom to Marry
“Garcia, a proven scholar on communication, enables his readers to understand both the benefits and threats of words that inevitably alter the direction and the values of a nation. He identifies rhetoric that breeds violence, affirms autocracy, and prompts terrorism as well as critical responses to those developments that serve as antidotes to trouble and strategies for building a more equitable, united world.”
- Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President Emeritus, Interfaith Alliance
“Language is powerful. It can uplift or harm. Helio Fred Garcia is an astute student of language and communication. This book offers historic examples, keen insights, and valuable advice on recognizing patterns of language that can lead to violence.”
- David Lapan, Colonel, USMC (ret), Former Pentagon and DHS spokesman
“In this dark moment of hateful and divisive rhetoric in our blessed country, at a time when such original analyses and solutions are scarce, Words on Fire serves as a guiding light. Garcia details the incendiary language used by our leaders and offers practical tools for leaders and citizens to combat it. Every American should read this timely, imperative book if we are to save our democracy.”
- Khizr Khan, Gold Star Parent, Immigrant American
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Words on Fire eBook 9781635769036
