The LWV Book Group met on September 25 to discuss A Fever in the Heartland, by Timothy Egan. An account of the rise and fall of the KKK in the 1920's, the book shows how a persuasive and corrupt leader gained enormous political power, especially in Indiana and Ohio, until a courageous lawyer brought him down for raping and killing one of his many female victims. The group discussed the attraction of extremist leaders and their organizations and the fragility of democracy, noting similarities and differences between that time and ours. A lively exchange of ideas ended in praise of individuals who fought--and continue to fight--against would-be dictators.
Our group will meet again on Wednesday, December 4, when we will discuss The Persuaders, written by Anand Giridharadas.
The Persuaders challenges us to build welcoming coalitions with those who may disagree with us on an issue. We meet a leader of Black Lives Matter; a trailblazer in the feminist resistance to Trumpism; white parents at a seminar on raising adopted children of color; Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; a team of door knockers with an uncanny formula for changing minds on immigration; and an ex-cult member turned QAnon deprogrammer.
The book group gives members an opportunity to talk about critical issues in a small group setting.
Register Today!