It Can't Happen Here

If you think our United States of America could never be led down a path to dictatorship, this novel will show you exactly how it could happen. Think twice America before you let our democracy perish through sheer lethargy and ignorance.

Doremus Jessop, Fort Beulah stalwart and editor/proprietor of the 'Informer' witnesses in disbelief as the populist and vacuous demagogue Berzelius Windrip beats FDR for the Democratic Presidential nomination, then hoodwinks a nation with promises of freedom. liberty and $5000 cash into voting in his Corpo state. Soon, all dissent is brutally put down; Windrip's sinister Minute Men control each town and district. Is communism the only alternative to restore America from this fascist state ? Or is that just fascism under another name ? Doremus is caught in the middle, simply wanting the freedom and liberty that both sets of demagogues pretend they represent and are fighting for....
This is arguably Lewis's greatest novel-certainly his most important. Written at a time when their was serious threat of extremism taking hold of American politics, Lewis paints a startlingly accurate picture of life in a totalitarian state. He warns powerfully against the demagogues of both right and left and their pictures of Utopia -all of which involve dictatorship and loss of the spirit of freedom that makes man(he openly mocks his old mentor Upton Sinclair who believed in Utopia's ) and-cleverly to my mind-has the fascist state come about under the traditionally left leaning Democrats, thus side stepping entrenched prejudices and dogma's that would have bogged his message down had Windrip been from the traditionally right leaning Republicans.
The criticisms of 'It Cant Happen Here' seem banal and pretentious to me. They bang on about dialogue, or the cartoon names of the characters (a la Dickens!) and totally overlook and fail to see the message of the book.
As someone who really detests politics and politicians for their gross hypocrisies and self serving charlatanism, this really had me boiling and was a riveting read. 80 years on and this book is still supremely relevant -as relevant as any of Orwell's great novels against totalitarian/utopian politics-and warns strongly against being deceived by politicians using flowery words of 'freedom and liberty'(particularly "protecting") as a front for seizing power and powers that take away your own freedoms.

Written in 1935 this novel is well known and recently attracted renewed interest because a populist was elected president - like in the book. At the time of the writing Sinclair Lewis had the German example of the times as a model. Similarities end there. It shpuld, however, put the reader on guard.

Having read the Kindle edition, I wanted to share it with my fiancee (who still insists on real books with paper pages). Unfortunately, the font used in the paperback edition is so small that it is unreadable. So be forewarned.

This book could not be more relevant...since we "now" have a Lunatic in the WH..who is an unstable Charlatan, who does not respect our Constitution. A person who admires Authoritarian Regimes....like Russia...but not our own Constitution. Just chilling.

So prophetic for these times. Scarily so. Even though the tyrant is a democrat (the parties were somewhat different in those days) it shows that a Donald Trump (fill in any name you want, past present or future) of any party can come out of nowhere and sweep the nation into dangerous and collective insanity. When they realize what has happened, it is too late. Read the forward first, as it explains how the author came to know so much about what was going on in the world as early as 1935 (he was married to a journalist who traveled to Europe and followed events very closely)

This book, written in the 1930s, is so eerily prophetic about Donald Trump that I couldn't stop reading it - because I hoped Mr. Lewis offered an equally-prophetic remedy for defeating a dangerous demagogue. It's almost as if Mr. Lewis is watching news reel from 2016 and simply writing what he sees, with the advantage of a historical perspective that allows him to be both removed and prescient.

The past always returns to haunt us when we learn nothing from it, especially when we refuse to learn for ourselves without others telling us what to believe, by reading newspapers and watching TV........READ THIS, Then do your own research.........America has been sleeping in apathy far too long ...............

This book, written in the 1930s, is so eerily prophetic about Donald Trump that I couldn't stop reading it - because I hoped Mr. Lewis offered an equally-prophetic remedy for defeating a dangerous demagogue. It's almost as if Mr. Lewis is watching news reel from 2016 and simply writing what he sees, with the advantage of a historical perspective that allows him to be both removed and prescient.

The past always returns to haunt us when we learn nothing from it, especially when we refuse to learn for ourselves without others telling us what to believe, by reading newspapers and watching TV........READ THIS, Then do your own research.........America has been sleeping in apathy far too long ...............

This book really emphasizes the importance of not becoming complacent about our government and political system. It further shows that things we take for granted are fragile and all citizens have responsibility to ensure our way of life through our votes

Sadly, ever more relevant. Sinclair Lewis was a muckraker-- a term that meant journalists and writers who raked the muck of the capitalist abusers, revealing the truth of their abuses. It was because of muckrakers like Lewis that we got meat rules/inspection at processing plants, the 8-hour workday, the end of child labor, etc. MUCKRAKER-- a badge to wear proudly. His books are hard to put down. Truly an honorable man.

Thought provoking classic novel written in 1935 during the rise of Hitler and Mussolini into power. Although the writing is not Sinclair Lewis's best, his observations and philosophy are pertinent to today's political situation.

A very interesting book written in 1935 about events that could happen in a democracy like ours. The similarity in some quotes by the candidate for president and our current president is scary. The book has a lot of details about the people and places which makes the reading slow.

Sinclair Lewis wrote this book in 1935. The presidential campagn reads as a blue print of that of Trump's. This candidate also wins the election by making impossible promises favoring the working class and massive unemployed, He turns the USA into a fascist state as I fear Trump will be doing. Actually it is beyond fear as it seems to be a given. Trump's stances of anti-Latinos, anti-Moslims, antisemite (of course as it always against the Jews), anti-gay, anti -immigrant has given him support by the Klu Klux Klan and the National Socialist (Nazi) Party. mirror the supporters this fictional president's.
I read it hoping that It Can't Happen Here feeling falsely confident that Clinton would win. I recommend reading it to understand how the freedoms were lost and that ours do not follow that same path.

Sinclair Lewis wrote this novel in the 1930s but its relevance to today’s political climate is astounding and definitely chilling. No wonder this is a best seller on the store.

In Lewis’s day, the stock market crash of 1929 destroyed the middle class. Many people lost their life savings and with that their homes and livelihood. In times when there is no hope, proponents of Fascism, Communism and other extreme ideologies are magnets for those who feel they are getting a bad shake. The rise of Adolph Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy and Stalin in Russia are good examples. The problem with these extreme groups is that those who propose solutions often destroy those who oppose them. These so-called idealists end up being tyrants. They use any means to their end and feel their actions are justified. The free press is maligned as consisting of lying journalists. Some group is singled out as the cause of many of the problems. Mass murder and incarceration are justified. Free assembly, protests, and requests for access to information are denied as unpatriotic. Fear is cultivated as a means of control.

In Lewis’s novel, newspaper editor Doremus watches the takeover of America by Windrip, a fascist leader. Trying to stay above the fray, he watches the destruction of his country until he finally has had enough. Working with others, he distributes anti-Windrip literature until he is caught. Beaten and imprisoned, he finally escapes to Canada only to come back to fight in the underground resistance.

The characters in this novel all make choices. Some of them seek power and financial gain, as well as safety for themselves and their families. Others try to protect their families but secretly work against the government. Still, others openly declare their opposition and are jailed or killed.

This is not considered one of Sinclair Lewis’ best novels, although it is certainly powerful. More editing would improve it considerably. However, its impact today is unmistakable. The story of fascism taking over America is very relevant to our current political situation. We must be vigilant and work to preserve our Democracy.

Every voter in America should read this book. Sinclair Lewis is a national treasure, and this storyline mirrors what is happening in the country today. It may be fiction, but it is certainly an eye-opener. A must read.

This book is more of an extended political essay than a novel. There is definitely a story but it is primarily a vehicle for the author to provide a warning about authoritarianism. That said, the parallels between the current leadership and administration in the US are eerie. He makes a clear point about how easy it is for a skilled manipulator to convince voters to follow his promises even when they are outrageous.

This book makes me thankful for the internet and smartphones. Hopefully those will help to keep people informed even if the official news sources don't when situations like this arise anywhere in the world.

What I liked about this book is that complacency can become America's downfall if the people do not speak up for their rights. One cannot allow others to be his/her mouthpiece. I think this book is what is needed today, even though the book was written during the Depression or a bit later.

This e-book edition seems to have been unnecessarily translated into a different
language, probably to keep the cost of transcription down, and translated back using some poor online translator. Many sentences use synonyms for nearly every word, making the syntax and meaning of the whole entirely unreadable.

A very entertaining if not concerning novel. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. If you have a passion for government, politics, or history, this is a very interesting story that is unpredictable and exciting.

After the 2016 presidential election, I needed to reread this book. It is chilling when comparing this 1930s (pre-WWII) story to today. When I first read this book it seemed far-fetched to think a charming buffoon with big business connections could ever reach the White House. Today, it seems all too real. I am passing this on to my adult children.