The Bangor League will host its first book discussion on Tuesday, September 16 at 5:00 PM in the Darlings Conference Room at the Bangor Public Library. In addition to the book conversation, members will also discuss plans for this fall’s local candidate forums. Please note that this marks a new day and time for the Book Group. September’s selection is Prequel by Rachel Maddow.

This month, we're discussing Prequel by Rachel Maddow. Inspired by her research for the hit podcast Ultra, Rachel Maddow charts the rise of a wild American strain of authoritarianism that has been alive on the far-right edge of our politics for the better part of a century. Before and even after our troops had begun fighting abroad in World War II, a clandestine network flooded the country with disinformation aimed at sapping the strength of the U.S. war effort and persuading Americans that our natural alliance was with the Axis, not against it. It was a sophisticated and shockingly well-funded campaign to undermine democratic institutions, promote antisemitism, and destroy citizens’ confidence in their elected leaders, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the U.S. government and installing authoritarian rule.

Upcoming Book Group Schedule

• October — Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum

• November — Why War by Richard Overy

• December — Democracy, the Final Nail by Jack Cashman

• January — One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

• February — Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall

• March — I the People by Paul Elliot Johnson

• April — Empire of AI by Karen Ho

• May — Attack from Within by Barbara McQuade

• June — Outclassed by Joan C. Williams