It profiles leaders who dialed back their rhetoric when it was shown to put people’s lives at risk. It also describes the changes in the nation’s political culture and media that led to Trump’s nomination and presidency. The book documents Trump’s increasingly dangerous rhetoric through the campaign and first 2 ½ years in office, and how some lone wolves were motivated by the rhetoric to commit violence. The book draws on the most recent scholarship on lone wolves, their mindset, and what it takes to activate them to commit violence. The author suggests a more accessible name: lone-wolf whistle violence, on the model of “dog whistle” politics.

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 language triggers lone wolves to commit violence. The Nazis used all twelve the Rwandan Hutu used ten. 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. 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. But escape means abandoning her parents to a terrible fate.Īs Audra embarks on a journey to deliver the mysterious package, she faces unimaginable risks, and soon she becomes caught up in a growing resistance movement.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. In June 1893, when Cossacks arrive abruptly at their door, Audra's parents insist that she flee, taking with her an important package and instructions for where to deliver it.

But Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret and perilous. She always avoids the occupying Russian Cossack soldiers, who insist that everyone must become Russian - they have banned Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language. Nielsen transports readers to a corner of history with this inspiring story of a girl who discovers the strength of her people united in resisting oppression.ĭanger is never far from Audra's family farm in Lithuania. Description New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A.

Words on fire books