"[A]t a time when we face climate, health, food and other crises, the priority of authoritarian states is never public welfare, but maintaining stability... keeping the leader in power. ...[S]trongman leaders don't just endanger democracy, ...they pose an existential threat to humanity. ...[Y]et hundreds of millions ...embrace authoritarian lies and violence, so we need to understand why[.] ...Strongmen is about ...looking back in history, globally, for patterns ...[I]t ...put[s] Trump's America in historical perspective. ...[F]or 100 years charismatic leaders ...at moments of uncertainty and transition ...often come from outside the political system. Many... have a past in mass communications. ...They communicate with their followers in ...ways that seem original and thrilling. ...[A]uthoritarians ...appeal when societies have made ...gains in gender, class or racial emancipation and equity.., [and] sooth fears of the loss of male domination.., elite privilege, ...the end of white Christian "civilization." ...[C]ertain categories of enemies recur: ic peoples, Jews and Muslims, LGBTQ communities, indigenous people and more ...the throughlines of persecution. [A]uthoritarians get a boost from conservative elites... their most important promoters and collaborators... afraid of losing their privileges... often thinking that he can be controlled, and that never works out... They strike... the "authoritarian bargain"..: prosperity for... the elites in return for loyalty and toleration of... violence and suspension of rights."