Instant New York Times Bestseller

From the author of The Power Worshippers, Katherine Stewart delivers a chilling, deeply reported account of the anti-democratic forces shaping the American Right today.

In The Book, Stewart investigates why so many Americans are turning against democracy. She takes readers inside conspiracy-filled conferences, extremist churches, and secret strategy sessions, profiling a wide range of actors—from reactionary Catholics and MAGA loyalists to billionaire atheists and pseudo-intellectual ideologues. Though often conflicting in worldview, these groups are united by a shared authoritarian agenda.

With sharp analysis and vivid reporting, Stewart reveals a coordinated movement—fueled by dark money and culture war tactics—bent on dismantling democratic institutions. Praised as “meticulously researched” and “an indispensable guide,” this urgent book reframes the conversation on the collapse of conservatism and outlines the threats facing American democracy.