Every year, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books becomes livelier and brighter due to the growing number of attendees. From book lovers, casual readers, and literary collectors to authors and publishers, people gathered to celebrate literacy.
The largest book festival in the US opened its doors last April for a glamorous two-day weekend celebration with the bookworms. Held at the University of Southern California, many book enthusiasts, book lovers, and book collectors, as well as writers, established authors, and many more, attended the free event.
A lot of bookfair-goers went by the Citi of Books booth to check for their next read and potential favorite book. One of the books that were chosen is “American Absolutism: The Psychological Origins of Conspiracism, Cultural War, and the Rise of Dictators” by Gary A. Freitas. It was displayed on April 20th and 21st at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California.
“American Absolutism: The Psychological Origins of Conspiracism, Cultural War, and the Rise of Dictators” delves into the psychology behind America’s current political and social divisions. The author, Freitas, argues that these issues aren’t rooted in personality disorders but rather in a deep-seated struggle with trust. Early experiences of betrayal or disappointment can lead people to see the world in absolutes—good vs. bad, us vs. them. This, in turn, fuels political polarization, conspiracy theories, and even gun violence.
Freitas suggests that America’s founding principles, while important, can’t be rigidly applied to our complex modern world. He worries that an inability to adapt could lead us towards an autocratic future ruled by charismatic dictators.
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