Stanley's book was written before the 2024 election, which makes its message and his predictions all the more chilling. The book gives a brisk overview of how authoritarian governments around the world bend historical knowledge and teaching to their own purposes. For many years now, we have heard a relentless drumbeat about how it is important that students develop skills in STEM. But authoritarians know the value of history -- that's why they relentless try to erase pasts of groups they wish to harm and shore up a version of history that suits their political purpose. Stanley's book demonstrates that in order to shore up democracy, we need citizens to have the skills that come from humanistic disciplines.