American Panic: A History of Who Scares Us and Why
"If there is an American cultural DNA - Mark Stein is the guy who most ably picks apart the strands that tell us who we are -- and in this case, what scares us and why -- and puts them and ultimately us under a microscope for a rarefied, compelling, and unforgettable view." —Brian Unger, Writer, TV Host, Actor “How refreshing!  Mark Stein does not look at our history through the familiar prism of presidents, battles, and laws; instead he uncovers and relates the behavior and fears of the populace that too often has set the course of history. A wonderful read filled with lessons so needed now.” —Stanley Kutler, AuthorThe Wars of Watergate “American Panic is a learned romp through American history, and the persistent bad habit a strong and free people has of worrying about other people. Mark Stein's careful research demonstrates how successive panics, over witches, Indians, Masons, Chinese, Socialists, Latinos, Muslims and more, share a kind of DNA of hysteria. Stein's work is a sobering reminder of who we were and who we are. American Panic is edifying, entertaining and important.” —Ray Suarez, Al Jazeera America, and author ofLatino Americans: The 500 -ear Legacy That Shaped a Nation "Through compelling narrative and intriguing research, Mark Stein shines a beacon into the midnight of the American soul and shows us what our deepest fears say about ourselves as individuals and as a people. The psychological gap between the ideal and reality of E Pluribus Unum is Stein’s theme, and he limns it with original and fascinating insight." —Mark Olshaker, coauthor ofLaw & Disorder,Mindhunter, andThe Cases That Haunt Us; novelist and documentary filmmaker