Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History From The Puritans to Donald Trump

Hardcover | 464 pages What happens when Americans lose faith in their religious institutions—and politicians fill the void? From the Puritans to Donald Trump, this sweeping history by a New York Times contributing opinion writer will change your understanding of the forces that create leaders and hold their followers captive.Everyone feels it. Cultural and political life in America has become unrecognizable and strange. Firebrands and would-be sages have taken the place of reasonable and responsible leaders. Nuanced debates have given way to the smug confidence of yard signs. How did we get here?With Spellbound, historian Molly Worthen argues that we will understand our present moment if we learn the story of charisma in America. From the Puritans to Andrew Jackson, and Cora Scott to Black nationalists to Donald Trump, Worthen argues that America has seen figures who possess a dangerous and alluring power to move crowds. These leaders offer entry into a "promised land" where their