How to Be a Dictator: The Cult of Personality in the Twentieth Century
How to Be a Dictator examines how twentieth-century leaders built public images and used propaganda to sustain their rule. Frank Dikötter’s account covers figures including Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Kim Il Sung, considering how personality cults developed and influenced later political leaders.
At a glance
- Focuses on propaganda and personality cults as tools used by twentieth-century dictators.
- Covers leaders including Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Kim Il Sung.
- The listing describes archival research and analysis by Frank Dikötter.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Addresses multiple dictators and compares the development of their public images and regimes.
- Kindle edition lists screen-reader support and reading features including Word Wise and X-Ray.
Technical specifications
12 specifications| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
|---|---|
| Publication date | December 3, 2019 |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 305 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1635573800 |
| File size | 15.0 MB |
|---|---|
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Page Flip | Enabled |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in twentieth-century political history, propaganda, and authoritarian leadership.
- Readers seeking an account that spans several dictators rather than focusing on one country or leader.
Less suited to
- Readers looking specifically for a biography of a single dictator or a broad survey of every form of twentieth-century government.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
60% 60% - 4 stars
24% 24% - 3 stars
13% 13% - 2 stars
2% 2% - 1 star
1% 1%
Customer feedback describes the book as informative and says its coverage includes both well-known and lesser-known tyrants. Readers also praise the content, with one noting that every chapter was fascinating. This feedback may matter to readers seeking a broad, engaging historical account, though it does not establish that every reader will find the treatment equally compelling.
Positive themes
- Customers describe the information as informative, including coverage of well-known and lesser-known tyrants.
- Customer feedback praises the content, with one comment calling every chapter fascinating.
Frequently asked questions
What is How to Be a Dictator about?
It examines twentieth-century dictators and the propaganda and personality cults they used to build and maintain public images and political regimes.
Which leaders are discussed?
The listing names Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Kim Il Sung, and also mentions later political leaders influenced by earlier dictatorships.
What format and reading features are listed?
This listing is for a Kindle edition in English. It lists screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, X-Ray, Word Wise, and Page Flip.
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