Sarah Kendzior

Sarah Kendzior is an American journalist, anthropologist and researcher known for her analysis of authoritarian states, digital media, and politics. Her work frequently focuses on institutional corruption, propaganda, and threats to democracy in the United States. As a columnist for Al Jazeera and The Globe and Mail, Kendzior gained prominence for her early warnings about the rise of authoritarianism in American politics. Her 2020 book "Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America" became a New York Times bestseller. Kendzior holds a PhD in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, where her research centered on authoritarian states in Central Asia. She has written extensively about economic inequality, labor exploitation, and the decline of the American middle class, particularly in the Midwest region where she resides. Her other notable works include "The View from Flyover Country" (2015) and "They Knew" (2022), both examining systemic corruption and institutional failure in American society. Kendzior regularly appears as a political commentator on MSNBC and other media outlets, providing analysis on democracy, disinformation, and authoritarian trends.

Readers praise Kendzior's direct writing style and detailed research on authoritarianism and corruption. Many note her accurate predictions about political developments, with one Amazon reviewer calling her "prophetic in the darkest way possible." Readers appreciate her focus on overlooked Midwest perspectives and systematic documentation of power structures. Multiple reviews highlight her ability to connect complex political patterns to everyday impacts. Critics say her tone can be alarmist and her conclusions too definitive. Some readers find her writing repetitive between books and social media. A portion of reviews suggest she sometimes makes connections without sufficient evidence. Ratings across platforms: - "Hiding in Plain Sight" (2020): 4.6/5 on Amazon (2,800+ reviews), 4.3/5 on Goodreads (7,000+ reviews) - "The View from Flyover Country" (2015): 4.5/5 on Amazon (500+ reviews), 4.2/5 on Goodreads (3,000+ reviews) - "They Knew" (2022): 4.7/5 on Amazon (900+ reviews), 4.4/5 on Goodreads (2,000+ reviews) Most critical reviews still rate her books 3+ stars, indicating general reader trust in her research and analysis.

The View from Flyover Country: Dispatches from the Forgotten America (2015) A collection of essays examining economic inequality, labor exploitation, and social issues in the American Midwest and beyond.

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America (2020) An analysis of the rise of authoritarianism in American politics and the social conditions that enabled it.

They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent (2022) An examination of institutional corruption and the role of conspiracy theories in American society and politics.

Timothy Snyder studied authoritarianism in Eastern Europe and applies those insights to modern threats to democracy. His work combines historical analysis with contemporary political warnings, similar to Kendzior's approach to examining institutional decline.

Masha Gessen reports on autocracy, propaganda, and the erosion of democratic norms in Russia and the United States. Their firsthand experience with authoritarian systems informs their analysis of political corruption and institutional breakdown.

Jane Mayer investigates dark money networks and the influence of wealthy donors on American democracy. Her research exposes the mechanisms of institutional corruption and power consolidation through detailed reporting and documentation.

Anne Applebaum writes about the collapse of democratic systems and the rise of modern authoritarianism across different regions. Her work examines how democratic institutions fail and how authoritarian movements gain power through existing systems.

Barbara Walter analyzes civil conflict and democratic breakdown through a political science framework. Her research focuses on how democracies transform into authoritarian states and the warning signs of democratic collapse.