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Real Dictators

BONUS: Dictators’ Books

Sep 24, 2024
Daniel Kalder, the author of 'The Infernal Library' and 'Dictator Literature: A History of Bad Books', delves into the curious world of dictators and their writings. He discusses the eerie blend of power and literature, showcasing how many dictators turned to pen and paper, revealing their vulnerabilities. Kalder highlights Saddam Hussein's surprising shift from speeches to novels, particularly 'Zabiba and the King', and ponders the grotesque legacy of a Quran written in blood, illuminating the deeper cultural and historical implications of dictator literature.
29:31

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The exploration of dictator literature reveals how these texts serve as both propaganda and reflections of the dictators' ideologies.
  • Accessing dictator writings highlights their ephemeral nature, often disappearing after regimes fall, raising questions about their lasting impact.

Deep dives

The Obsession with Dictator Literature

The exploration of dictator literature began with a personal journey that started when the speaker moved to Russia in the 90s and encountered remnants of a bygone era. A chance discovery of an obscure book, the Ruh-Nama, sparked a fascination with how dictator writings often reflect their regimes. This initial interest led to a decade-long obsession with tracking down various works, illustrating how these books functioned not only as propaganda but as reflections of the dictators’ ideologies. The stark contrast between the bizarre content of these books and the real-world implications of their authors' regimes served to deepen the understanding of 20th-century authoritarianism.

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