Breaking Hate: Confronting the New Culture of Extremism

<i>Breaking Hate: Confronting the New Culture of Extremism</i> by Christian Picciolini represents a book about the possibility for transformation, particularly apt as it comes from a former Neo-Nazi who many considered nonredeemable but someone who, having participated in his own self-healing has become what the author calls a "hate-breaker".<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1620151658i/31281697.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>However, this book is not about Christian Picciolini's own transformation, a tale that is to be found in his earlier work, <i>White American Youth: My Descent Into America's Most Violent Hate Movement &amp; How I Got Out</i>. Rather, <i>Breaking Hate</i> is a series of case studies, merged with a kind of methodology for dealing with hate &amp; extremism. Having looked at the earlier book, I have to say that this one is much better written, exceedingly more polished. In fact, over time, this high school drop-out &amp; former evangelist for white separatism has fallen in love with the English language, something that is evident with this work by Mr. Picciolini. <br><br>The author contends that America's culture of hate began with Columbus &amp; the near-eradication of the land's indigenous population, hit a peak with the presence of slavery, continued with the 1915 cinematic work, <i>The Birth of a Nation</i>, a film embraced by the KKK (at that time 15% of the white population) &amp; has continued via racial exclusion laws passed by congress, Timothy McVeigh's Oklahoma City devastation, influenced by the book <i>Turner Diaries</i> &amp; hoping to launch a race war in America. <br><br>More recently, the embers of hate were rekindled at Charlottesville &amp; have been further stoked by Donald Trump's white nationalist rhetoric, focused on "identity politics", with a particular excoriation of immigrants from what he termed "shithole countries".<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1620151901i/31281702._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Christian Picciolini is a man who grew up in Blue Island, a blue collar suburb of Chicago that held a largely Italian community, presided over by local Roman-Catholic churches but in spite of the efforts of family, nuns &amp; priests, he felt isolated &amp; alienated as a youth.<blockquote>For millions of disillusioned young people today who struggle with peer acceptance &amp; isolation, or who feel relegated to the outermost fringes of society because of personal trauma, social anxiety, bullying, or untreated psychological or emotional disorders, "potholes" can force an internalization of pain &amp; emotion. Some express this hurt through self-harm, drug abuse, crime or suicide, while others self-medicate by projecting their pain onto others to achieve a similarly numbing effect. <br><br>Although "extremism" can be framed by ideological radicalism or militant religious fundamentalism, other destructive behavior can occur, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, criminality or addiction, extremist behavior in place of or in addition to radical ideological beliefs. In attempting to apply pain management for wounds, the result can be bigotry, cults, xenophobia &amp; even massacres.</blockquote>The author employs the phrase "potholes" (unresolved traumas) to describe these wounds &amp; suggests that "potholes don't discriminate". Christian Picciolini caught my attention when he recently took part in a local library zoom-gathering that dealt with hate &amp; extremism in America.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1620152875i/31281802._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I decided to learn more about the author, who has testified before Congress, worked with the State Department, advised the FBI &amp; the Security Council, spoken to cadets at West Point, to ambassadors at the United Nations, done a Ted-Talk and presided over the MSNBC series, "Breaking Hate". After resolving his own personal "potholes", he took a job with IBM &amp; gained a degree from DePaul University.<br><br>The several case studies within Picciolini's book <i>Breaking Hate</i>, contain elements of mystery &amp; bravado, as the author seeks to rescue those embedded in Alt-Right &amp; white nationalist causes of the sort he once embraced, playing the role of a counselor, advocate, researcher, confidant to the FBI (often unheeded) &amp; an unlicensed "pothole-filler", someone who now endeavors to defeat hate &amp; extremism wherever he encounters it by using his own transformation to teach the power of forgiveness, empathy &amp; compassion as the antidote to hate.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1620151901i/31281703.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I found the case studies within <i>Breaking Hate</i> quite compelling, in particular one where Christian Picciolini quietly confronts a well-known white nationalist with degrees from Duke &amp; the Univ. of Chicago, Richard Spencer, a man responsible for traumatizing Jews &amp; others appeared at an event sponsored by the Human Rights Network in the Spender's hometown of Whitefish, Montana. Picciolini concludes that the demagogue quickly betrayed "potholes", i.e. hurts, insecurities &amp; the lack of a father's love, while ending their 2 hour conversation with a sense of hope for his recovery. <br><br>While <i>Breaking Hate</i> has very few Goodreads reviews, it is highly recommended. The book was published in 2020 by Hachette Books.<br><br>*Within the book are an excellent forward by Malcolm Nance, uplifting quotes from Eric Hoffer, Martin Luther King &amp; others, an appendix listing resources &amp; support, another with recommendations for further reading + the inclusion of Christian Picciolini's own mantra, taken from Hannibal: <i>inveniam viam aut facium</i>--"find a way, or make one". <br><br>**Within my review are photo images of Christian Picciolini at various stages in his life, including one as a "skinhead" (white nationalist), taken in Germany where he appeared with a "skinhead band" at the height of his descent into extremism.

When I first saw this book it peaked my interest but I was not anticipating how much I enjoyed the reading experience. Christian Picciolini was part of a racist extremist group in his youth, but was able to recognize the unprovoked hatred he was propagating and leave the group. Since that time, he has made it is mission to help others who are targeted by these disgusting hate groups. I was shocked by the statistics in this book and angered by the odious attitudes from so many groups in existence in today’s society.<br /><br />“In 2017, the FBI reported that since the devastating al-Qaeda terrorist attacks of 9/ 11, more people died on US soil at the hands of white supremacists than by “any other domestic extremist movement.”<br /><br />Picciolini briefly shares his own descent into a radical group, but focuses the bulk of this book on true stories of individuals targeted and dragged into similar groups. He details how he is able to connect to these individuals and help them find their way out of hate. The ICP (identity, community, purpose) theory of the author’s is discussed at length, showing how hate groups prey on unsuspecting youth and adults who are struggling to find their place in the world. It was incredibly eye opening to see how hate is perpetuated by those who would never be suspected of these disgusting attitudes and beliefs. <br /><br />“Beneath the thin skin of even the darkest minds and the most dangerous influencers are people who long for connection and love. Unable to find it, they dig deeper holes and bury themselves in them for protection from the elements that batter them, until they unleash their frustrations on others.”<br /><br />This book ignited a passion to learn more about this topic and I’d highly recommend it to everyone. Especially in today’s political climate, I think these topics are necessary to learn about to stop further radical hatred from harming anymore innocent people. <br /><br />Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ebook of this title for review.<br />

After reading Breaking Hate (220 pages) in one day (it was that compelling), I found a far wider understanding of this white supremacy movement going on in America. I really didn't fully see that the MAGA (Make America Great Again) campaign was, at its core, an effort to make American white again, essentially to make America hate again. Picciolini says that "America was primed for the fires of violent extremism to ignite—and Donald Trump's incendiary "America First" platform lit the fuse.” It’s easy now to see how true this is. “Trump’s polemics against undocumented immigrants and minority groups fanned the flames of racist vitriol.” Picciolini points out that extremists “feast on frenzy and polarization,” with fear acting as the primary sustenance. Extremists use deceptive online marketing tactics, fake crime data, false news/information, and conspiracy theories to lure fresh recruits into their ideology. Hyperbole, paranoia, fear, personal wounds, and the need to fulfill an Identity, belong to a Community, and dedicate to a great Purpose (ICP) all play a role in persuading people to join their cause of racial prejudice. That cause being the protection of the white race as supreme by stopping diversity, mixed-race families, high nonwhite birthrates, and mass migration. “White-genocide” was a new term for me (a wild and false notion that the white race will die because of multiculturalism). <br /><br />I held my breath a lot during the reading of these real-life events. Picciolini writes with skill and a deep sense of honesty. Kassandra’s story made me cry. Koval’s story made me shudder. The eye-opening information here is shocking as it is heart-wrenching, and more timely today, post-election, than when the book was published in Feb. 2020. By the end, Picciolini shows us that there is hope. His own personal experience and his first-hand experiences with other now ex-extremists (he’s helped over 100 people leave extremists groups) proves that hate can be “unlearned.” Picciolini has a hefty toolbox containing empathy, compassion, self-reflection, and love. But there is one more remarkable instrument that brings these extremists out of their darkness and into the light. It has the initials STC, NTM, but for the full explanation, I encourage you to read this astonishing book. If you really want insights into the current dangers that threaten humanity, our moral values, our world communities, and America—especially after the January 6 attack on our Capitol—this is the book to read for 2021. A must-read for every American and every parent. Paula Cappa is an avid book reviewer and an award-winning supernatural mystery author of novels and short stories.<br /><br /><br /><br />

Reading this book felt a little like going to an exotic zoo in the Midwest. You don't regret going, for the experience allowed you to see that ginormous Komodo dragon you weren't going to find anywhere else. But, the set up is a little shoddy.<br /><br />Piccolini deserves a 5/5 character rating for his work in protecting America, but the way this book reads makes the novel deserving of a 3/5. There are many narratives packed into one novel, all but that of one main female character were inconclusive. They are short and clipped. Though I acknowledge this is the nature of life, that we aren't going to encounter events that always have a definitive ending, some assurance or assessment at the end of each chapter would have been helpful. The book was a good read overall. I gained insight that is hard to come across online.

Piccioloni, a former Hammerskin white-supremacist who now attempts to recover extremists from their hated-filled lives back to a multicultural civil society, has crafted an engaging read based on several ‘case-study’ stories of his work. Picciolini gives honest portrayals of members of hate groups looking to disengage from their hatred. The reader is this able acknowledge and empathize with the struggles of those attempting to disengage, while simultaneously holding their actions within hate groups contemptible and accountable. It is this very balance that Picciolini says is critical to disengagement: empathy from those helping people disengage from hate; respectful dialog and recognition of harm by parties involved; and honest self-reflection on behalf of the extremist looking to reform. 4 out of 5 stars.

Eye opening. Told through personal stories, we see how small potholes can become sinkholes for hatred and intolerance with today’s youth. A frightening look at the alt-right and their illogical hatred, warped values and unimaginable propaganda.

Excellent reading! This is a must read for those who are tempted to use hate against those who hate. Thought provoking on how to handle people who are extremists.

In Breaking Hate, author Christian Picciolini explains how ordinary people can become racists, what signs to look for, and how to use his method of seven “L” steps to help them find their way out. In his first book, White American Youth, he told how he became a skinhead at an early age, hated all non-whites and Jews, and revered Hitler. Only after he married and had his first child, was he eventually able to reject these long-held beliefs. Breaking Hate sheds light on how white supremacy is rising today, and gives us hope for how we can stop it. <br /><br />In recent years, it seems that racism is growing, with attacks on students, shoppers in malls, and people in their houses of worship. I wanted to understand why this is happening, and what can be done about it. So in early 2020, I attended a Commonwealth Club program, and heard Christian Picciolini speak about how he got into and out of violent extremism. He had just authored Breaking Hate, and I received an autographed copy of it.<br /><br />The author follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s theory that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”. Christian Picciolini calls his framework the “Seven ‘L’ Steps of Disengagement”: Link, Listen, Learn, Leverage, Lift, Love, and Live. He believes that no person is born to hate – it is a learned behavior. Therefore, it can also be unlearned, through empathy. <br /><br />I learned that extremists target people who may be seeking their own personal identity, or who feel they don’t belong or fit in, or are lacking a feeling of purpose in their lives. Extremists immerse these people in their hate doctrines, giving them a sense of identity, community, and purpose. The author uses a series of vignettes of those he has helped along the way, giving riveting examples of how good people can unwittingly be caught up in this evil. <br /><br />Most extremists want to get out of their hateful or violent lives, if given the chance. The author establishes a link with the person by showing them empathy and gaining their trust. He listens to their story, but also listens to what they do not say, learning what might have motivated them to join the group in the first place. He guides the person to leverage opportunities for growth along the way. He helps the person find identity, community, and purpose in ways that will lift them to where they can learn to love, and eventually to live a happy, meaningful life. <br /><br />I recommend this book. Breaking Hate will give you an understanding of how extremists target vulnerable people, and how normal, good people can get swept up in violent extremism. But it will also give you hope that there is a way out – not easy, not quick, and there may be relapses -- but that people can disengage from hate, learning to love themselves first, and committing to live a happy and productive life. <br />

I really thought this book worked in multiple ways. The psychological aspect, the personal accounts weaved in. It’s fascinating especially in this day and age.

I listened to the Audible audiobook version.<br /><br />Christian Picciolini caught my eye the same way Daryl Davis did: he makes deradicalization work. Davis holds the remarkable description of being a black man who befriends KKK members and helps them leave the movement. Picciolini holds the identity of a former white supremacist who deradicalized and now helps others. Both men do this with little outside help or attention. They tirelessly work to save others from a life wasted or destroyed by hatred. I was rather astounded when I first discovered Daryl Davis after going through so much formal education on deradicalization. I assumed you needed a state sponsored effort with therapists and counselors and cultural advisors and the backing of a rehabilitation oriented criminal justice system. And while that may certainly help in other countries (and certainly could in the U.S. if we could fund and stand up such an effort), Davis and Picciolini demonstrate what truly matters: having someone who listens and empathizes. <br /><br />Reading (or, rather, listening to) this book by Picciolini finally has given me the insight into deradicalization in a way that is much more personal and human than the rather sterile lectures you'd receive in counterterrorism courses. Picciolini's personal history as a former leader of a white power movement make him an ideally suited candidate for a "deradicalizer", so to speak. He truly understands, more than a generic counselor would, the feeling of a person who has "potholes", those areas of unresolved trauma and pain that can manifest into a desire for identity, community, and purpose, or IDP as Picciolini calls it. In order to fulfill IDP, and feeling separated from normal people and communities, individuals with unresolved potholes seek out extremist ideologies. <br /><br />Picciolini knows how to seek out the potholes, listen to the individuals, "radically empathize" with them, and offer them a new path in life. To you, the reader, this particular sentence may seem rather elegantly simple, but deradicalization is a long, complicated, and painful process. In this book, Picciolini demonstrates how things can go wrong by providing the reader glimpses into some of his attempts at deradicalizing people through his 7 L's system (among which are the words link, listen, and love). You'll follow his attempts to introduce a white supremacist to the Muslims he hates by just simply driving him to a mosque and introducing him to the imam. You'll see how he saves a man and a marriage by helping that same man exit a neo-Nazi death cult. You'll see how he was able to help guide a woman over the phone to safety when she called him in a panic, trapped in a house of a militia group in Texas.<br /><br />And perhaps most riveting, you'll follow him as he investigates the story of Kassandra (name changed of course for security reasons), a teenage girl in New Jersey who became a white-supremacist Youtuber, and fell in love with a supposed German neo-Nazi who wasn't all he seemed to be. Through Kassandra, Picciolini would discover the vast growth of online trolls and the alt-right composed of some radical Americans for sure, but others foreign, possibly working for foreign nations in destabilization operations and influence campaigns. Picciolini and his family received death threats for trying to help Kassandra out. This particular thread culminates in a gut wrenching confrontation in a California diner, after some seriously impressive detective work on Picciolini's part.<br /><br />I think more people need to be made aware of Picciolini, particularly in this time of divisive and extreme rhetoric. For my experience in the audiobook, listening to Picciolini speak felt like he was desperate, urging the reader to learn, understand, and empathize. To him, at the time this book was published in February 2020, things were likely going to get worse. He was right. Now more than ever, this country needs a book like this to show the dangers of extremist language and thinking, and offers an amazing guide on how to fight it, not with FBI raids and government surveillance, but with coffee, a nice Sunday drive, a walk in the park, and a person to finally talk to.<br /><br />A very high recommend from me, and not just because of the book's relevance. If you can, listen to the audiobook as well. There is a certain power in hearing Picciolini's voice that motivates you and comforts you, but also sternly warns you about the dangers ahead. Material wise, you will get an insight into why we have such a large white nationalist problem in the country. And if you know me personally, this will give you insight into why I've been shouting about CVE and rehabilitative criminal justice for years at anyone who would listen. And go watch some videos on Daryl Davis while you're at it. As far as I'm concerned, both these men deserve the highest civilian honors this country can bestow on them.