Of Fear and Strangers: A History of Xenophobia

WINNER OF THE 2022 ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARD (NONFICTION)

A BLOOMBERG BEST NONFICTION BOOK

“Does not pull its punches.”—The Independent

“Enthralling.”—New York Times

“A compelling story of racial and ethnic animosity.”—Wall Street Journal

An illuminating work revealing the long history of xenophobia—and what it means for today’s divided world

Over the last few years, it has been impossible to ignore the steady resurgence of xenophobia. The European migrant crisis and immigration from Central America to the United States have placed Western advocates of globalization on the defensive, and a “New Xenophobia” seems to have emerged out of nowhere.

In this fascinating study, George Makari traces the history of xenophobia from its origins to the present day. Often perceived as an ancient word for a timeless problem, “xenophobia” was in fact coined only a century ago, tied to heated and formative Western debates over nationalism, globalization, race, and immigration. From Richard Wright to Sigmund Freud, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir, writers and thinkers have long grappled with this most dangerous of phobias. Drawing on their work, Makari demonstrates how we can better understand the problem that is so crucial to our troubled times.