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The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind
Why is Donald Trump so popular? How has he amassed such a following, despite his deadly Covid-19 mismanagement, a violent insurrection against the government, and a felony conviction, with others likely to come? Specializing in treating violent offenders and advising on violence prevention programming for prisons, communities, governments, and international organizations, Dr. Bandy X. Lee explains the phenomenon of “Trump Contagion” as no other.
Dr. Lee’s 2017 New York Times bestseller, The Dangerous Case of Donald 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President, was so unexpectedly successful, it took one of the Big Five publishers five weeks of repeat printings to catch up with the demand! Even White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is reported to have used it as an “owner’s manual” for dealing with Donald Trump, which may have prevented a nuclear war with North Korea. Her second book on Trump, Profile of a Trump’s Mind, America’s Soul, predicted in 2020 a violent insurrection and “a presidency that will not end with the loss of an election.” Her warnings were so accurate, Congress members messaged her from the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, “You are vindicated!” and a major Mother Jones article was subtitled, “The vindication of Bandy Lee.”
But Dr. Lee says it is not over. She brings her prescience to a third book, The Psychology of Trump An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, and her warnings are she explains the rise of fascism, which she calls, “not a political ideology but mental pathology in politics.” No one has elucidated “the dangerous case of Donald Trump” so accurately and so early as Dr. Lee, and similarly no one will illustrate “the more dangerous case of Donald Trump,” from his deterioration to his spread of symptoms across the culture at large, as Dr. Lee in her new book!
Dr. Lee’s 2017 New York Times bestseller, The Dangerous Case of Donald 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President, was so unexpectedly successful, it took one of the Big Five publishers five weeks of repeat printings to catch up with the demand! Even White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is reported to have used it as an “owner’s manual” for dealing with Donald Trump, which may have prevented a nuclear war with North Korea. Her second book on Trump, Profile of a Trump’s Mind, America’s Soul, predicted in 2020 a violent insurrection and “a presidency that will not end with the loss of an election.” Her warnings were so accurate, Congress members messaged her from the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, “You are vindicated!” and a major Mother Jones article was subtitled, “The vindication of Bandy Lee.”
But Dr. Lee says it is not over. She brings her prescience to a third book, The Psychology of Trump An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, and her warnings are she explains the rise of fascism, which she calls, “not a political ideology but mental pathology in politics.” No one has elucidated “the dangerous case of Donald Trump” so accurately and so early as Dr. Lee, and similarly no one will illustrate “the more dangerous case of Donald Trump,” from his deterioration to his spread of symptoms across the culture at large, as Dr. Lee in her new book!
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2024
76 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Bandy X. Lee
24 books54 followersDr. Bandy Lee is a medical doctor with a degree in divinity, a forensic psychiatrist, and a world expert on violence.
Dr Lee "became known to the public by leading a group of mental health professional colleagues in breaking the silence about the current U.S. president’s dangerous mental impairments." She is currently president of the World Mental Health Coalition, which is dedicated to promoting public health and safety.
Dr Lee "became known to the public by leading a group of mental health professional colleagues in breaking the silence about the current U.S. president’s dangerous mental impairments." She is currently president of the World Mental Health Coalition, which is dedicated to promoting public health and safety.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 18, 2024
This has to be one of the best books written, best read and most enjoyed by me
This has to be one of the best books written, one of the best readings that I have done. I highly recommend this book.
This has to be one of the best books written, one of the best readings that I have done. I highly recommend this book.
November 24, 2024
As a member of the educated White class in America, I understand the temptation to label those in the working class as maggots, stupid, misinformed, disinformed, or, as here, mentally ill. Lee, who has "worked with" violent criminals, assumes her knowledge allows her to disregard the past 40 years of the gutting of the middle and lower classes, going back to Reagan, and just baldly state, with nothing resembling evidence, that a sick leader can infect others. Just by watching him on YouTube. This sounds like the plot of an old B movie, not a cogent analysis. Invasion of the Mind Snatchers. Infinite Jest used this idea, that watching a video would drive you crazy, but that was satire. Lee is serious.
The lower classes have been left to rot by the Democrats, and so they have latched on to a huckster promising them a solution. He won't help them, but that doesn't matter. That's how mad they are. Sticking it to the libs means giving the upper class the finger. As if calling MAGAts "stupid" weren't bad enough, now we have shrinks calling them crazy.
Meanwhile, the corporate class sits back and laughs while we fight amongst ourselves.
The lower classes have been left to rot by the Democrats, and so they have latched on to a huckster promising them a solution. He won't help them, but that doesn't matter. That's how mad they are. Sticking it to the libs means giving the upper class the finger. As if calling MAGAts "stupid" weren't bad enough, now we have shrinks calling them crazy.
Meanwhile, the corporate class sits back and laughs while we fight amongst ourselves.
March 22, 2025
Wonderful, educational read. Sadly the people who most need to read it may not even be capable of doing so let alone doing it. I could have done with a bit less of her issues with the APA. I got it after the first four or five times but maybe she kept bringing it up in case people skimmed chapters. She writes in such an engaging fashion -- directed to the lay person with clear, concise and informative explanations of psychological terms. As an MFT myself I appreciated the descriptions between a duty to warn and not diagnosis and when you can diagnose a public figure based on their public statements. Dr. Lee explains not just how damaging Trump is, but how others can be equally as damaging to society and then she offers "cures" for the damage done. I am hoping she will write or in the process of writing another book on what is occurring in our country now.
November 19, 2024
Professor Bandy X. Lee is the ultimate American Casandra. She has organized prestigious panels, written books, appeared on numerous podcasts (but not enough on cable news...gee, I wonder why?), but still Americans voted Trump, a tragically mentally ill man who will tragically hurt the country many of us love. Her earlier book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President was the go to book for anyone worried about this malignant narcissist and his time in office. This sequel to that book is every bit as important because it includes strategies on how to deal with Trump in power once again. Highly recommended!
September 27, 2025
I wished for better
Having bought three other of Dr. Bandy Lee’s books and finding them riveting, electrifying, and essential reads to save our democracy, I eagerly opened this one.
I was, unfortunately, disappointed.
Most of the book relays what inspired Dr. Lee to write each of her books, the points each book made, and the critical and cultural reaction following them. This makes for fascinating reading…the first time. Anecdotes are repeated several times across multiple chapters, and because of the questionable organization of the book, it feels like being stuck in Groundhog Day.
What I wanted was a greater look at the “cult of Trump,” as it were, like in Dr. Steve Hassan’s excellent book. There are definitely parts of this book where Dr. Lee does delve into the folie a millions we are encountering and how the interplay between Trump and his followers bypasses all logic and reason. These are essential reads for every American.
But the book feels altogether more like a screed against the APA than one against even Trump, claiming one psychiatrist “did more to destroy American democracy in the Trump era than any other single figure I know.” Really? More than Trump himself? Or Putin? Or Comey?
I’d love to see an updated version, or more of Dr. Lee’s essential work. I’d just prefer a differently edited version, please.
Having bought three other of Dr. Bandy Lee’s books and finding them riveting, electrifying, and essential reads to save our democracy, I eagerly opened this one.
I was, unfortunately, disappointed.
Most of the book relays what inspired Dr. Lee to write each of her books, the points each book made, and the critical and cultural reaction following them. This makes for fascinating reading…the first time. Anecdotes are repeated several times across multiple chapters, and because of the questionable organization of the book, it feels like being stuck in Groundhog Day.
What I wanted was a greater look at the “cult of Trump,” as it were, like in Dr. Steve Hassan’s excellent book. There are definitely parts of this book where Dr. Lee does delve into the folie a millions we are encountering and how the interplay between Trump and his followers bypasses all logic and reason. These are essential reads for every American.
But the book feels altogether more like a screed against the APA than one against even Trump, claiming one psychiatrist “did more to destroy American democracy in the Trump era than any other single figure I know.” Really? More than Trump himself? Or Putin? Or Comey?
I’d love to see an updated version, or more of Dr. Lee’s essential work. I’d just prefer a differently edited version, please.
November 8, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Mr. Book just finished The Psychology Of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger To American Democracy And All Humankind, by Brandy X. Lee.
This author had written a book back in 2020 that had warned that Trump would not leave office peacefully if he lost the election. This is his latest book on the dangers that Trump presents to the nation and the world.
There isn’t a lot of ideas here that hasn’t appeared in his other writings, other than some discussion about his followers, but it is still a very valuable addition to the field. The big advantage this one has was it was written during the 2024 campaign, so it is up to date.
This is the fifth book that was written or edited by Lee that I have read. Each of the other four got either an A or A+. I give this book an A.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 8, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished The Psychology Of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger To American Democracy And All Humankind, by Brandy X. Lee.
This author had written a book back in 2020 that had warned that Trump would not leave office peacefully if he lost the election. This is his latest book on the dangers that Trump presents to the nation and the world.
There isn’t a lot of ideas here that hasn’t appeared in his other writings, other than some discussion about his followers, but it is still a very valuable addition to the field. The big advantage this one has was it was written during the 2024 campaign, so it is up to date.
This is the fifth book that was written or edited by Lee that I have read. Each of the other four got either an A or A+. I give this book an A.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 8, 2024.
February 9, 2025
Having read the "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" (revised version with 37 rather than 27 contributors), I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Nevertheless, I found most of this solo work to be extremely worthy of notetaking or highlighting. Dr. Lee breaks down all of the compelling aspects of the danger of this malignant narcissist rapist racist and explains how mass psychosis develops. The spiritual conclusion, relying on her additional degree in divinity, is not without merit, though it's the section I highlighted the least. I strongly recommend this (and would have given it 4.5 stars if allowed) for everyone opposed to and trying to understand the salient aspects of these political times. I think those who have experienced strained relationships with relatives or friends over differing views of Trump can gain valuable insights from this work.
October 15, 2025
An eye-opening revelation of the power we the people have to overcome Trump Contagion
Brandy Lee gives us insight into how we can overcome the situation we find ourselves in with a sociopath like Donald Trump. She and other experts in her field saw what was coming. But people in power saw the usefulness of him and his cult followers to
seize power for themselves. I have hope that when the people rise up and reject
him as one, we will have the power to regain our nation.
Brandy Lee gives us insight into how we can overcome the situation we find ourselves in with a sociopath like Donald Trump. She and other experts in her field saw what was coming. But people in power saw the usefulness of him and his cult followers to
seize power for themselves. I have hope that when the people rise up and reject
him as one, we will have the power to regain our nation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews