The Marianne Williamson Presidential Phenomenon

“Once again, Dr. Fisher, passionately and masterfully focuses his critical lens as an expert on the effects and affects of fear and terror on human development, cultural evolution and their intersection with contemporary politics. His manner and courageous style is revealing and prescient. It is 2020 and humanity is facing the COVID-19 pandemic and Americans are going to the polls to decide on re-electing a president who utilizes and weaponizes fear, mistrust, and uncertainty to achieve his political goals. In this well-researched study, Fisher’s gripping narrative exposes the places Marianne Williamson, the spiritual guru and once presidential hopeful with her politics of love, was (and still is) the perfect juxtaposition for creating a phenomenon to match a phenomenon—respectively, Fear vs. Love. Fisher skillfully utilizes this archaic philosophical battleground in a seminal work, bringing forward the much-needed freshness of systems thinking and integral philosophy (à la Ken Wilber) to provide a reasoned, wise, and enduring answer to the question: ‘What is going on in American culture and politics during these chaotic times?’ Reading and absorbing this erudite book opened several ‘Red Pill’ moments for me. As Marcel Proust wrote 100 years ago, ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes,’ and Dr. Fisher’s new book opened my eyes anew in preparation for 2020 and all that will unfold beyond it.” —Dan McKinnon, Ph.D. (Education), Registered Psychologist, Calgary, AB, Canada
“Marianne Williamson reached hundreds of thousands of people with her books, lectures, and workshops since her rise to prominence in the 1990s. Since declaring her bid for the presidency of the US she has reached millions. Not all were eager listeners but many heard her enduring message. Dr. Fisher has made a case study of her “transformational” leadership, arguing (critically at times) that the key to her success was an ability to meet fear fearlessly. Why does her message resonate now in just the way it does? Why is there such tension between those who want to push her away, call her a flake, avoid the obvious and real spiritual implications of our present politics? And how can Williamson balance her other-worldly discipline with her transformational leadership? Dr. Fisher is probably the world’s leading expert on the effects of fear and its antidotes, and here he takes an unflinching look at how fear has warped and twisted us, and how we can be transformed by such figures as Williamson. As he indicates, it is very important, at this moment, not only to understand what is happening, but to remember and document for the future what this moment was for those who lived it. Yet, there is more than memory in these pages. This is also about what kind of future we can hope for, in contrast to what we will get if we do not learn to face our fears, and face them down.” —Randall Auxier, Ph.D., Author of Time, Will, and Purpose: Living Ideas from the Philosophy of Josiah Royce; Professor of Philosophy and Communication Studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
“An original, incisive, and provocative critical examination of the Marianne Williamson presidential phenomenon from an existential, psychodynamic, transpersonal, ecological, theological, social psychological, and evolutionary perspective. R. Michael Fisher is extraordinarily well-versed in Williamson’s more than three decades of writings, speeches, and interviews. He makes a compelling case that Williamson is a serious and capable philosopher, educator, and nascent political activist, with a strong background in psychology and theology. This was an important revelation to me and I suspect will be for many readers, as I pre-emptively dismissed Williamson by lumping her with a raft of intellectual light-weights and outright frauds associated with New Age thinkers and self-help gurus. Interestingly, he explains how and why the Marianne Williamson presidential phenomenon not only contrasts with, but is also comparable to, the Donald Trump presidential phenomenon. He analyzes how Williamson’s shortcomings as a politician stem in part from ambiguities and weaknesses in her delivery of deep controversial philosophical and psychological views within the general public sphere—and offers thoughtful recommendations for Williamson, as well as other like-minded change agents to come in the future. The challenges are daunting but not impossible in bringing the best intelligence and strategies forward to foster progressive political movements devoted to individual well-being, social justice, progress and a sustainable natural environment. A timely and important book for scholars, students, politicians, and anyone with the courage to inquire, as Dr. Fisher asks of himself: ‘Have I made my life purposeful in a useful way to the betterment of our species and the planet’s ecological health and sustainability for seven generations?’" —Sheldon Solomon, Ph.D., Co-author of The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life; Faculty of Psychology, Ross Professor for Interdisciplinary Studies, Skidmore College
“The gradual advances of a change agent may encounter numerous hiccups on its pathway to implementing change; but with honesty, grace and compassion the committed will forge ahead towards success. This book reflects such a journey of both the author and his subject. R. Michael Fisher, in both an exploratory and objective fashion, provides riveting detailed accounts of many observers who have encountered the remarkable social phenomenon, which has grown in and around a once American presidential candidate—Marianne Deborah Williamson, a true change agent. One must applaud her clear moral stance as a driver of a movement gaining momentum because of this quality of leadership, with a mission for pursuit of greatness in service of others. Her mission is the better to be accomplished with its existence and implementation plan because it ensures inclusion of diverse views and ideas. It is a democratic mission not driven by personal gain but rather driven by eternal fulfilment and the awareness that the benefits of righteousness far exceed those of condemnation. We really need this ‘message’ today.” —Nonye T. Aghanya, MSc., RN, FNP-C, Author of Simple Tips to Developing a Productive Clinician-Patient Relationship, Alexandria, VA