A wave of authoritarianism is sweeping the globe, tempting nations—and individuals—toward a darker path. Yet few are taught to recognize the signs. What are the core traits of empire? How do they operate, both openly and in subtle disguise?

In this urgent and illuminating work, the author outlines ten defining traits of empire—how it dominates, deceives, and dehumanizes—and shows how these patterns repeat across history and nations, including our own. By naming these traits, we gain the clarity needed to resist effectively.

But the book doesn't stop there. It wrestles with deeper questions: Can there be such a thing as a good empire? Is a more just and democratic future still possible? And how do we resist empire without becoming like it?

This work invites readers into a courageous inquiry into history, power, and conscience—with the hope that we might still build a freer, richer world for all.