Can Posters Kill?: Antisemitic Propaganda and World War II
By: Jerry Faivish and Kathryn Cole
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Number of Pages: 100
Published: October 21, 2025
Publisher: Second Story Press
Dates Read: August 2, 2025 - August 4, 2025
Format: ARC

Can Posters Kill? takes readers through a historically visual journey of anti-Jewish media dating from 15-century paintings to the horrendous propaganda of the second World War. With each poster, the author breaks down the image on how it was used as both a political and social tool. With understanding of how it was used in the past, we can recognize and prevent it from happening again.

I’m not sure if this book is aimed at younger (teen) readers or adults, but either way, it’s a fantastic, informational read. I did read it in chunks through the three days I read it, because it’s a lot to take in, but it’s easily done as every two pages is a poster and then the explanation on the corresponding page.

It still amazes me that people didn’t look at these posters and see just how wrong everything was with it. Some of them are subtle, sure, but others literally have their hatred for Jews in big, bold lettering – and these would be posted in the middle of towns and marketplaces!

People need to see these posters; and thankfully, the author, who is a child of two Holocaust survivors, collected them and is sharing them in this collection. I know we have to understand our past, in order to (hopefully) not repeat it in our future, but so many people love to turn a blind eye to things that don’t directly involve them, or are upset and need someone to push their anger onto.

*Thank you Publishers Weekly and Second Story Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.