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A review by aksmith92
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
The Setup: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is a concise and impactful guide that draws parallels between historical instances of tyranny and contemporary political developments. Snyder, a Yale historian, distills complex historical events into twenty accessible lessons aimed at empowering citizens to recognize and resist the encroachment of authoritarianism.
Each lesson serves as a call to action, urging readers to defend democratic institutions, be wary of propaganda, and uphold the truth. For instance, Synder emphasizes the importance of defending institutions, noting that "institutions do not protect themselves" and require active support from the populace. He advises readers to "beware the one-party state," highlighting the dangers of political monopolies. These lessons are grounded in historical precedents, providing a sobering reminder of how democracies can falter.
What I Liked: This book cuts straight to the chase. It lets you know the signs of authoritarianism and what to do in advance to prevent yourself from falling into its trap. It's quick, concise, and simply makes sense. I wanted to read this after a certain election in the US to ensure that I look for signs of a falling democracy, and this was the perfect fit.
Why Not 5 Stars? Honestly, it seemed a little too simple. While I enjoyed the book's simplicity and conciseness, I did feel like something was a little bit missing, but barely. There was a lack of emotion to it, which I suppose is quite the point, but it still prevented me from loving this book. Plus, it's hard to love a book about looking for signs of the collapse of democracy, but alas.
Each lesson serves as a call to action, urging readers to defend democratic institutions, be wary of propaganda, and uphold the truth. For instance, Synder emphasizes the importance of defending institutions, noting that "institutions do not protect themselves" and require active support from the populace. He advises readers to "beware the one-party state," highlighting the dangers of political monopolies. These lessons are grounded in historical precedents, providing a sobering reminder of how democracies can falter.
What I Liked: This book cuts straight to the chase. It lets you know the signs of authoritarianism and what to do in advance to prevent yourself from falling into its trap. It's quick, concise, and simply makes sense. I wanted to read this after a certain election in the US to ensure that I look for signs of a falling democracy, and this was the perfect fit.
Why Not 5 Stars? Honestly, it seemed a little too simple. While I enjoyed the book's simplicity and conciseness, I did feel like something was a little bit missing, but barely. There was a lack of emotion to it, which I suppose is quite the point, but it still prevented me from loving this book. Plus, it's hard to love a book about looking for signs of the collapse of democracy, but alas.