On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
- Downloads：5675
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-26 00:31:00
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Timothy Snyder
- ISBN：0804190119
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Terry
，
This slender volume is an important book。 Not only does Snyder give a lucid account of the dangers to democracy we face by examining 20th Century historical examples， but he proposes 20 practical actions that individuals can undertake to counteract the dangers。 Worth reading more than once。
J。
，
I liked it， but。。。While the premises of the book seem true， there is little in the way of fact presented to bolster the author’s case。 I guess I agree with Mr。 Snyder but think he could have presented a more reasoned case。
Roger Beier
，
É triste quando uma oportunidade de tratar de um assunto tão importante em tempos como estes seja desperdiçada de forma tão canhestra para fazer propaganda do neoliberalismo。 Snyder， infelizmente， está na mesma esteira de autores como Anne Applebaum e， até mesmo， Jill Lepore e Michael Sandell， aproveitando a ascensão dos autoritarismos para espalhar ainda mais medo a fim de mover as pessoas passos atrás em direção à tragédia neoliberal。 Como se fossemos incapazes de pensar outras soluções não au É triste quando uma oportunidade de tratar de um assunto tão importante em tempos como estes seja desperdiçada de forma tão canhestra para fazer propaganda do neoliberalismo。 Snyder， infelizmente， está na mesma esteira de autores como Anne Applebaum e， até mesmo， Jill Lepore e Michael Sandell， aproveitando a ascensão dos autoritarismos para espalhar ainda mais medo a fim de mover as pessoas passos atrás em direção à tragédia neoliberal。 Como se fossemos incapazes de pensar outras soluções não autoritárias para as dificuldades do presente。 Uma pena。 Trata-se apenas de mais um panfleto em favor do liberalismo conservador estadunidense。 。。。more
Florence Lau
，
Impactful read on racism in America。
WangWeizhang
，
这是一本轻薄短小的书，但传达了一些很好的人间的观念，别再认为有谁可以当个局外人。沉着冷静，保持勇气，守护自由和民主，为世界的样貌负责。
Deborah
，
Thought provoking。 Enjoyed this a lot。
Sakarias Frette
，
Great lessons
Rachel Rose
，
A little too oversimplified for my liking。
Claudia Dursa
，
Such an important book！！ So much to think about especially knowing that it was published before the 2020 elections 😞
Teck Wu
，
Some good lessons in there， but some toxic ones at the back。 Also， it seemed as though the author tried hard to squeeze points out to hit the symbolic 20， and logic jumps sometimes to prove a point。 The entire book also reads like a high school essay， with examples that look like they came out from textbooks。 The bias against modern Russia is also very high in here， so best not to take the modern-day examples too seriously。In sum， really more of a guide for Americans on arming themselves against Some good lessons in there， but some toxic ones at the back。 Also， it seemed as though the author tried hard to squeeze points out to hit the symbolic 20， and logic jumps sometimes to prove a point。 The entire book also reads like a high school essay， with examples that look like they came out from textbooks。 The bias against modern Russia is also very high in here， so best not to take the modern-day examples too seriously。In sum， really more of a guide for Americans on arming themselves against civil tyranny， but not so much useful — and might even be deleterious — abroad。 。。。more
Benjamin Jacobson
，
Good stuff！
Mike Summers
，
On Tyranny intends to remind its readers that no state is immune to becoming a totalitarian， especially the USA。 It draws lots of comparisons between the country of Trump's period and the Nazi Germany， also mentioning some examples of modern-day authoritarian regimes。 Even though the book does contain some useful advice and thoughts， it still appears as quite a controversial work。As for its upsides， its author conveys his thoughts in a very concise manner: the book is short and therefore it does On Tyranny intends to remind its readers that no state is immune to becoming a totalitarian， especially the USA。 It draws lots of comparisons between the country of Trump's period and the Nazi Germany， also mentioning some examples of modern-day authoritarian regimes。 Even though the book does contain some useful advice and thoughts， it still appears as quite a controversial work。As for its upsides， its author conveys his thoughts in a very concise manner: the book is short and therefore it doesn't suffer from repetitiveness or long philosophical disputes just for the sake of increasing its volume。 Additionally， there are indeed grains of wisdom related to not only the USA though to humanity overall。 What's even more， all the conclusions are extracted as headers for the chapters， which makes it far easier to write notes and follow the author's ideas。However， reading the book leaves an impression that it's more concentrated on US citizens and in particular Trump's reign。 From the very beginning there is a feeling that the whole work is dedicated to the fight against him， as if he turns out to be an impersonation of modern-day Hitler。 The former president is indeed considered an extremely controversial figure but what about other corrupted politicians from the USA and other countries？ Needless to say， it all produces the atmosphere of a biased and highly political book。 Moreover， today after Trump's defeat the author comparing him with fascists sounds enourmously exaggerated。Finally， when the author urges its readers to investigate and stick to facts but then takes advantage of allegations and conspiracy theories， isn't it a perfect example of hypocrisy and the very weapon the usage of which he himself convicts populists of？ For instance， there are claims about secret services responsible for nearly all terrorist attacks in Russia in the 90s and 2000s。 Whereas in Russia such speculations might indeed be popular in some narrow circles， but they are not proven by any dependable sources （the analogy of the 9/11 attack and Bush's Iraq campaign would also fit in here but the author seems to intentionally avoid criticising other US presidents）。 The same goes to the allegations about Russian hackers and their relations to the Islamic State Hacking Division。 It's not that it couldn't be true， though it would be much better not to disguise speculations as facts or at least point to data sources that are completely absent from the work。 Thus， the reader is literally left to investigate all the author's claims on their own。In brief， On Tyranny can still provide its readers with some insights as to what people should pay attention to so that they could avoid being brain-washed and becoming supporters of a tyrannic regime。 However， it's too concentrated on demonising one person whose current powerless position makes the language of the book exaggerated。 Moreover， the work lacks links to data sources and better historical examples based on facts but not speculations。 So， whatever good intentions a book is full， it’s still necessary for a reader to filter out the information on their own: keeping calm and independent thoughts is difficult but it's probably one of the very ultimate weapons against deceptions and tyrannies of all sort。 。。。more
Frank Buncom IV
，
Short， punchy， thought provoking， and somehow settling。
Cara Klein
，
The first thing I've read since 2016 that actually， dire and sobering as it might be， has made me feel better: maybe some sort of perspective， of understanding， of role， and parameters to guide me。 Solid historical argumentation。 Clear and direct。 20 principles， 20 actions。 The first thing I've read since 2016 that actually， dire and sobering as it might be， has made me feel better: maybe some sort of perspective， of understanding， of role， and parameters to guide me。 Solid historical argumentation。 Clear and direct。 20 principles， 20 actions。 。。。more
Alexis
，
“Post-truth is pre-fascism。” A must-read。
Eric
，
Snyder writes with the earnestness of a teenager who has just discovered some deep truth， and proposes "solutions" with the facile enthusiasm of the ivory tower。 Nothing in this book is wrong， but I expected something more from a Yale history professor。 He does point out some interesting tidbits from history， but I would suspect that he could have put in a little more effort and come up with a better book if he really put his mind to it。 Snyder writes with the earnestness of a teenager who has just discovered some deep truth， and proposes "solutions" with the facile enthusiasm of the ivory tower。 Nothing in this book is wrong， but I expected something more from a Yale history professor。 He does point out some interesting tidbits from history， but I would suspect that he could have put in a little more effort and come up with a better book if he really put his mind to it。 。。。more
Ginny
，
Another must read， especially for high school government classes。
Jake Smith
，
5。0 stars。 Everyone should read this book。 It is a great place to start learning about how America is not so exceptional that we are immune to totalitarianism。
Judy Ugonna
，
I read this in early 2020 when we were looking forward to the next US Presidential election with trepidation and feeling generally very weary of inept and corrupt， narcissistic leaders， whether in the UK or in the USA。 It is in effect a succinct and memorable checklist of what to watch out for because forms of tyranny are always a threat。 As his dedication reads "In politics， being deceived is no excuse"。 I told all my family they should read this little book and take it to heart。 I read this in early 2020 when we were looking forward to the next US Presidential election with trepidation and feeling generally very weary of inept and corrupt， narcissistic leaders， whether in the UK or in the USA。 It is in effect a succinct and memorable checklist of what to watch out for because forms of tyranny are always a threat。 As his dedication reads "In politics， being deceived is no excuse"。 I told all my family they should read this little book and take it to heart。 。。。more
Nafi3
，
این کتاب قطعا برای افرادی با اطلاعات و علایق سیاسی بسیار جذاب خواهد بود اما برای افرادی همچون من که اطلاعات سیاسی اندکی دارن اصلا جذاب نیست。برشهایی از متن کتاب:اطاعت پیشدستانه در آغاز کار به معنای پذیرش و یک رنگ شدن غیرارادی با وضعیتی جدید است، بدون این که دربارهاش فکر کنیم。زندگی ما سیاسی است، نه به این خاطر که دنیا اهمیتی به احساسات ما میدهد بلکه به این سبب که دنیا به کردار ما واکنش نشان میدهد。وقتی تفاوت میان آنچه میخواهید بشنوید و حقیقت را انکار کنید، تسلیم استبداد شدهاید。اعتراضات این کتاب قطعا برای افرادی با اطلاعات و علایق سیاسی بسیار جذاب خواهد بود اما برای افرادی همچون من که اطلاعات سیاسی اندکی دارن اصلا جذاب نیست。برشهایی از متن کتاب:اطاعت پیشدستانه در آغاز کار به معنای پذیرش و یک رنگ شدن غیرارادی با وضعیتی جدید است، بدون این که دربارهاش فکر کنیم。زندگی ما سیاسی است، نه به این خاطر که دنیا اهمیتی به احساسات ما میدهد بلکه به این سبب که دنیا به کردار ما واکنش نشان میدهد。وقتی تفاوت میان آنچه میخواهید بشنوید و حقیقت را انکار کنید، تسلیم استبداد شدهاید。اعتراضات را میتوان از طریق رسانههای اجتماعی سازمان داد。 ولی هیچچیز واقعی نخواهد بود مگر اینکه کارش به خیابانها بکشد。کسانی که با اطمینان به شما میگویند که فقط به بهای از دست دادن آزادی میتوانید به امنیت دست یابید معمولاً میخواهند هم آزادی و هم امنیت را از شما سلب کنند。مردی که برهنه در زمین فوتبال میدود قطعا ایجاد اختلال میکند، ولی قواعد بازی را تغییر نمیدهد。 تفکر اختلال، سراسر، کمتجربگیِ نوجوانی است: فرضش این است که پس از خرابکاری نوجوانها، بزرگترها میآیند و خرابکاری آنها را درست میکنند。 ولی بزرگتری در کار نیست。 خودمان مسئول این اوضاع خراب و آشفته هستیم。 。。。more
Jamie
，
Beautifully written， engaging， excellent historical context， important steps to becoming an engaged， insightful citizen of our current times。 I believe this book should be required reading for every student in high school and again in college。 Mr。 Snyder’s expertise in this subject matter makes this book an absolute must read。 I have purchased and given away over 20 copies of this book。 It’s that important。
Caetlin McFadden
，
A great， quick read that will remain timeless despite its publication at the beginning of the trump administration。 Honestly， the awful yet historic events that occurred during the trump presidency only solidify all of Snyder’s points and advice。 Super good- I would recommend it to anyone and everyone。
Tammy
，
Lots of interesting things to discuss and consider。 The book was a little subtle about comparisons with Trump in the beginning which was fine but then it directly called him out and I was less interested （mostly because I just don't care to think or read about Trump）。 Having said that， I understand why it's important to understand the similarities between then and now。 The book felt a bit dramatic and intense at times。 I guess it wasn't what I was expecting。 Still thought provoking！ Lots of interesting things to discuss and consider。 The book was a little subtle about comparisons with Trump in the beginning which was fine but then it directly called him out and I was less interested （mostly because I just don't care to think or read about Trump）。 Having said that， I understand why it's important to understand the similarities between then and now。 The book felt a bit dramatic and intense at times。 I guess it wasn't what I was expecting。 Still thought provoking！ 。。。more
Trevor Seigler
，
A brief if sobering look at lessons from the past that we can use today， "On Tyranny" came out a few years ago in the aftermath of the ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency。 It's a quick look at lessons from the twentieth century， the age of totalitarian dictatorships in Germany， Italy， Russia and so on。 Those lessons include being able to think for yourself and seek out information away from the swamp that is the internet， participating in actual rallies rather than virtual ones （hard to A brief if sobering look at lessons from the past that we can use today， "On Tyranny" came out a few years ago in the aftermath of the ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency。 It's a quick look at lessons from the twentieth century， the age of totalitarian dictatorships in Germany， Italy， Russia and so on。 Those lessons include being able to think for yourself and seek out information away from the swamp that is the internet， participating in actual rallies rather than virtual ones （hard to do in our current age of COVID， but we're getting there）， and to be wary of events that totalitarians can use to take further control of our lives even if they likely had nothing to do with causing said event （like the Reichstag fire of 1933， which helped the Nazis pass the Enabling Act， freeing Hitler from the shackles of democracy in order to enact laws at random because of some perceived "emergency" of Communist and leftist violence）。 This can be read in about an hour or two， and make your hair stand up in thinking of the parallels to our own time。 But it can also inspire you to stand up to the lies of the totalitarians in our midst （perhaps this would make a good Christmas gift for you MAGA friends？ Nah， they don't *do* books usually）。 。。。more
Catherine
，
Put this in your pocket with the constitution。
Dhanaraj Rajan
，
Read it in Tamil Translation。A Wonderful for the present times。 Especially for the Indians。Do read it。Here s a link to a friend's review in English: https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 Read it in Tamil Translation。A Wonderful for the present times。 Especially for the Indians。Do read it。Here s a link to a friend's review in English: https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 。。。more
Cassie
，
2021 5-sentence or less review:This book has a lot of important concepts and ideas。 Though I agree with the premise that 45’s actions mirror fascist regimes， there were parts of this book that I disagreed with and felt that this would appeal more to a political moderate。 Otherwise， I do appreciate Snyder’s historical and global perspective。
Tim
，
Meh。 The stretches to include the former president as a tyrant/authoritarian seemed far in comparison to examples from Eastern Europe。 I feel like I have to read more Timothy Snyder （this book does not entice me to do so） to grasp his knowledge and research into examples he references here。 Depth lacks， I feel disappointed， I sense important ideas where not divulged， maybe they were assumed。
Patrick Choi
，
Useful advice， could be more elaborate， with more sources too。 But at the same time it's good that it's kept short。 And when reviewing the 20 chapter titles， i。e。 the lessons， it is quite valuable。 Good ending。 Useful advice， could be more elaborate， with more sources too。 But at the same time it's good that it's kept short。 And when reviewing the 20 chapter titles， i。e。 the lessons， it is quite valuable。 Good ending。 。。。more
elijah
，