On tyranny

twenty lessons from the twentieth century

126 pages

English language

Published Jan. 24, 2017 by Crown, Tim Duggan Books.

ISBN:
978-0-8041-9011-4
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OCLC Number:
968309193

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5 stars (2 reviews)

In previous books, Holocaust historian Timothy Snyder dissected the events and values that enabled the rise of Hitler and Stalin and the execution of their catastrophic policies. With Twenty Lessons, Snyder draws from the darkest hours of the twentieth century to provide hope for the twenty-first. As he writes, "Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism and communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience."

2 editions

Important and Timely

5 stars

I was in the middle of reading The Armageddon Protocol, the latest science fiction thriller from Dan Moren. He’s my favorite newish author, with six novels out now, each better than the last (and the first one was excellent). More people should know about his books.

Anyway, I set that aside to begin reading a 2017 book by Yale historian Timothy Snyder. It offers ““twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today” and is the source of many quotes and memes going around the last few days. It’s a quick easy read. If you voted for the guy and think the current panic is hyperbole, I recommend reading this book if only to reassure yourself that it is hyperbole and to see what to watch for to ensure you’re on the right side of history if the bottom ever were to fall out. And for the …

Subjects

  • Political culture
  • Modern History
  • SOCIAL SCIENCE
  • Democracy
  • 20th Century
  • Modern
  • Twentieth century
  • Political ethics
  • Despotism
  • POLITICAL SCIENCE
  • Essays
  • Civics & Citizenship
  • HISTORY

Places

  • United States