On Tyranny — By Timothy Snyder
By Jo Lorenz
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by historian Timothy Snyder, is an invaluable lesson in fascism, offering readers an accessible guide for resisting the world’s political shift towards authoritarianism.
I read On Tyranny book in July 2019 when world politics felt like a raging dumpster. Donald Trump was still the *ahem* President of the United States and Boris Johnson had just been elected the Prime Minister of the UK. Excuse me a sec . . . 🤮
Clearly and empirically analysing the likeness of Trump’s path to power, with that of the Third Reich, this beautifully-written, yet paralysing read discusses self-aggrandising populist politicians who are obsessed with restoring their nation's white and colonial glory. Oh wait, one more . . . 🤮
On Tyranny is an invitation to resist and safeguard our progressive freedoms — a quick and powerful read, which will empower you with historical facts to support the fire in your politically progressive belly!
“We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism in the last century,” Synder says. “Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience . . . History doesn’t repeat, but it does instruct”, says Snyder.
So the question is: are we ready to be instructed yet?
Footnotes:
When you read a book you really enjoy, buy a few extra copies and gift them to friends you know will benefit from reading it. This is an especially great rule when buying books from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ or women authors.
The Progressivists does not receive any payment in you purchasing this book. This is a subjective, gratis review.
