On Tyranny

Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

By: Timothy Snyder

Narrated by: Timothy Snyder

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “bracing” (Vox) guide for surviving and resisting America’s turn towards authoritarianism, from “a rising public intellectual unafraid to make bold connections between past and present” (The New York Times)

“Timothy Snyder reasons with unparalleled clarity, throwing the past and future into sharp relief. He has written the rare kind of book that can be read in one sitting but will keep you coming back to help regain your bearings.”—Masha Gessen

The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat they knew, the tyranny that overcame ancient democracy. Today, our political order faces new threats, not unlike the totalitarianism of the twentieth century. We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.

On Tyranny is a call to arms and a guide to resistance, with invaluable ideas for how we can preserve our freedoms in the uncertain years to come.

©2017 Timothy Snyder (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A Washington Post Notable Book

“We are rapidly ripening for fascism. This American writer leaves us with no illusions about ourselves.”—Svetlana Alexievich, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

“Please read this book. So smart, so timely.”—George Saunders

“Timothy Snyder reasons with unparalleled clarity, throwing the past and future into sharp relief. He has written the rare kind of book that can be read in one sitting but will keep you coming back to help regain your bearings.”—Masha Gessen

Required reading

Mr. Snyder presents a succinct guide to recognizing the signs of tyrannical government and acting to counter its influences. This work is unfortunately now required reading for all citizens that hope to continue to live in a functioning democratic society.

The book lays out, using examples drawn especially from Central and Eastern European history, the tactics that allowed and then fueled the rise of tyrannical regimes. In concrete steps, the author demonstrates how our predecessors failed to stop or succeeded in prevent dictatorial states from consolidating power. It was easy to listen to and left this writer feeling empowered to act!

Haven't given up on the democratic experiment?

Activists, patriots, small-d democrats looking for a manual: here's the best guide I've found to the resistance.

Impressively concise and well organized

Snyder does a great job of connecting 20th century precedents to 2016 tendencies/possibilities in US politics without jargon or excessive detail (if you're a history junkie, you'll have to read another of his works to get the detail-heavy approach). A very accessable text, and well narrated by the author.

important read

quick read with good insightful and historical context of what we are experiencing in world politics today. this is clesrly a conscious effort by facism here and abroad to destroy democracy with misinformation, fear and direct assault of the institutions of the West. trump, Putin and others are to be feared and removed.

Humanly important

This is important and critical knowledge! Up to date and I've recommended it to all I know.

Powerful message in a tiny package!

This short but powerful book packs a wallop in describing our founding fathers' reference points on tyranny, combined with 20th Century examples so we can discern between opportunistic propaganda to further a fascist regime and true patriotism. I found Chapters 19-20 most relevant, as it describes what to anticipate and to prepare for. While it's scary to contemplate what our nation is going through, it's also redeeming to know we DO have choices regarding our fate, what kind of nation and people we wish to be. The perfect blend of stark reality, historical context, and hope for our future.

Just In Time

I first learned of this book watching Dr. Snyder on the news the night of the Capitol Insurrection. I found his calm, learned demeanor reassuring and his explanation of this book gave me an understanding of what we were experiencing. I am glad I bought the book. It was a quick read and clear lesson on history and put a lot of things in perspective. If you read it, please take the opportunity to share it at the end, for free. Share it as a gesture of friendship, good will and understanding...and peace.

To help everyone remember truth and real democracy.

Concise, well written and intelligent. What we need to remember about history; a book for human being, on ethics, empathy and being truly great.

A book for true patriots!

This is a book for our time and a must read for all those who love Democracy...

Critical read

The information in this book could not be more appropriate for the times we live in. The author is brutally honest, yet somehow remains hopeful for the future.