ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS from the TWENTIETH CENTURY by Timothy Snyder

 


Published in 2017 by Tim Duggan Books, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Timothy Snyder is a historian that specializes in Central and Eastern Europe in the 1930's and 1940's. This coincides with the rise of the Nazis in Germany the rise of the USSR as a world power. 

Snyder has written up several mini essays about the dangers that he sees in modern day politics that are actually echoes from the past. Or, as he puts it: "History can familiarize, and it can warn." (p. 11) He also warns, "We might be tempted to think that our democratic heritage automatically protects us from such threats. This is a misguided reflex." (p.13)

The author, Timothy Snyder

Snyder is clearly warning against the movement that brought Donald Trump to the Presidency, but as a Never Trump Republican, I am of the opinion that both parties do all twenty of these things. But, I am a Never Trump Republican because I am certain that Donald Trump went and keeps going too far. 

In his 5th point, Snyder reminds his readers to remember their professional ethics as a bulwark against authoritarianism. For example, judges need to stay fair and follow the law even if a ruling would reward the President who appointed them. Plenty of  judges that were appointed by Donald Trump wouldn't change their rulings when it came to overturning election results. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wouldn't change his mind about recusing himself from Justice Department Investigations and Vice President Mike Pence would not assert a Constitutional right he clearly does not have in order to stop the Electoral College from voting on January 6. 

His 6th point is to "Be Wary of Paramilitaries", especially when the groups that "...have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh." (p. 42) Witness the Proud Boys and similar groups and the January 6 attack in D.C.

There are 18 other points, some with just some good basic advice like "Contribute to Good Causes" because it helps civil society and keeps the basic building blocks of society strong. Another bit of good advice is to be a patriot, not a nationalist. There's a massive difference.

This small book is a quick, thought-provoking read.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS from the TWENTIETH CENTURY by Timothy Snyder.

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