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On Tyranny
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century | Timothy Snyder
"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 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.
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lil1inblue
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I shed happy tears this morning. 5,000 protesters in Marquette. 7% of the county's population. Up from 3,500 at the last big protest. I have hope today.
#haikuhive #haikuaday #nokings #resist

TheBookHippie 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉YAY✊🏼 5d
kspenmoll ✊🏻🎉🎉 5d
See All 10 Comments
JenlovesJT47 🩵💙🩵💙🩵 5d
julieclair 5,000! 🎉💙 5d
dabbe LOVE the word “yoopers!“ ✊🏻💙✊🏻 5d
Jari-chan ✊✊✊ 5d
AnnCrystal “Feeling Hope and Pride“ ✊🏼🦅👍🏼🐝💝🇺🇸💝✌🏼💝. 5d
DebinHawaii Amazing! ✊🏼💛🐝🖤 4d
39 likes1 stack add10 comments
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itsjustme40something
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My soul needed this ,it needed to be connected to others, to feel hope and stand up against evil

TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ 6d
Ruthiella ✊✊✊ 6d
Chrissyreadit ❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️ 6d
See All 7 Comments
vivastory 🤘💙 6d
Nebklvr The protests help 6d
Trashcanman I don‘t know if it‘s just me but people caring on like nothings fucking wrong in this country is fucking sickening. People going on with mundane bullshit oblivious to what is happening just demonstrates their privilege and lack of humanity. Thank you for being real. 2d
itsjustme40something Yes the gaslighting that this is normal or acceptable or anything other than horrific is way past sickening. I cant remeber where I heard it, but someone said privilege is seen in deciding if you care. And its enraging to me how many people don't 2d
14 likes7 comments
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lil1inblue
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❤️ I'm looking forward to showing my solidarity at the No Kings Rally!
🧡 After the rally, we all proceed to UP Pride Fest! 🤩
💛 The #haikuhive makes me smile each and every day. I love our hive!
💚 I'm looking forward to our Midsummer Festival next weekend! 🥰
💙 It's been a crazy month already, but MisterinBlue has been incredibly and has kept me sane!
#5joysfriday @debinhawaii

TheBookHippie 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7d
Amiable Me too! Protesting in CT! 🇺🇸 7d
Jari-chan ✊✊✊ 7d
See All 12 Comments
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 7d
kspenmoll Going to Hartford‘s no king rally 😊 7d
lil1inblue @TheBookHippie 🩵🩵🩵 7d
lil1inblue @Amiable Solidarity! ✊🏻🩵 7d
lil1inblue @Jari-chan ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻 7d
lil1inblue @dabbe 🩵💙🩵 7d
lil1inblue @kspenmoll Solidarity! 🤩✊🏻 7d
Amiable @kspenmoll I‘ll be in New London. Next time I‘ll plan to come up to Hartford! I‘m bringing a friend—this is her first protest and she‘s nervous so I told her we can do New London since it won‘t be as crowded as Hartford. 7d
AnnCrystal ✊🏼💝💝💝💝💝. 6d
34 likes12 comments
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vivastory
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I don't believe in “essential reading“ with a few exceptions. This is one. A short, but blistering impactful examination of our times with historical parallels to the current aspiring tyrant.
#bestof20205

TheBookHippie This is essential. 1w
vivastory @TheBookHippie Unless you're a fascist. Agreed! 💙 1w
Christine Yes. 1w
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oo_pamela_oo
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Pickpick

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ March 2025 Bookclub Pick

First half better than the 2nd half. Enjoyed that the author came with facts and made historical comparisons. Did not expect it to predict current day issues despite being published in 2017.

#bookclub
#bannedbooks

Leftcoastzen So essential! 2mo
oo_pamela_oo @Leftcoastzen Absolutely! A must for a personal library. 2mo
8 likes2 comments
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Brooke_H
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Pickpick

I've been meaning to read this since 2017, but kept putting it off. I had to wait awhile for my library hold to come in. So many people are reading this right now. 🤔

This is a succinct list of 20 lessons we (should) have learned from the last century on how to turn away from fascism and tyranny. I feel a need to keep running this info through my brain, so I have also placed holds on the audio and the graphic novel versions of this book.

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DMC_run8
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Pickpick

This book is short in stature and length. And now is a good time to read it. I finished it on a 3 hour flight with plenty of time to delve back into my other book.

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itsjustme40something
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N. Y. Resists

TheBookHippie YAAAAAS!!! 2mo
kspenmoll 💖💖💖 2mo
Leftcoastzen 👏👏👏👏✊ 2mo
13 likes3 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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Apparently there are numbers of readers who do not understand the messaging in Fantasy. I am guessing if they did we would see more book bans…. cause a woman who thinks is dangerous.

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vivastory
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First published in 2017 but just as relevant now, this concise & thought provoking book clocks in less than 2 hours on audio. But the lessons contained within are expansive & will stay with the reader. Highly recommended.

TheBookHippie Agree. A must read. Oy. 3mo
vivastory @TheBookHippie Absolutely 💯 3mo
Chrissyreadit 🙌🙌🙌 3mo
See All 9 Comments
BarbaraBB I postponed it in 2017 but I guess there‘s no better time to read it than right now. Stacking. 3mo
vivastory @BarbaraBB It's a quick read. I really liked the audio, read by Snyder. Some of it seems like preaching to the choir but other points were interesting enough to make me want to rec it. An important work IMO 3mo
Leftcoastzen On permanent shelves, I read it again quite recently! 3mo
Suet624 Bought it in 2016. I often wonder how Snyder feels considering that he‘s been talking about this for years. This recent election must‘ve just done him in. 3mo
vivastory @Suet624 I had the same thought. I saw that there was an expanded edition after the invasion of Ukraine. 3mo
Suet624 Oh! I‘ll have to take a peek at the library and see if they have it. 3mo
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wanderinglynn
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If you think these firings won‘t affect you, you haven‘t been paying attention.

A friend who was fired today from the Dept. of Energy worked on projects with money appropriated by Congress. Projects that create American jobs, strengthen our country by improving the nation's electric grid, & advance industrial technologies that reduce pollution & keep us competitive with manufacturing abroad.

And this is just 1 person, 1 story.

Leftcoastzen Thank you for posting. I have many friends in government positions, fine people all doing a great job . Everything is in chaos. 4mo
AmyG Madness! 4mo
lil1inblue I've lost all words. So I'll just send virtual love and solidarity. 4mo
See All 20 Comments
Lesliereadsalot Somebody has to put a stop to this. We need heroes. 4mo
Jas16 It is too much to grasp. (edited) 4mo
Susanita I‘m so sorry about your friend. This demonization of government employees is disgusting. 4mo
Suet624 And are they slashing unemployment too? Will thousands of unemployed individuals make America great? It‘s unbearable. 4mo
Aims42 😢💔 I am so sorry about your friend. This current administration is going in with a machete when a scalpel is needed 4mo
Amiable I read an article that speculated an economic theory behind Trump‘s firing spree: less employed people = less consumer demand. Less demand can cool down inflation. If that starts dropping because of all this unemployment, the Fed may lower interest rates to keep the economy from face-planting. And who loves low interest rates more than Trump loves golden toilets? His wealthy donors, who can borrow tons of cheap money. It‘s Machiavellian. (edited) 4mo
ImperfectCJ Just sent a federal employee friend a supportive (I hope) message. This is a young person who didn't even know what a government shutdown was before I mentioned it to him. I feel for him with all of this wackiness. 4mo
kspenmoll 😱😱😱 Thank you for your post. I take pics to send to friends. (edited) 4mo
CoverToCoverGirl They are taking aim at us here in Canada and the rest of the world too. Watching the news is like watching a horror movie unfold. I‘m so sorry to see what‘s happening to my neighbours while also being concerned about my fellow Canadians. 😢 4mo
julesG @CoverToCoverGirl Same here in Germany. It's a dystopian novel being written right in front of us. We have a general election coming up and the US VP is chumming up to the German right-wing party leaders. ??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♀️ There's this German saying: "God(s) throw down some brains, or bricks, but make sure you hit your targets." 4mo
Larkken Thank you for your post. I am so confused at how awry my life has gone that the whims of two billionaires can determine whether I will lose a job I worked hard for years to qualify for. 4mo
wanderinglynn @lil1inblue thank you. 🤍 4mo
wanderinglynn @Aims42 thank you. 🤍 And yes, that‘s exactly what‘s happening. 4mo
wanderinglynn @ImperfectCJ so much confusion and chaos. Thank you – I‘m sure it helped. 🤍 4mo
Aims42 @Amiable Ding, ding, ding winner, winner, chicken dinner to that speculation. It tracks (edited) 4mo
Aims42 @Larkken Ugh, this sucks so much and shouldn‘t be a worry for anyone 😔💔 4mo
CoverToCoverGirl @julesG I saw that “speech”. Despicable. Evil and intolerance has many faces, his is just one. We are facing an election here too and the opposition party is right wing, and using vicious rhetoric saying our country is broken and only they can save it. We are not broken, they have a self serving agenda. 4mo
82 likes20 comments
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LMJenkins
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I am a book whore. I work at B&N and bring home something ALMOST EVERY SHIFT. It‘s a problem (but is it?). Here‘s today‘s haul, one of them is an ARC.

Pictures of my new bookshelf coming in a moment!

keys_on_fire I would be in so much trouble if I worked in a book store! 😆 4mo
Jess861 All the power to you - I could never work in a book store - I would have declared bankruptcy multiple times! 4mo
mom2bugnbee I didn't know about that Alu Hazelwood! 😍 4mo
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megnews
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Slow start. Tagged was my favorite. Short but a must read.

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Bookish_Gal
Pickpick

This is a simple book for anybody to understand. It takes 20 points, that felt significant, from the time of Nazi Germany and related them to today. The points are clear and concise, with just enough detail and historical context to understand. It‘s small, and pocket sized, for your connivence. For being originally written in 2016 (with updated points of 2020), there are incredible points that are comparable between Germany then and America today.

kspenmoll I read it in 2016. Interested in updates. 5mo
Bookish_Gal @kspenmoll Im not sure how different it would be, but I can say it didn‘t feel like an added on book. Only a few mentions of, basically, a president said this or did that in the years leading up to and into 2020. 5mo
14 likes2 comments
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MissHel
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Welp fam, this is gonna be a long haul (not the book; it‘s almost a pamphlet.) What do you do when you‘re scared? Read a book. Drink your water. Get some sleep.

Ruthiella Yup. I need to read this too. Courage! (edited) 5mo
MissHel @Ruthiella thank you! ❤️ 5mo
Leftcoastzen Essential read . 5mo
16 likes3 comments
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Pogue
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My book haul for today.

Pogue @Leftcoastzen I borrowed the graphic novel from the library and knew I needed a copy. 5mo
DogMomIrene Dungeon Crawler Carl is such a fantastic escape! I loved the audio performance. 5mo
46 likes3 comments
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swynn
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My November pick for #12Booksof2024 succinctly and elegantly describes the situation we're in, and offers real strategies for facing it with integrity. For me it has provoked much thought, many conversations, and practical preparations. I don't want this to be the best book I read in 2024, but right now it feels like it may be

@Andrew65

Andrew65 Such tough times we are in, and ahead, unfortunately. 5mo
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DeeLew
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DGRachel Apparently they didn‘t safe guard those checks and balances enough. 😭😭 7mo
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swynn
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Pickpick

(2017) Here's a compact handbook to living with integrity in a collapsing/collapsed democracy. I have a dreadful feeling Snyder's advice will have multiple practical applications very soon. Thank goodness it exists.

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AprilMae
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Small acts of resistance: community, love, joy. Read the books they want to ban, speak to the people they want to silence, view what they want to stay hidden. Always question. Know your worth. Support those in need where you can.

I still struggle with words for what is happening. To those struggling with me: I see you.

kspenmoll I see you. Thanks for your post-love the sticker.💕 7mo
BookmarkTavern Well said! And a perfect sticker! 7mo
25 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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✊👏

Bookwomble Done, and done! 😁👍 7mo
Leftcoastzen @Bookwomble the book that keeps on giving. 7mo
59 likes2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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#Mood There is a reason I keep these on shelf next to each other at eye level! Time for a re-read.
💔✊✊🫂

Suet624 Sigh. 7mo
59 likes2 comments
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DeeLew
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I guess I will read this soon. Right now I just want to escape in some frivolous fiction until I am ready to fight on.

Leftcoastzen Everyone should read this ! Thanks for the reminder to get it out and read it again! 7mo
DeeLew @Leftcoastzen it is all so discouraging right now. I‘m definitely ready to fight evil by reading books! 7mo
kspenmoll I read after Trump‘s first Presidency- a good time to reread! 7mo
Kristy_K @kspenmoll Same! Time for a reread for sure. 7mo
JenniferEgnor That was such a power punch of a book. I‘m going to read it again. 7mo
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PurpleyPumpkin
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WildAlaskaBibliophile I've never heard of Bookly. That looks fun! 10mo
PurpleyPumpkin @WildAlaskaBibliophile I like it! You can try it for free for a small number of books. StoryGraph looks like it might have a bit more functionality but I‘m invested in Bookly at this point. 🙃 10mo
34 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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Good time for a reread !

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JenniferEgnor
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My heart feels a lot right now. I imagine his is broken. I know B. did the right thing, but I am so afraid. I don't think my heart can hold everything that will come if this wicked man gets back in the office again. I will do everything I can to get peoplx to vote. I will vote. I will continue to try and help others like I always have. I will try to hold on to some hope…we are at a critical point right now. This is not the time to sit it⬇️

JenniferEgnor out. We can choose to work to create a more loving, just, and democratic future, or we can choose a fascist, totalitarian nightmare. Choose wisely. This is not a game, this is not hyperbolic. Pay attention. This is it, folx. If we go over this cliff, there is no coming back from it. Choose wisely. Remember this—in the end, fascism comes for everyone…even the fascists. Choose wisely. 11mo
Leftcoastzen Love this post , ready to reread this book 11mo
dabbe Agree 💯! Dare I say #harrisandbuttigieg!!! We're getting involved in the swing state of Arizona, too! 💙💙💙 11mo
See All 10 Comments
Cuilin @dabbe I would love Buttigieg too though I think they‘ll pick a governor from a swing state though I heard Mark Kelly is also on the list!!! 💙💙💙 11mo
Cuilin I spent a lot of time on TikTok yesterday, checking out the vibes. I feel really hopeful most that younger generation seem to be ready to vote for Harris. 11mo
dabbe @Cuilin We love M. Kelly and all he's done for our state. We lost our governor (Napolitano) to Obama's administration, and our state has just now just recovered. I would hate to lose a Senate seat because who knows what our purple state would do if he left. 11mo
Cuilin @dabbe I believe your governor is a Democrat and gets to pick a replacement for Kelly if needed? 🤞 11mo
dabbe @Cuilin Yes, but then comes an election, and that's when things can get crazy in this state. 🤪 11mo
Cuilin @dabbe got it. NH is a weird little purple surrounded by blue. 11mo
dabbe @Cuilin I have high hopes for both of our states! #gobigblue 11mo
17 likes10 comments
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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JenniferEgnor
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While in DC last month, I had to visit the Holocaust Museum. This was one of the first exhibits I saw there. I couldn‘t help but think of what‘s happening right now with our books, libraries and teachers.

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KateKintail
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“History does not repeat, but it does instruct.”

SqueakyChu Fabulous book! I saved my copy, and I don‘t purposely save too many books I‘ve already read. 2y
KateKintail @SqueakyChu I really want to read the graphic novel version of it now! 2y
SqueakyChu @KateKintail I didn‘t know there was a graphic version of it! I‘ll have to try to find it as well. Jose often sees Timothy Snyder commenting on CNN during the evening news (which I avoid on purpose). 2y
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TheGothiqueLibrarian
Mehso-so

Informative, short, and to the point. Perfect introduction read for understanding society and politics.

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SleepyDragon
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Pickpick

"The leader who dislikes the investigators is a potential tyrant."

"If tyrants feel no consequences for their actions in the three-dimensional world, nothing will change."

5 years later, and this book is still 100% relevant.

Every voting person should read this book. And vote. Definitely vote.

#Alphabetgame #LetterO

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 3y
16 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Snyder has sort of distilled the essence of his greater works into a how-to (or how-not-to, as it were). Some very good points here. I‘ll definitely be revisiting this, and I would recommend it.

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ravenlee
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When you‘re an atheist musician whose major employer is a church, and you‘re a feminist reeling from the loss of liberty courtesy of the Supreme Court but have a 4th of July gig at said church…you practice quietly subversive reading before the performance starts.

Amiable Amen. 🙌🏼 3y
Ruthiella 👍 3y
Leftcoastzen I hear you! hang in there. 3y
Catsandbooks 💪🏼💪🏼❤️ 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I love this! 🤗 3y
42 likes5 comments
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ravenlee
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#BookMail part 1 - the stuff for me. To be followed in a week or so (Book Outlet shipping takes for.ev.er) by several more Solnits.

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Maria514626
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#firstlinefridays
I want to finish this one. It‘s very good and the illustrations are excellent. However, I need to be in the right mood. And it can‘t be a cloudy day. Etc., etc.

It‘s a book everyone should read IMO. But if you‘re highly sensitive (👋) you need to time it right or you‘ll end up face down on the floor or in the fetal position.

jlhammar So good! I read Snyder's original version and then later read this graphic edition (collaboration with illustrator Nora Krug). The graphic edition is definitely the way to go. Have you read Krug's graphic memoir yet? It's one of my favorites. 3y
Maria514626 @jlhammar I haven‘t. Thank you for the recommendation! 3y
17 likes2 comments
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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐1/2

Snyder has a solid compact collection of 20 lessons on tyranny. They are good reminders about a serious topic that most of us do not enjoy contemplating but is important to ponder.
My main criticism of Snyder is how focused most of his content is on the '16 election. I feel that diluted his lessons and I wish he had written with a more timeliness focus.
#Nonfiction #history #politics

skewermann @Vivlio_Gnosi it can be refreshing to counterbalance a heavy tome like this with something more entertaining, such as my explosive exposé of the Chump administration, "Dire and Puny"... not to be confused with "Fire and Fury". ? I hope you have a chance to peruse it ? ? #satire ? #Orwell https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081S5JLTX 4y
9 likes1 comment
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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Started reading this #Nonfiction book published in 2017 to remind myself of the importance of #history and refreshing myself in the lessons of historical context.

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keithmalek
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa This is a great little book! One we all should re-read regularly! 4y
keithmalek @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I know. I read it a few years ago. I just came across this quotation from On Tyranny in a different book that I'm reading, and posted it under On Tyranny. 4y
Leftcoastzen I got it from the library, after reading it knew I had to find a copy for the permanent collection. 4y
Suet624 Gave this book to my kids when it first came out. Important read. 4y
11 likes4 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Wow 😳 I am so scared!! this little book packs a punch. I wish everyone would read this and realize the warning signs we have been experiencing could lead to an absolute disaster. I love the simplicity of this and sometimes appreciate a succinct approach to a big heavy topic like this.

Leftcoastzen An amazing book ! I borrowed it from the library soon realized I needed a copy for the permanent collection. 4y
103 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Patchshank
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Pickpick

I highly recommend this book. It's a quick read. Takes maybe an hour or two. Snyder looks at how dictatorships in Europe were able to come to power and compares it to a certain someone's style of leadership and the attitudes of the supporters. He also offers ways for everyone to spot and then counter the attempts of a potential tyrant.

Scochrane26 A friend told me recently that I should read this. 4y
Leftcoastzen I checked it out from the library, liked it so much I had to find a copy to own. 4y
Patchshank @Leftcoastzen Mine is a library book as well. I've been debating whether or not I want to buy a copy for myself . 4y
35 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Patchshank
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FashionableObserver
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“The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.”

BookishMarginalia Such an important book. I think it‘s time for a reread! 4y
rmaclean4 I think.of this book often!! 4y
FashionableObserver @BookishMarginalia @rmaclean4, it should be required reading! Snyder is brilliant! FYI: he was on NPR‘s Throughline yesterday. I plan to listen to the episode today: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throughline/id1451109634?i=1000506008916 4y
BookishMarginalia Thanks for the link. I‘ll listen when I get home. 4y
rmaclean4 Thanks for the link. 100% agree that this should be required reading!! 4y
48 likes5 comments