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Summary of On Tyranny 

4.8 . 2361 reviews

Short summary

On Tyranny is a tidbit that exposes us to past events that were a threat to democracy in the 21st century. In recent times, most nations face several threats to their political order and can learn from the experiences of Europeans who saw democracy yield to Nazism, Communism, and Fascism. Timothy Snyder is an American author and renowned historian born in 1969. He is a history professor at Yale University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Modern East European political history. His specialization is in the history of Central and Eastern Europe and the Holocaust, and regularly participates in conferences on Holocaust education. He graduated from Brown University and earned his doctorate at Oxford University. His works have appeared in 40 languages, and his words are quoted in political demonstrations worldwide. “History can familiarize, and it can warn.” ~ Timothy Snyder

Table of content

  • Summary of On Tyranny
  • About the author
  • What is On Tyranny about?
  • Who should read On Tyranny
  • Topics in On Tyranny
first key point

Learning from the past helps us to notice clear warning signs of horrors that we should fight against today

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One of the most challenging tasks the American founding fathers had to carry out was designing a democratic constitution. To ensure they didn’t make the mistakes other democratic nations made, they had to take instructions from history. These fathers were able to study how ancient democracies fell into an oligarchy, and they were afraid that the democracy they desired to build might follow the same pattern. With the warnings of political thinkers like Plato and Aristotle ringing in their heads about how inequality could make the nation unstable, America’s founding fathers realized they could become tyrants by exploiting human rights. So, the fathers had to put measures in place to avoid tyranny. Consequently, they created a democratic republic based on law and checks and balances.

Tyranny is a significant issue in political debates in the United States. Hence, as the American political order is at risk of being jeopardized, looking into history becomes highly imperative. Tyranny poses a threat to American politics; to fight it, we need to examine the histories of other democracies and republics.
An understanding of historical events will enable you to notice how people and societies behaved.
This summary will expose you to 20 lessons you can learn from past political orders and how you can use those lessons to preserve your freedom in the uncertain years to come.
In politics, deception is not an excuse. ~ Leszek Kołakowski
second key point

Always reflect on your obedience, then take sides with institutions because they help to maintain decency

The first lesson is to avoid obeying in advance. Many people practice anticipatory obedience—when people respond to situations based on feelings without thinking deeply. People tend to anticipate the needs of an authoritarian government and then give themselves voluntarily. Anticipatory obedience was very common during the days of Adolf Hitler in 1932 and 1946 when communists won the Czechoslovak elections. Due to the willingness of citizens to offer their services to the new leaders, Nazis and communists used the opportunity to change the democratic regime into a dictatorship.
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third key point

Encourage multi-party systems and be an example of love to those around you

fourth key point

Professionals can have a positive impact on the government if they stick to the norms of their professions

fifth key point

Standing out to help others is more rewarding than taking the position of a bystander

sixth key point

To gain more insight, thoroughly research a piece of information before you believe it

seventh key point

Words are very powerful; hence, we should be careful with them and use them for good causes

eighth key point

Our freedom is tied to protecting our private life, our contribution to society, and our willingness to learn from others

ninth key point

Our fears sometimes make our institutions crumble and enhance violent organizations

tenth key point

Conclusion

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

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