On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century
Score Modern
What it's about
Historian Timothy Snyder, an expert on 20th-century Europe, draws twenty lessons from how democracies collapsed into fascism and communism. Each is short and practical: defend institutions, beware the one-party state, believe in truth, be calm when the unthinkable arrives. The Founding Fathers, he argues, tried to guard against tyranny, and we are no wiser than the Europeans who watched democracy give way.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a short, clear guide that readers across the political spectrum have found useful and sobering.
You'll love it if you liked
The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1984 or The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
Good to know
It's about 130 pages and can be read in an evening. Each lesson stands alone, so it's easy to dip into.
Quick answers
Is On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century worth reading?
Yes. It spent 82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #159 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 84.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century about?
Historian Timothy Snyder, an expert on 20th-century Europe, draws twenty lessons from how democracies collapsed into fascism and communism. Each is short and practical: defend institutions, beware the one-party state, believe in truth, be calm when the unthinkable arrives. The Founding Fathers, he argues, tried to guard against tyranny, and we are no wiser than the Europeans who watched democracy give way.
How long does it take to read On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century?
About 3 hours (130 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century?
If you liked it, try The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, 1984 by George Orwell or The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer.
By the numbers
- Readers87 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz70 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2017.
Where it ranks
- #25 of the 198 history books we rank
- #87 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #159 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- 82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2017
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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