2025 Readings 91

 I just read Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (Graphic Edition). This book has been all the rage for a few months now, although this was the new graphic edition. My friend Sandy had received a copy on his birthday, so I decided to pick up the graphic edition for myself. I'm looking for books for my new Images of Fascism film class, and I'm going to pair Snyder's book with Jason Stanley's How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (which I discussed earlier in this series of posts on 2025 readings). I liked Snyder's book very much, although it's difficult to read it at this moment in time (although, of course, it's the perfect moment in time to read it). I'm amazed when I hear people, many of them in the main stream media, who make tentative statements about how we seem to be on the road to authoritarianism, when it's absolutely clear that we're already there. So many of Snyder's lessons are absolutely chilling. 

For instance: Lesson 1 Do Not Obey in Advance

"Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do."

This may be a fairly obvious bit of advice, although so few people seem to understand it, but it's so damningly true. US corporations and most of the media and seemingly all of Congress have raced against each other to give away freedom with both hands. 

Or: Lesson 2 Defend Institutions

"It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of 'our institutions' unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about - a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union - and take its side."

I gave a talk last spring on American Exceptionalism and how dangerous the concept is (beyond the fact that it's just a big lie). The collapse of our institutions is partially a result of our belief that they simply couldn't fail - we're Americans, right?

I'm not going to discuss all of them, partially because you should go buy this book, actually, buy several copies and give them as gifts. However, let me just mention one more, mainly because it really hit me: Lesson 9 Be Kind to Our Language

"Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books."

I think this one jumped out at me so dramatically because I see how my students are so completely unprepared to follow this particular directive.

Anyway, Snyder's book is heartily recommended. The illustrations from Nora Krug are also alternately delightful and heartbreaking.