I got this weird little comic book a little while ago. It’s by historian Timothy Snyder. On Tyranny Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century was been adapted from Snyder’s full length, “regular” book of the same name (which itself was excellent). Why he or his publisher decided to turn it into a comic book is completely beyond me, and yet has become a surprising favorite.
The the premise of the book — world history of autocratic uprisings — doesn’t exactly lend itself to color saturated characters. And yet it works. It’s oddly appropriate to couple succinct, condensed axioms of politics with creative hand-drawn images. Here’s an example:
Each page is like this — haunting yet beautiful. It almost reminds me of Outsider art. 1I’m reminded of Robert Crumb and others. I wrote about them here.
Lately, this little book has morphed into something of a bible to me. It’s a scripture of democracy, a primer of dictators and how to avoid them. 20 not-so-easy steps to ward off the next violent coup.
I wish I were kidding about this. But I’m not.
The very fact that this little book reads like so many religious devotionals from my youth (but with an entirely different goal and conceit) speaks volumes of where my head is at lately. I find myself re-reading passages, meditating on its layered meaning, mulling over the impulses of the past and their impact on the future. Case in point:
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.
Lesson #1, “Do not obey in advance”
Tell me that doesn’t read like a page from My Utmost for His Highest. The lines are short but dense. Instead of supernatural forces, this book instructs how to war against the threat of human despotism.
I can’t recommend the book highly enough as we enter into this tumultuous election season.
Following is my full Goodreads review:
On Tyranny Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy SnyderMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Snyder’s long form book was amazing. When I heard that there was this graphic version, I was so intrigued! What about authoritarian states and fascism lends itself to a comic book treatment?!
And yet it works. It’s distilled down to the essence and rendered beautifully. So much so, that it’s impossible to quote from this book — every page has a quotable deep statement on politics and society. I reread many pages to fully absorb the content.
Snyder is a treasure.
View all my reviews
Footnotes
- 1I’m reminded of Robert Crumb and others. I wrote about them here.
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