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amy_oak's review against another edition
5.0
Chilling examination of Putin’s use of the propaganda of a glorified past as a means to justify authoritarian in Russia, invasion of Ukraine, and weakening of Western countries and alliances, including supporting the rise of Donald Trump.
larryerick's review against another edition
4.0
I have delayed for a full week writing a review for this book, something I never do. The short explanation for why that is so, is that I think it is the most significant book I have read in a few years, or that I could have read at this point in time. I didn't want to say that and not explain why. So, I've struggled. Quite simply, the book is a rarity for me, in that it takes many bits of information I am already familiar with and reveals stunning and obvious patterns that were not otherwise obvious to see. One example of what I mean, quite basic. Watch the YouTube video of a 7-year-old child revealing a geometric pattern hidden in multiplication table: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUd6v66qe0w. Go ahead, I'll wait. This emphasizes the ability to take known facts, a multiplication table and end up seeing fascinating relationships. In this author's case, he takes well known facts about Nazi Germany, plus a poorly known Russian philosopher, and connects them to a very well known Russian leader, who, in turn, has a very collegial relationship with a highly unorthodox American leader. The connections he reveals -- no, I should say points out -- are deeply disturbing, scary even. And that's on top of what many Americans already fear about the current administration. This is the third book I have read by this author. The first was sort of a checklist pamphlet on what citizens must watch for and fear in avoiding tyranny. The second was a first-rate historical account, centering on Russia, Germany, and the bulk of Europe, and, not coincidentally, directly related to the connections he makes in this book. He is a serious writer making extremely serious points about what America, Europe, and the world as a whole is facing.
gijs's review against another edition
5.0
Snyder describes fascism and the ways of tyranny in useful terms; an impressive feat as these are extremely hard-to-pin-down concepts; illuminating the machinations of these oppressive politics by describing a politics of inevitability, of eternity, the absence of a succession strategy and a general taking away or abolishing the need for a future for its subjects, Snyder demonstrates the road to unfreedom for all; in particular for Russia and in doing so enabling all of us to recognize these developments for what they are in our own backyards of Europe and the USA.
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
5.0
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night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: There is a saying “a spoonful of tar spoils a barrel of honey“. So goes for politics too. A single idea, perverted by some narrowminded madman, rightly presented, can spread through the nation, and then – start eroding at the borders of others, until it finds a way in, to wherever it’s easiest to reach the biggest masses. Such is propaganda when wielded like a sickle. Such is dictatorship when wielded like a hammer… And we’d be arrogant to think we couldn’t be tricked.
My Opinion: A chilling book. Author does great job at not praising any one nation, not zoning in onto anyone in particular. The blame is placed where it ought be, pointing fingers at enemies, those who knew what they were doing, and the fools who didn’t. Hopefully everyone reads this one and many others on the same topic. And then, hopefully we all can become more critical, more careful, and more caring of one another.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: There is a saying “a spoonful of tar spoils a barrel of honey“. So goes for politics too. A single idea, perverted by some narrowminded madman, rightly presented, can spread through the nation, and then – start eroding at the borders of others, until it finds a way in, to wherever it’s easiest to reach the biggest masses. Such is propaganda when wielded like a sickle. Such is dictatorship when wielded like a hammer… And we’d be arrogant to think we couldn’t be tricked.
My Opinion: A chilling book. Author does great job at not praising any one nation, not zoning in onto anyone in particular. The blame is placed where it ought be, pointing fingers at enemies, those who knew what they were doing, and the fools who didn’t. Hopefully everyone reads this one and many others on the same topic. And then, hopefully we all can become more critical, more careful, and more caring of one another.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating read and a very well written one for sure. If you been following my reviews for a while you might have seen me reading multiple books about politics under a long period of time. Politics are much like space science for me. Find it utterly interesting and at the same time I still have no clue what much of it is. Have a heard time grasping both of those topics for different reason. I don't think I'll every come at a part of my life where I fully understand and comprehend those to topics but luckily I'm a very curious person who never feel bad not knowing everything. Learning is fun
gjones19's review against another edition
4.0
This book gets into the corruption and disinformation coming out of Russia in really insightful and interesting ways!
thematinee's review against another edition
5.0
America: One day in the future, you are going to look back on this moment and wonder how the hell you could ever have been fooled so badly...
lupercalia's review against another edition
3.0
не можу перестати думати, як би я сприйняла цю книжку, якби прочитала її до війни. подумала б, що тут параноїдально згущені барви? що не може бути щоб кацапи були аж _настільки_ відбиті? чи зрозуміла б іще тоді, що велика війна обов'язково буде? не знаю.