First published in 2017

128 pages

Nonfiction, History, Politics

This is a graphic novel edition of Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny". It is a historical account of previous tyrannous authoritarian governments and their methods of maintaining power. In this book, Snyder, with the help of engaging graphics by Nora Krug, lays out twenty lessons of resistance. This is an accessible guide to "resisting modern-day authoritarianism". It is a good starting place if you're looking to become more politically aware and understand the historical context of modern events.

I would recommend both the original version and/or the graphic edition, they both have the exact same information, it just depends on which form you would prefer to read. I rated it five stars because it was one of my first attempts to read as a form of modern political resistance. I was feeling overwhelmed and powerless among the swelling mass of panic about the state of this country. And so, it was a much-needed buoy in a time of rising anxiety. You become what you consume, and this was a conscious choice for consumption.

It is only a starting point though. It has practical and actionable steps you can take right now, which is grounding and gives the reader a sense of control. That's all well and good, necessary even, to get your feet under you. But you cannot stop here. Reading, researching, and educating yourself about the social issues that are important to you is necessary to resist in an escalating situation.