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On Freedom
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Narrated by:
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Timothy Snyder
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Written by:
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Timothy Snyder
About this listen
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A brilliant exploration of freedom—what it is, how it’s been misunderstood, and why it’s our only chance for survival—by the acclaimed Yale historian and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller On Tyranny
“A rigorous and visionary argument . . . Buy or borrow this book, read it, take it to heart.”—The Guardian
Timothy Snyder has been called “the leading interpreter of our dark times.” As a historian, he has given us startling reinterpretations of political collapse and mass killing. As a public intellectual, he has turned that knowledge toward counsel and prediction, working against authoritarianism here and abroad. His book On Tyranny has inspired millions around the world to fight for freedom. Now, in this tour de force of political philosophy, he helps us see exactly what we’re fighting for.
Freedom is the great American commitment, but as Snyder argues, we have lost sight of what it means—and this is leading us into crisis. Too many of us look at freedom as the absence of state power: We think we're free if we can do and say as we please, and protect ourselves from government overreach. But true freedom isn’t so much freedom from as freedom to—the freedom to thrive, to take risks for futures we choose by working together. Freedom is the value that makes all other values possible.
On Freedom takes us on a thrilling intellectual journey. Drawing on the work of philosophers and political dissidents, conversations with contemporary thinkers, and his own experiences coming of age in a time of American exceptionalism, Snyder identifies the practices and attitudes—the habits of mind—that will allow us to design a government in which we and future generations can flourish. We come to appreciate the importance of traditions (championed by the right) but also the role of institutions (the purview of the left). Intimate yet ambitious, this book helps forge a new consensus rooted in a politics of abundance, generosity, and grace.
©2024 Timothy Snyder (P)2024 Random House AudioYou may also enjoy...
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On Tyranny
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
We think we know what an autocratic state looks like: There is an all-powerful leader at the top. He controls the police. The police threaten the people with violence. There are evil collaborators, and maybe some brave dissidents. But in the 21st century, that bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are underpinned not by one dictator, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists, all of which operate across multiple regimes, from China to Russia to Iran.
-
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A good summary, but with one obvious blindspot
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Written by: Anne Applebaum
-
Bloodlands
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- Written by: Timothy Snyder
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 19 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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Performance
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Story
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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Performance
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Story
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Overall
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Performance
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What the critics say
“Stimulating . . . With all his deep absorption in Eastern Europe, Snyder has no illusions about the dilemma of freedom in his own country. Apart from his work as a professor, he teaches prisoners, which gives him a keener appreciation of the unique horrors of American mass incarceration.”—The New York Times
“[A] timely manifesto for our fearful age . . . Snyder knows how precious and fragile freedom is because he has studied and, in Ukraine, even seen what happens to people when brutes take it away. . . . His knowledge of tyranny is invaluable in analyzing freedom. But Snyder’s book goes well beyond history. . . . [which] makes On Freedom intellectually rich, yet personal.”—Financial Times
“[Snyder’s] deep political and philosophical examination of . . . how to create and sustain freedom provides a hopeful view for the future.”—Los Angeles Times
What listeners say about On Freedom
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Peter K
- 2024-10-18
Thought provoking and interesting
A well-structured book. I like that it followed a logical path methodically. Well worth the listen. I learned a lot about the USA. Many aspects are relevant to the rest of the world. I would highly recommend this book.
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- LThom
- 2025-01-04
Learning and reflecting
I really enjoyed this listen- it was very well done. The author reads the book and with that you understand the emphasis that he is trying to convey. I learned a lot about the political systems and the history in Eastern Europe and Russia which allows me to understand today's issues better. The reflection on Freedom helped me to consider what the lens should be to build a better future, it really isn't what we have been sold.
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