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The Road to Unfreedom

Russia, Europe, America

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The Road to Unfreedom

Written by: Timothy Snyder
Narrated by: Timothy Snyder
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About this listen

With the end of the Cold War, the victory of liberal democracy was thought to be absolute. Observers declared the end of history, confident in a peaceful, globalized future. But we now know this to be premature.

Authoritarianism first returned in Russia, as Putin developed a political system dedicated solely to the consolidation and exercise of power. In the last six years, it has creeped from east to west as nationalism inflames Europe, abetted by Russian propaganda and cyberwarfare. While countries like Poland and Hungary have made hard turns toward authoritarianism, the electoral upsets of 2016 revealed the citizens of the US and UK in revolt against their countries’ longstanding policies and values.

But this threat to the West also presents the opportunity to better understand the pillars of our own political order. In this forceful and unsparing work of contemporary history, Snyder goes beyond the headlines to expose the true nature of the threat to democracy. By showcasing the stark choices before us - between equality or oligarchy, individuality or totality, truth and falsehood - Snyder restores our understanding of the basis of our way of life, offering a way forward in a time of terrible uncertainty.

©2018 Timothy Snyder (P)2018 Random House Audio
21st Century International Relations Political Science Politics & Government United States Authoritarianism Imperialism Self-Determination Hungary War Cold War
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What the critics say

"Combining topical reporting with delvings into the history of ideas and some political-philosophical musing in the author’s own voice, this relatively short book covers a vast canvas.... A roller-coaster world calls for a news editor's skill in processing facts and a philosopher's ability to dissect ideologies. Snyder has both." (The Economist)

"The Road to Unfreedom offers a brief, potent and carefully documented history of Vladimir Putin's consolidation of power in Russia, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election." (Chicago Tribune)

“We are living in dangerous times, Timothy Snyder argues forcefully and eloquently in his new book.... To understand Putin, Snyder argues persuasively, you must understand his ideas.... The Road to Unfreedom is a good wake-up call.” (Margaret MacMillan, The New York Times Book Review)

  • A New York Times Editors' Choice
  • Shortlisted for the 2019 Lionel Gelber Prize

What listeners say about The Road to Unfreedom

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important work

its impotant to read this book, as we can learn how we are controlled and treated as the people

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Essential reading

Timothy Snyder is a rare historian who’s relevant to the current events. This book will be an eye opener for many who believe that the US and Russia have little in common.

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I’m a student of history thank you for the Master Class

Concise
Articulate
Can’t wait for the next podcast
Motivated 1st gen Ukrainian Canadian
Dad was a medical student during WW2
Brother born stateless
Dad taught me to love and respect
Have forgotten that lesson.

Generational trauma rises again with Putin’s megalomaniac inclinations
Trying very hard to not hate Russians
But their ignorance will come back to haunt them

Steve in Canada

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Crystal clear

Crystal clear view into the modern Russian invasions of Ukraine, the history of the conflict and the mindset of the imperialist Russian elites.

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Essential Reading

Snyder weaves history with investigative journalism to illuminate the mechanisms of the resurgent fascist movement

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An Excellent Overview

incredible context for the geopolitical issues of eastern Europe, how we arrived here and how it's being exported elsewhere

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Interesting.

good breakdown of the connections amongst russia, europe and america today. lots of nefarious activity indeed!

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Most important book for human & political progress

Extremely informative on past and present issues involving manipulation of the human populace. Eye opening and truly worth the listen!

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Must read

Especially wonderful to have Prof Snyder reading his own book. You keep checking the dates: how everything in 2014, 2016 came to pass. A history book that must be read to grasp the present. The first chapters are a slog reading through the insanity of Russian fascist philospophy. Yet rather than ask “how does Putin feel” as so many commentators ask today, this is the blueprint on what Putin thinks.

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