20 lessons from the 20th Century

This thin book by Timothy Snyder is a pocket book version of things citizens should do to make sure democracy survives as world over democracy seems to be be under assault and ideas like free speech, liberty and equality are being chipped away gradually. I heard about the book on Trevor Noah's show and was quite impressed to later find out that the author can speak 11 languages!! No wonder he's an authority as he has a rare feat of having read most of the European literature in its original version. I was not able to relate to a few ideas but appreciated the list, the examples accompanying them and the insights he shared.

I liked how in the beginning he laid out a few things derived from Greek history and then proceeded to share his 20 lessons.

• Aristotle warned that inequality brought instability. 
• Plato believed demagogues exploited free speech to install themselves as tyrants.
• Fascism and communism were responses to globalization.

1. Do not obey in advance.

• People are remarkably receptive to new rules in a new setting.

2. Defend Institutions

• Mistake is to assume the rulers who came to power through institutions cannot change or destroy those very institutions.

3. Beware the one-party state

• Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
• Americans certainly have the same danger which Ancient Greeks had oligarchy. The fact that donating money to political campaigns is acceptable is a big problem because it implies that the very rich can then have more say.

4. Take responsibility for the face of the world

• The small choices we make are a vote thus choosing to buy from a company that pays its workers poorly, adopts anti-labour practices is a vote in favor of such practices.
• Symbols of loyalty should include your fellow citizens rather than exclude them.

5. Remember Professional Ethics

• There is no such thing as "just following orders".

6. Be wary of paramilitaries

• In a democracy, it is kind of implicit that only the state can use violence/force legitimately. Because if others could also use it legitimately then there would be no peace.

7. Be reflective if you must be armed

8. Stand out

• People often blindly follow orders because they often do not want to stand out.

9. Be kind to our language

• Watching TV is like looking at someone who is also looking at a picture.
• Read books.

10. Investigate

• Support Print Journalism as the internet is full of quantity but lacks quality.
• It is odd that we pay for a plumber or a mechanic but demand our news for free.
• Journalism is hard.

11. Make eye-contact & small-talk

• Helps to know people you can trust.

12. Practice corporal politics.

• Make friends across stratas of society;
• Support their cause so if and when the need arises - they will consider supporting you.

13. Establish a private life.

• Use less internet
• Words written in one situation make sense only in that context.

14. Contribute to good causes

15. Learn from peers in other countries

16. Listen for dangerous words

17. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives

• Tyrants will use it to change the status quo
• Suspend rights and habeas-corpus.

18. Be a patriot.

• Nationalist -> encourages us to be our worst and then tells us we are the best.
• Patriot -> Wants us to be the best of ourselves.

19. Be as courageous as you can.

20. Believe in truth