On Tyranny (Expanded Audio Edition): Updated with Twenty New Lessons from Russia's War on Ukraine

The book is great. Well written and the added content to the second version is fantastic. The second version gives you a history lesson regarding the Ukraine and why Russia is at war with them.

Clear, vivid. Broad and in-depth history and contexts. Frames and illuminates news reports.

I had thought about buying this book since it originally came out a few years ago but always held off for some reason. It was, as author Snyder describes himself, as a pamphlet of sorts. But this edition, which begins with the “pamphlet”, includes a detailed analysis (in the form of 20 additional lessons) of the history and present situation involving Russia, Ukraine and the broader world. It’s quite amazing how someone (in this case Snyder) can take such an enormous amount of information and distill it in a way which is clear and (relatively) concise, arriving at a set of conclusions / perspectives which very simply, make a lot of sense. All the talking heads on TV (of which Snyder is at times one himself) have gone to great lengths to explain the past and present with regard to these matters, only to fall short in doing so. Of course, it's not really fair to compare a 9 hour book to a few minutes of air time here and there, but let’s keep this simple. If you want to understand all of this, read the book.

I'm referring to the expanded audio section. Snyder's perspective on the history of Eastern Europe and what is unfolding in Ukraine is thoughtful and compelling. Well worth the time to listen and absorb.