Week 12 Prompt: Nonfiction Matrix Annotation- On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

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For your prompt this week, please complete the Readers' Advisory Matrix, found on the last page of the reading title "RA Guide to Nonfiction" in the Canvas files, about a non-fiction book you have read. If you have not read a non-fiction book recently, feel free to use some of the techniques on how to "read" a book in five minutes such as Mary Chelton's handouts or any others we have covered to get a feel for a non-fiction book. I look forward to reading these!




Author: Timothy Snyder

Title: On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century

Publication date: 2017

Number of pages: 126

Geographic setting: N/A

Time period: 20th and 21st century

Subject headings: Despotism. History, Modern—20th century. Political ethics. Democracy—United States. Political culture—United States.

Type: Book

Series notes: N/A

Book Summary: An essay divided into twenty sections on lessons from past episodes in history in which democracies have fallen to a usurpation of power by despots. The author examines the sources of tyranny in history and uses past resistance methods to inform a plan for an effective response, given that the pattern of democracies is to eventually decline and fall. The lessons from the 20th century are adapted for modern use.

Reading Elements: Rational response plan to possible social upheaval, manual for living with authoritarianism, middle of the narrative continuum.

1-3 Annotation: 
A how to manual to survive and resist in an authoritarian political regime, drawing on the lessons of the 20th century in the form of a succinct essay divided into twenty lessons.

Similar works: The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) Hannah Arendt, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (2002), by Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman, What We Do Now: Standing Up For Your Values in Trump’s America (2017), Dennis Johnson, ed.




Name of annotator: Ricke Ballard Gritten

Comments

  1. Megan KammeyerApril 1, 2018 at 7:35 AM

    Dear Ricke,
    I think that you did a fairly good job with your writing prompt. You were quite succinct and professional. However, you could have enlarged your section on the summary of the book; you only did a few sentences. You could have written many sentences in the section to completely convey your points. Also, you did not explain why you chose certain similar works; you should further describe why you chose the works. In addition, you needed to explain each appeal element in the section of reading elements.

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    1. ricketikiApril 2, 2018 at 4:23 PM

      Thanks, since this was just part of a prompt, not a regular annotation that I signed up for, I didn't do as much for it. Also, because the book is so short, it doesn't really call for a lot of description. I agree that normally I would provide more information about the read a- likes, but I was short for time.

      Delete
  2. D.M. McDowellApril 1, 2018 at 12:31 PM

    Hi Ricke! That sounds like an interesting book! Were you able to get through it, or did you find the information to be dry and presented in a boring way? I made the mistake (several times) of telling patrons that I have an undergraduate degree in history, and they would want to stand there and talk about current events until I had to find some sort of reason to get away from the desk. I think for library etiquette, librarians should remain neutral about politics, and even when patrons try to get into a debate, to say something along the lines of "I'm sorry, I have to work." Have you ever come across a situation where you had to remain neutral at work even though you had opinions about politics? Also, I think some historical nonfiction books are hit-and-miss. They could either be read like a textbook, or the reader will go through it quickly.

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    1. ricketikiApril 2, 2018 at 4:29 PM

      Getting through it does not apply to this book, it is a breeze to read. It's 126 pages long, but it's only 4.4 inches x 6.2 inches. It's a tiny little book that could fit in a small purse. It was absolutely fascinating and in my option, very useful. Yes, politics are totally tricky. I think the best approach is to try to steer the conversation to how you can help the patron with their needs, or to at least listen more than you say in order to gather information on how to help them best. It's sort of along the lines of if they ask for legal advice I suppose. I'll have to think about that one, it would be a good idea to have a response ready to go in the event! I've had some weird experiences. One that sticks out in my mind is a kid, maybe nineteen, who attended the local Bible college, who was working on a report about witchcraft. In the course of the conversation he revealed what a serious problem the Salem witches caused. That's was...interesting. I just refocuses the conversation on his assignment, what he already had for research and what he needed.

      Delete
    2. ricketikiApril 2, 2018 at 4:38 PM

      Just to reiterate, he believed witchcraft is real and the people murdered in the Salem witch trials were totally. real.witches.

      Delete
  3. UnknownApril 1, 2018 at 9:26 PM

    Hi Ricke! I've been wanting to read this since I saw the author on Bill Maher. This is such a timely book. Did you enjoy it?

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    1. ricketikiApril 2, 2018 at 4:30 PM

      I absolutely enjoyed it. I paged through it when I got it, but I'm going to re-read the entire thing is it could not be more timely.

      Delete
  4. UnknownApril 2, 2018 at 6:38 AM

    I noticed this book come out right after Trump was elected and have been thinking about reading it. Did you find it interesting and enlightening? Was it dry and boring? I would really like to have seen a little more information on what kind of reading this would be...textbook or narrative, etc. In any case, it sounds very informative.

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    Replies
    1. ricketikiApril 2, 2018 at 4:36 PM

      It was not dry or boring in the least. It's a very quick read. I put it in the middle of the narrative continuum because the tone is very conversational and the pace is really quick. The author tells stories as he goes to illustrate the points. Each chapter title is an instruction. These are the lessons: 1. Do not obey in advance. 2. Defend institutions. 3. Beware the one party state. 4. Take responsibility for the face of the world. 5. Remember professional ethics. 6. Beware of paramilitaries. 7. Be reflective if you must be armed. 7. Stand out. 9. Be kind to our language. 10. Belief in truth. 11. Investigation. 12. Make eye contact and small talk. 13. Practice corporeal politics. 14. Establish a private life. Contribute to good causes. 16. Learn from peers in other countries. 17. Listen for dangerous word. 18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. 19. Be a patriot. 20.Be as courageous as you can. Because the book is so short, I didn't really think it needed more explanation.

      Delete
  5. Erin CataldiApril 4, 2018 at 11:27 AM

    Fantastic job! Full points!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ricketikiApril 4, 2018 at 12:11 PM

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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