Surviving and resisting America’s arc toward authoritarianism, illustrated

Timothy Snyder’s New York Times bestseller On Tyranny is the book we wish we didn’t need to read. In it he examines some of the darkest moments of twentieth-century history, from Nazism to Communism, to distill twenty lessons on resisting modern-day authoritarianism.

Timothy Snyder’s New York Times bestseller On Tyranny is the book we wish we didn’t need to read. In it he examines some of the darkest moments of twentieth-century history, from Nazism to Communism, to distill twenty lessons on resisting modern-day authoritarianism.

Written in 2017, the book is concise and direct, a tone that intensifies the urgency of its warnings. So, I was relieved to learn that Nora Krug—a German-American illustrator, author, and professor known for her deeply personal and historically reflective works—had created an illustrated edition.

Somehow, lessons like “Beware the one-party state” feel more accessible and engaging when paired with witty, warm illustrations and hand-drawn typography.

WEBPAGE: On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (graphic edition)

Surviving and resisting America’s arc toward authoritarianism, illustrated

"We have huge power, we of the affluent societies, we who are causing the most environmental damage."

Creating stories about what might happen in order to shape and change the future, not simply to predict or adapt to it

Empowering communities through reliable and impactful information

Striking parallels link witch-hunt falsehoods to today’s online misinformation.