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The Road to Unfreedom

By: Timothy Snyder
Narrated by: Timothy Snyder
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Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Road to Unfreedom, written and read by Timothy Snyder.

The past is another country, the old saying goes. The same might be said of the future. But which country? For Europeans and Americans today, the answer is Russia.


Today's Russia is an oligarchy propped up by illusions and repression. But it also represents the fulfilment of tendencies already present in the West. And if Moscow's drive to dissolve Western states and values succeeds, this could become our reality too.

In this visionary work of contemporary history, Timothy Snyder shows how Russia works within the West to destroy the West; by supporting the far right in Europe, invading Ukraine in 2014, and waging a cyberwar during the 2016 presidential campaign and the EU referendum. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the creation of Donald Trump, an American failure deployed as a Russian weapon.

But this threat presents an opportunity to better understand the pillars of our freedoms, confront our own complacency and seek renewal. History never ends, and this new challenge forces us to face the choices that will determine the future: equality or oligarchy, individualism or totalitarianism, truth or lies.

The Road to Unfreedom helps us to see our world as if for the first time. It is necessary reading for any citizen of a democracy.

‘A brilliant and disturbing analysis, which should be read by anyone wishing to understand the political crisis currently engulfing the world.’ YUVAL NOAH HARARI, author of SAPIENS and HOMO DEUS

©2018 Timothy Snyder (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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Critic reviews

This story of how Russia dismantled democracy, and the man who set its template for fake news, is chilling and persuasive ... unignorable... a disturbing and persuasive insight... Snyder's forensic examination of, for example the news cycle that followed the shooting down of flight MH17 makes essential reading ... Meticulously researched and footnoted. (Tim Adams)
One of the best…brisk, conceptually convincing account of democracy’s retreat in the early years of 21st century (Luke Harding)
Snyder’s central thesis is a strong one… Vividly and insightfully told. (Edward Lucas)

What listeners say about The Road to Unfreedom

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Everyone should want to read this book

I'm going straight back to read this again. it covers Ukraine, Scotland, Brexit and Trump.

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Essential

An excellent analysis of Putin's Russia and how it has helped destabalise Europe and America and push us towards authoritarianism

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Revealing

Gave me more information than I knew about the subject which is always a goal of mine. Presented nuanced and thought provoking views of the political structure and interaction with the public. Thoroughly good listen.

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Prescient, and worrying

An eye-opening historic account of Russia's lurch to autocracy, and a much needed warning to the west that it faces an enemy that has already chosen to be at war with us, even if that is not what we wished. Props to Tim for narrating himself. I find in general audiobooks are better when the author narrates. The content is very well reasoned generally, but sometimes Tim tries too hard to express things in a fancy way. But that's a very small stylistic gripe. A must-listen for anyone who cares about the future direction of liberal democracy.

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shockingly revealing

A must read for everyone who wants to understand the geopolitical situation in Europe and the United States under the influence of russian politics.
Timothy is not the most gifted narrator, but with this unsettling content who cares!

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Everyone should read this book.

illuminating, frightening, and and excellent description of how we have got to where we are in the world today.

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Great thesis

Comprehensively argued thesis of two forms of politics and how they apply to Russia, Europe and America. Russian exportation of their politics to the US and how same worked to undermine American politics. Excellent. Much new for me on the Trump / Russia story.

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Fascinating and informative

We are probably all aware that nations are influencing other nations. In the past through lobbying and espionage. Now through much more subtle and effective methods like social media and other automated processes. Snyder is giving a factual insight in Russian influence. And not just from a recent perspective, but he goes back in history and reviews how this has developed. Very interesting and insightful.

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A must-read book

This book is a must-read for everyone. Well written and plausible and a bit frightening!

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An absolute must read

The book makes a very clear case for where we are heading to right now with the world. A must read!

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