“Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism,” he began. “Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today.”
Within days the post had gone viral, accumulating over 17,000 shares on Facebook and making headlines across dozens of websites. The “20 Lessons from the 20th Century,” as the post came to be called, focused a national spotlight on its author.
Even before his post, Snyder had been no stranger to fame. A distinguished historian of Eastern Europe, particularly of the rise of totalitarianism and the Holocaust, Snyder has long attracted adoration and criticism for his work. He has gathered numerous accolades, including an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and Havel Foundation prize, and written several award-winning and bestselling books. Still, Snyder was surprised by the popular reaction to his post, from online hits to random hugs in New York City.
Read the full article The Politic.