The idea that our American democracy is at a dangerous fork in the road is not new, but no one is more keenly aware of the dangers we confront than Yale Professor of History Timothy Snyder, author most recently of “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.” See a brief summary of his twenty lessons below.

I first heard him speak a few days ago in this short (6 min 46 sec) interview with Brian Williams:

Here is Professor Snyder’s summary of the lessons, from his Twitter feed (@TimothyDSnyder):

1/20. Do not obey in advance. #OnTyranny

2/20. Defend institutions. #OnTyranny

3/20. Beware the one-party state. #OnTyranny

4/20. Take responsibility for the face of the world. #OnTyranny

5/20. Remember professional ethics. #OnTyranny

6/20. Be wary of paramilitaries. #OnTyranny

7/20. Be reflective if you must be armed. #OnTyranny

8/20. Stand out. #OnTyranny

9/20. Be kind to our language. #OnTyranny

10/20. Believe in truth. #OnTyranny

11/20. Investigate. #OnTyranny

12/20. Make eye contact and small talk. #OnTyranny

13/20. Practice corporeal politics. #OnTyranny

14/20. Establish a private life. #OnTyranny

15/20. Contribute to good causes. #OnTyranny

16/20. Learn from peers in other countries. #OnTyranny

17/20. Listen for dangerous words. #OnTyranny

18/20. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. #OnTyranny

19/20. Be a patriot. #OnTyranny

20/20. Be as courageous as you can. #OnTyranny

Here’s a link to his book: