Greenwich Free Library
January Newsletter
This year, I resolve . . .
Douglas Adams is one of the authors, like Terry Pratchett, whose work I return to when I'm in need of a fun read that also gives me something to think about. Like all the masters of science fiction and fantasy, they show us our world from a different perspective; one that allows us to see it more clearly and, in the case of these Brits, to laugh at our own foibles. Oddly enough, Mr Snyder's small but powerful book about the most terrifying and regrettable events of the last century turned out to be an excellent companion to Adams' tale of a regular guy who gets whisked off on a loony interstellar adventure.
I must start by saying that "On Tyranny" will alienate some readers. The author uses the current US administration as an example of many of the negatives he discusses. It may not be possible for supporters of the President to get past this but I urge you to try. Why? Because the twenty lessons are clear and present simple answers to the questions, "How do things get out of control?" and "What can one person do to make a difference?" From maintaining professional ethics to taking the time to investigate inflammatory Facebook posts before passing them on, Snyder backs up the "what" with examples from European history that explain why these acts are important for regular people to undertake in our daily lives. You may not agree with all of Snyder's choices of current examples but it is hard to argue with his conclusions from history. Lies, manipulation and threats are not the exclusive tools of any one party or ideology, nor are they new tactics. "On Tyranny" reminds us to look critically at all those who seek power and make the daily choices that will keep them in check.
At this point, you're probably wondering where poor Arthur Dent, Adams' put-upon protagonist, comes in. After his house is bulldozed to make way for a bypass and his planet is vaporized for the same reason, his wanderings around the universe provide many opportunities to see emperors without their clothes. The President of the Galaxy is the flamboyant Zaphod Beeblebrox, whose role involves no power whatsoever and merely requires him to attract attention so no one wonders who's really in charge. White mice are actually the most intelligent beings in the universe who had the earth built as a lab to study humans. At every turn, our not-so-heroic hero is faced with bewildering choices in a world he no longer understands. Through it all, he maintains his basic good sense, decency and a bit of humor. With the help of Mr. Snyder's suggestions, I hope to be able to do as well this year.
Greenwich Free Library
Email: amiller@sals.edu
Website: www.greenwichfreelibrary.com
Location: 148 Main Street, Greenwich, NY, United States
Phone: 518-692-7157
Facebook: facebook.com/GreenwichFreeLibrary
Twitter: @GwichFreeLib