
Our Own Worst Enemy
The Assault from Within on Modern Democracy
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Narrated by:
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Tom Nichols
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By:
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Tom Nichols
Over the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance, and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble - but who is really to blame?
In Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and antidemocratic movements in the United States and elsewhere as the result of the deprivations of globalization or the malign decisions of elites. Rather, he places the blame for the rise of illiberalism on the people themselves. Nichols traces the illiberalism of the 21st century to the growth of unchecked narcissism, rising standards of living, global peace, and a resistance to change. Ordinary citizens, laden with grievances, have joined forces with political entrepreneurs who thrive on the creation of rage rather than on the encouragement of civic virtue and democratic cooperation. While it will be difficult, Nichols argues that we need to defend democracy by resurrecting the virtues of altruism, compromise, stoicism, and cooperation - and by recognizing how good we've actually had it in the modern world.
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A Hard Look in the Mirror
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Perspective of an 80’s Republican
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Terrifying because it feels true
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Absolutely brilliant in every way!
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Very insightful
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If you’re familiar with Nichols, the main points of his argument won’t be new but he fleshes them out in valuable ways. Strong recommendation!
An important look in the mirror
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being 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'. Current politics has been a mirror held up to
our culture, and we have much to grieve. There's work to do to steer us back to our roots, but as a nation,
we are so busy amusing ourselves with social media. Thank you Tom Nichols.
Devastating
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Dropped one star for not liking Indian food
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Great book
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I am an enterprise architect and even in my career there is a push for “simple solutions”. The idea being complex solutions are wrong. But there is a point in all domains in which complexity can not be avoided. Our country, our democracy and our future is a complex domain. As such, simple, pendant assessments will neither capture the problems nor will they provide useful approaches for resolving them. The author does a wonderful job at not ignoring the complexity of both the problems and the solutions, while making the content approachable, easy to understand and relatable to the average listener/reader.
His analysis is fair and for the most point agnostic to party. He is thoughtful and forward focused while using the history as a tool to avoid similar future issues. I want all my family, friends and ideological opposites to hear or read this book. If needed I will buy them a copy. I think it should be part of the required reading of our late teenage citizens; and for many their parents too when their children are pre-teen. I will buy my local high school 3 copies.
Very well done sir, very well done.
It’s what needs to be heard….
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