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In On Freedom, author Timothy Snyder sets out to redefine freedom with a focus on the individual, society, and public institutions, as opposed to tyrants and oligarchs. As in some of Snyder’s other books (most notably, On Tyranny), here he uses examples from 20th-century European history to illustrate points about government and society. In this book, Snyder states that he wanted to write something that is positive, a book that shows how humans can progress, as opposed to his previous works that primarily deal with oppression and death. All of the chapters (including the Introduction and Conclusion) are written in a series of short vignettes.

In his Preface, Snyder describes a visit to war-torn Ukraine in 2022 and explains that he will try to define freedom in terms of five more specific concepts: sovereignty, unpredictability, mobility, factuality, and solidarity. Each concept will have a dedicated chapter. The conclusion will focus on how the five concepts translate into an effective government. 

The Introduction to On Freedom starts out in 1976, when Snyder is just a small child. He rings a bell on his family’s farm for the Bicentennial of the United States and thinks about the Liberty Bell. Snyder describes how the 1970s and 1980s shaped his childhood, especially the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Introduction ends with Snyder discussing Ukraine’s President Zelens’kyi and his choice to stand and fight the Russian military invasion in 2022, despite many experts assuming that he would flee and abandon his country.

“Sovereignty,” the first chapter of the book, focuses on the simplest form of freedom. Sovereignty is based on an acknowledgment and respect for oneself and others. Snyder introduces the concept of Leib, a German word that means “body.” Snyder uses the word to describe the aspects that make a person more than just a body. He uses the philosophies of Edith Stein and Simone Weil to explore empathy and respect for other people. Snyder recounts a time when he was hospitalized with a burst appendix and how he witnessed a Black doctor, one of his friends, having her medical opinion dismissed based on her race. Throughout the book, Snyder discusses how racism and the lack of affordable healthcare have both affected America. Snyder states that sovereignty relies on what people inherit, which can include racist ideals or financial insecurity due to health coverage. The chapter closes with Snyder describing his time as an educator in a prison. While teaching college classes to young men in the prison, Snyder is given a closer view of racist structures in America as well as the prison system overall.

“Unpredictability,” the second chapter, focuses on how free people should have the opportunity to make choices that do not conform to society’s expectations. In this chapter, he references the philosophy of Václav Havel. He also describes the “fifth dimension” (in addition to the four dimensions of space and time). The fifth dimension, to Snyder, is where values and principles exist, which guide people and make them less predictable. Snyder discusses oppression and propaganda, in Eastern Europe as well as the United States. He describes how social media influences and controls populations, both directly and indirectly, as well as collects data about them. (Snyder’s dislike of social media is a common theme throughout the book.)

“Mobility,” the third chapter, describes the third type of freedom. Mobility takes many different forms (social, physical, financial, etc.), but the common thread is people’s ability to change aspects of their life. One should be able to move up in social class, change jobs, and move freely within one’s own country. Snyder talks about the Freedom Riders from the American Civil Rights movement as well as the philosophy of Frantz Fanon. Snyder states that the social programs created after the Great Depression created opportunities for mobility in the United States, but due to policy changes in the 1980s, that mobility has been stifled. Snyder again shifts to the effects of prisons, not just on those incarcerated, but also on the regions where the prisons are built. The chapter closes with an examination of the wealth distribution in the United States and how super-wealthy oligarchs have a disproportionate amount of power (including political influence) due to their wealth.

“Factuality,” the fourth chapter, focuses on the importance of facts and truthfulness. Snyder discusses how science and history have recently become neglected in America. Oligarchs that seek to oppress and control Americans emphasize ideas that encourage emotional response while neglecting facts and data. Snyder points out that infamous regimes of the past (Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia) did the same. Snyder specifically describes Donald Trump’s claim that he won the 2020 presidential election and the ensuing coup attempt on January 6th, 2021. The chapter closes with a discussion about the downfall of local news reporting, which was ultimately replaced by social media. People are no longer as connected to their communities, and social media is able to supply information that is not always accurate.

“Solidarity,” the fifth chapter, discusses the need for people to work together and support one another. Snyder claims that ensuring freedom for others reinforces one’s own freedom. Snyder describes how oligarchs, such as Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin, devote their wealth to securing their individual futures instead of everyone’s future. The second half of the chapter discusses how the concept of freedom is too often applied to the economy and businesses instead of people, which has made people less free and corporations more powerful. 

The Conclusion to the book, “Government,” discusses how the concepts of the book could be reflected by an effective government. The chapter opens by revisiting the concept of the fifth dimension and how virtues should be appreciated and represented within institutions. Snyder then argues for more democratic elections, including the removal of private funding from campaigns, better safeguards against voter suppression, and allowing incarcerated people to vote. Snyder transitions to a discussion of future generations and how changes need to be made now to better support the next generation(s). The chapter ends with Snyder reflecting on time he spends with his own children and his hope that people will work together to fix the problems he has described throughout the book. 

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