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The concise structure Timothy Snyder uses for On Tyranny makes the book more accessible to non-academic readers, including those that do not normally read nonfiction or history. The book is broken into lessons written as brief statements that are usually supported by historical examples from two well-known tyrannical regimes: Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. In the Prologue, Snyder states that the book will help the reader learn from history. The lessons will serve as a warning for Americans so that they can better recognize threats to American democracy and any potential fascist behavior in American politicians. Each lesson describes an issue that people should be conscious of, what such an issue might indicate, and how common citizens can take steps in their own lives to address such issues.

This last part, taking steps, is essential to the book’s relevance. In the United States, most citizens receive information about the actions of the government through news media, which can be quite biased. This creates a disconnect, which Snyder describes as a collective trance. Such disconnects contribute to citizens’ passivity, because people believe that the mechanisms of the government are too complicated and powerful for any individual to influence. Snyder’s offering of relevant activities that one can take to maintain democracy and a civil society are empowering to the common citizen. 

The examples Snyder uses, while within his specialty as a historian, are also very effective. Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany are both recent enough and relevant enough to most 21st-century Americans that they invoke some sense of fear and urgency. While other fascist and communist regimes are mentioned in the book, most Americans have limited awareness of them. Conceptually, the Soviets and Nazis are reliable as threats to American democracy and freedom, so such examples are more likely to grab the attention of the average reader. Snyder also incorporates examples from the 2016 and 2020 elections. Interestingly, Donald Trump is never mentioned by name, but many of his quotes and actions are offered as examples.

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