21 Comments

As trite as it sounds, Aretha Franklin's powerful voice singing Freedom popped into my head. It's time we "think." The past weeks have been filled with hope. Looking forward to reading On Freedom, placing it next to On Tyranny on my bookshelf, cranking the stereo as high as my old ears can stand, and dancing in my living room. It's time to turn the page.

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Me too, Pam!!!

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https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/744574/on-freedom-by-timothy-snyder/9780593728727

Click on "Events" to see live book launch talks.

One "Thinking About" reader in Oklahoma City found this link.

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Really looking forward to this book!

Hans G Wesslau, Sweden

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Hi, Laura. I didn't know there is a large print edition. It's not available on amazon, but I found a small book store in NJ that has a copy, so I'm going to cancel the amazon and get this one. I had pathological myopia from age 10 until I had lens replacement surgeries in May and June 2022. It's not that I can't read the small print now, rather it's a psychological thing that I still struggle with. For years before the surgeries I removed my glasses and held books about 4'' from my eyes until my vision got so bad I started to have trouble deciphering words. I was told this is normal because you still crave the the ''larger print'' that comes from taking your glasses off and holding the book close to your eyes. It's gotten better over the last 2+ years, but I still crave it. I knew before the surgeries that I would no longer be able to read books that way but it was either have them done or stop reading. One of the things I don't miss is holding a 1200-page hardbound book 4'' from my face because after awhile my fingers would start to cramp badly and all I could do was keep shifting my fingers around to alleviate the pain.

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Glad you found it, Rose. Good get.

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Oh my Goodness! This is so relevant and the timing is perfect. Dr. Snyder, I cannot thank you enough as a freedom loving American - holding my breath that somehow we can preserve enough of our democracy to squeeze by in November - and THEN begin rebuilding our political system and reeducating Americans about the treasure of liberty handed to us 250 years ago! Gratitude flows down like the "mighty waters"!

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Looking at the topics, one can see the close relationship to The Road to Unfreedom, which I'm now rereading, but this time very slowly. There is something to be said about reading a good book slowly. After all, the author of a good book has spent so much time thinking and reading about the subject, ruminating over it. If you're a word person like I am, there's nothing better than reading a good book slowly, especially if it's packed full of good ideas. To stop after each section and look away from it or close your eyes to think about what you've just read, absorbing it slowly and thoroughly, is the best book-reading experience, at least for me. When you're in grad school you don't have the luxury of lingering over the wonderful bits because there's too much to read; you just have to get through it as fast as you can. But once you're away from that, good books should be read slowly. Slow good book reading is like the Slow Food Club: Reading a good book slowly allows one to think about the meaning of each word, each idea, then, to linger over them. There is no greater joy for the reader than to linger over the words of a good book.

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Thanks for the B&N tip! I avoid Amazon..

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I don’t believe in coincidences. Kamala and Tim have FREEDOM as one of their campaign slogans. Your timing Tim with the release of your new book FREEDOM could not have been better.

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I placed my order on April 29th....so looking forward to reading your newest book!

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Freedom isn’t free 🗽

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It never has been.

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But always worth fighting for.

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I pre-ordered it last spring when you first announced it. Looking forward to it VERY MUCH! Thanks for doing this and for all your work educating the public in democratic vs. fascist rhetoric and policy, along with past history education of failed regimes.

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Ordered! Powell’s Books❤️!

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DEFINING FREEDOM. Today I read about a Russia-born, 33-year old ballerina who is also an American citizen. She lives in California and occasionally visits family in Russia. Right after Russia attacked Ukraine she donated about $50 to something like a Ukrainian food charity. When recently visiting family she was arrested and then sentenced to a dozen years in a Russian prison. What with America’s Presidential election near, I thought one way for more Americans to better understand freedom is through this story — through understanding the total absence of freedom. Too many citizens, through no fault of their own know little about history or current events. To social media’s being more active in spreading truths! Thank you Tim for making more of us more informed and active!

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I have really enjoyed your writings . Your book on tyranny gave me a better sense of all the ways these twisted controls run our lives and make our decisions.

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Grateful to have a continued learning experience through “Thinking About” and now your wonderful book “On Freedom” how privileged we all are to have you as our Professor through your expert writing! 🙏

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It feels so good to feel good! (James Brown!) And here, in this place of feeling good, freedom is no longer an idea. Freedom is ... oh my! breathing and moving! It is utterly three dimensional in contrast to the locked down two dimensions of screens. (Thank you Tim Snyder for clarifying the differences of the three and two dimensional worlds. One result of learning this from you is Cup of Sugar, which is a recipe card. Info about Cup of Sugar is available via screen (www.cupofsugar.space) but best held in hand like, well, a cup of sugar! The pleasure people experience with the card offers space to consider the 2 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑠 be ing offered by HARRIS/WALZ and TRUMP/VANCE. Held within the question is the freedom to decide: 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒?

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Good for B&N implicitly endorsing your book. And for bulk shipments, individual shipments of multiple copies, or customized books, please consider Porchlight Book Company in Milwaukee - independent since 1927. Shameless but relevant - from a devoted subscriber

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