Customer Reviews

The Path to Tyranny: A History of Free Society's Descent into Tyranny

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If you're looking for a shrill, hysterical book meant to whip up frenzied emotions, you'll need to keep looking. This is a book that condenses volumes of information (check the bibliography!) into very few pages, really, and yet it's a book that reads easily enough that it's difficult to put down. It is not an attempt to rewrite history to force the reader to "inescapable conclusions", though the simple facts paint a stark picture. Overall, a splendid book, well-written.

I've said it before in other historical or nonfiction books I've reviewed here: I was not a fan of history class back in school, and I blame the bland teachers who doubled as coaches and only taught history because they had to teach something besides kick ball. History was boring to me thanks to those boring teachers. But I have authors like Michael E. Newton to thank for bringing me back to the fold. If you are not a fan of historical nonfiction, I absolutely beg you to pick up his book and at least give it a try. I have only two words to describe it: Brilliant and Intelligent!

First, I had an idea what tyranny was and I admit I almost looked it up before I started to read Mr. Newton's book. I assumed his book was written for a specific group of people who should probably already be well versed in the subject. I was wrong. Tyranny is defined right on page 4, and Newton doesn't use "over your head" terms that you'll find yourself going glassy eyed over. In fact, the text is laced with infamous quotes from George Santayana ("Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.") to James Madison ("If men were angels, no government would be necessary.") which help you become quite comfortable with the material. Newton draws you and obviously knows how to relate to his reader. A sign of a good teacher, perhaps? As for that definition of tyranny:

"The word comes from the ancient Greek tyrannos, meaning "absolute ruler." With time, the definition of tyrannos changed from "absolute ruler" to "illegitimate, cruel, and oppressive ruler." Today, the dictionary definition of tyrant is "an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution" and tyranny is "oppressive power" especially as "exerted by government."

Still too much to wrap your head around? Don't worry. From there, Newton spends a chapter each on Ancient Greece, Ancient Israel, Ancient Rome, Communist Russia, Fascist Italy, and even Nazi Germany explaining how each free society descended into tyranny. Newton ultimately ends with the United States and the jagged path they may just be leading us in the same direction. Readers will be shocked but informed at the evidence of our destiny, which is actually already happening right in the headlines. We've just been too blind to see it. But we aren't necessarily the ones to blame.

Newton stretches all the way back to our forefathers and the signing of the constitution. The taste of wealth and freedom has shielded our eyes from the same demise that all of the other societies mentioned in the book eventually met, so this descent has been slow going, but has happened throughout our history. Newton even sites examples of when tyranny isn't such a bad thing, but ultimately a single leader even gets greedy.

Newton's book is impressive on all accounts. It's solid - inside and out. The book's cover is beautiful and eye catching. Although it only contains 8 lengthy chapters, each is informative and not a page is wasted. Newton had my full attention throughout. And while Newton does lightly input his own opinions throughout the text, his facts are in plain sight. The citations and bibliography sections in the back of the book take up an impressive 40 pages! Newton did his homework. This is another book I'm going to call the attention of other indie authors to - buy Newton's book for a reference on how self-publishing should be done!

His solution to our problem is limited to just two pages in the last chapter on the U.S. And it's quite simple. I won't reveal it here because I don't want to ruin the book for readers, but this is not a how-to-get-out-of-tyranny book anyway. Newton just peels back the layers of history - the pop quiz questions on who fought who - and shows us what the world's history sadly had in common, and that in the end, as a country we are no different. With politics and "change" all over the news lately, Newton's book is for the voter. Yes, it's a wake up call. It's informative. And it encourages us to use the two freedoms we've fought the most for: the right to vote and the right to speak.

History buffs, political junkies, conspiracy theorists, or just those who enjoy a good nonfiction read or like to be informed - there's a little bit of everything for everyone here. Ten years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about this book. But in today's society, today's economy, today's America, this is a book that I will be suggesting for a long time to come. If you loved history back in the day, or even if you hated it, Newton's book will astound you and open the eyes of the student inside all over again.

Michael Newton is a new, young and talented author who has brought to us a book that should be part of every history curriculum here in the U.S. Unlike the 'edited' version of history we're taught in schools, Michael gets to the real meat of the problem - government that takes too much control and the ultimate descent into abuse. If we can only learn from history to help to avoid repeating the errors of the past! 'The Path To Tyranny' can very well be our guide.

Michael Newton's Path to Tyranny offers a well-researched contemporary examination of the tension between the political goals liberty and equality - both seemingly desirable. Yet Newton offers numerous examples showing how a preoccupation with achieving economic equality can lead to an overly-dependent citizenry more than willing to follow leaders who promise egalitarian utopia, but who ultimately deliver tyranny. This book helps answer the question of why rational, decent - and often free - people have sometimes chosen the most despicable leaders. A timely warning to "be careful what you wish for."

Michael E. Newton's THE PATH TO TYRANNY is a compressed and incredibly well-written and researched book. Let me warn you: it is more frightening than a Stephen King novel. Mr. Newton analyzes ancient and recent societies, explaining how they came about, how they prospered, and how they descended into totalitarianism and disappeared. Newton's account of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire alone is worth the price of admission. The amount of facts and history he crams into the chapter is impressive. Same goes for Russia's wild ride from absolute monarchs through revolution then communism, and Germany's path from defeat in WWI through hyperinflation and the hapless Weimar Republic to Adolf Hitler.
By far the scariest, though, is Chapter 8: The United States of America. The parallels Newton draws from previous civilizations descending into oppressive autocracies to the path of the present day U.S. is frightening. Before they cratered, all the societies followed the same pattern: villification of the successful and redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation; expansion of government and bureaucracy; the rise of an exalted political class; promotion of pure democracy over the principles of a republic; the emergence of one person, a dictator or tyrant who crushes freedom and liberty with the promise to return the crumbling society to its former glory. Mr. Newton's succinct final chapter about the U.S. includes a sub-chapter about the complexity of federal laws, which now include over 4,000 crimes defined and buried deep in the federal register, unknown to anyone until nabbed by a federal toady who cries "gotcha." The sub-chapter is entitled "We Are All Criminals Now." Bravo Michael E. Newton. Please tell us more.

This book presents an overview of what happened to ancient and modern day civilizations when the principle of freedom took second place to the pursuit of wealth and equality.

The chapters are well written, and they each present a great history lesson. It is easy to read, well documented and hard to put down.

It is a very timely reminder to us to study civilizations which have come before us and have fallen in order to learn from their mistakes. Mike Newton has done a wonderful job. I highly recommend this book.

This book was disturbingly amazing in its review of historical events. It is well cited and developed and even though the author writes from his own political perspective not even the most hardened leftist could argue the historical data presented in this book. That by itself is the most disturbing aspect of it. I can only hope that more and more Americans read this book and discover the path we are truly teetering on.

I loved this book. I read it all in one day, the factual presentation of historical information was both interesting and educational for anyone who wants the real history that is not being taught in schools. It is a Progressive agenda alert for all who are aware of what is happening to our country. It is a must read of anyone in the Tea Party movement. This is a great book for any Patriot.

A great read. Well written for the authors first book. Clearly shows the path to tyranny throughout the societies of history. A must read for anybody that thinks the USA is not on the right path. And for those that think we are, read it and then tell me how we are not following some of the downfalls of past governments. Good job, Michael, concise and informative.

I'm not an historian. I'm a thinker and love getting to know the issues that cause a thing or outcome to be the way it is. For this reason I like this book. It gives me an overview and enough history to get a sense of the subject and start the structuring process in my own mind of political systems and their workability relative to human nature. I like that it gives me perspective in the current roiling political climate.

This is not to say that I find it rigorous in its logic, but it gives me something to work with.