Audiobook7 hours
Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from within on Modern Democracy
Written by Tom Nichols
Narrated by Tom Nichols
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5/5
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About this audiobook
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 anti-democratic 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 twenty-first 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.
In Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and anti-democratic 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 twenty-first 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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Reviews for Our Own Worst Enemy
Rating: 4.785714285714286 out of 5 stars
5/5
28 ratings3 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to have very interesting insights and research. It provides a stark word of warning about our democracy being at risk. Although it may not be a page turner, it sheds light on the divide between the haves and have nots in today's political environment. The book also discusses the negative impact of social media on our national psyche.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hard book to read. Not quite a page turner but he lays out how our democracy is at risk. In today’s political environment it’s the haves (rich white people generally speaking) against the have nots — everyone else. The book also talks about how social media is doing mire harm than good to our national psyche.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very interesting insights, interesting research... And a stark word of warning.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An amazing book that should be read by the masses.