This is a tremendous book that explains the historical context for multiple fundamental flaws, most related to the U.S. Constitution, in the way Americans approach elections and various legislative processes. Topics include the Electoral College, makeup of the U.S. Senate, filibuster, Supreme Court appointments and more. This is a great read for anyone who contemplates the importance of saving and strengthening American-style democracy at a time when its democratic principles are under attack. ( )

Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt is an essential read for anyone who would like to see democracy gain ground in this country. It can easily depress a reader, though hopefully the flip side of that is viewing it as a call to action.

The history of our Constitution as well as the histories of other democracies and their constitutions drive home several key points standing in the way of a healthy democracy here. I won't try to summarize the entire book, but I will mention a bit of my personal takeaway.

In finding ways to create a Constitution that would be ratified and unite the colonies, the founders built into it elements that insured that everyone would have a voice. Unfortunately, what should be a living document has stagnated, the country growing and changing while the laws that govern us are still the ones created for a small struggling nation trying to come together. Other democracies have modified and/or completely rewritten their Constitutions to adapt to a changing world. We, largely because of our mistaken understanding of American exceptionalism, refuse to do so. The original parts that were meant to protect the minority have become weaponized so that the minority, namely the moneyed minority, can rule over the majority. Not govern, rule, there is a major difference. Don't mistake every statement in this paragraph for what the authors might have written, this is part of my understanding of what the book shows coupled with my own ideas. Levitsky and Ziblatt are far more detailed and nuanced and may even disagree with some of my takeaways. The key is that this book gives you a rich history and ideas for making things better that will generate thoughts of your own, whether in agreement or not.

One indication that a book is good is when braindead people insist on leaving one-star ratings with no review. There is a reason other than their lack of functioning brain cells, they are following what they know that moneyed minority would want them to do. So read and decide for yourself and, if you feel it rates one star, by all means give it one star, but support that opinion. Otherwise your rating will be, justifiably, dismissed as partisan noise.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )