How Tyrants Fall: And How Nations Survive
Exciting news!
We take a break from our regular programming because I have exciting news to share. I’ve written a book! It’s called HOW TYRANTS FALL: And How Nations Survive.
Dictators might seem powerful, but they are in constant danger. Whether it’s their inner circle turning against them or resentment of elites in the military, the masses alienated by cronyism or dissidents plotting in exile, tyrants always have more enemies than friends. And when they fall, tyrants don’t quietly retire – they face exile, prison or death. For that reason, they do what they can to remain in power. How Tyrants Fall is about the trade-offs they face and what happens when they get it wrong. How and why do they fall from power? And can we—or should we—help them be toppled?
To answer those questions, I spoke to revolutionaries, coup plotters, rebels, diplomats and soldiers—in addition to drawing on mountains of research. It was quite the journey. One day, I’d be speaking to an expert on Caligula, the next I’d be on a WhatsApp call with a politician from Central Africa who was accused of war crimes – wondering whether I genuinely thought it was “nice to meet him”.
The book will be released in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2024. Audiobooks and electronic books will be available in the United States at the same time and physical books will arrive across the pond in January, after the election. To my amazement, How Tyrants Fall will be translated into German, Korean, Lithuanian, Italian, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Japanese – but it will take a while for those editions to be ready.
This is what the cover looks like:
This is my first book and everyone tells me pre-orders are very important because they let the publisher and booksellers know that readers would like to get the book, causing them to print more and buy more. And when that happens, it becomes easier to reach a large audience. So, your support at this stage would be extremely meaningful.
If you’d like to know how Putin might fall, why Kim Jong Un stays in power or what happens after democracies die, this book is for you. You’ll hear about the psychology of dictators, the difficulty of fighting unarmed civilians and how dictators are always trying (but sometimes failing) to prevent coups d'état. There’s palace intrigue, psychopathic monsters, and plenty of counterintuitive lessons about how politics really works in the shadowy regimes that destabilise the globe and ruin countless lives.
If you’re interested (or you’d like to support me because you enjoy the newsletter), I’d be extremely grateful if you pre-ordered the book at your local bookstore or online. Here are some options:
But of course, I’m biased, so if you don’t want to take it from me, scroll down a bit to see what other people have said about How Tyrants Fall.
Thank you for your support. It means a lot.
Best regards,
Marcel
What People Are Saying About How Tyrants Fall
Brian Klaas, author of Corruptible
Fascinating, sweeping, and jaw-dropping. Dirsus takes everything you think you know about dictators and turns it on its head, with provocative insights into the warped minds of despots and the twisted systems that keep them on top. With dazzling stories and convincing analysis, How Tyrants Fall provides a roadmap to a world with fewer Putins and Kim Jong-Uns
Peter Geoghegan, bestselling author of Democracy for Sale
A fascinating, wide-ranging and highly-entertaining journey
Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute
A smart, accessible, engaging reminder of the brittleness of tyrannical regimes. It is also a resource for policies that can weaken those repressive governments and prevent chaos in their aftermath. We in the West have lost confidence in the university of our political values; this excellent book ought to restore our commitment to advancing those values
Bradley Hope, co-author of Billion Dollar Whale
Gripping . . . An essential and captivating look at the perils of authoritarian rule and the remarkable ways in which even the most ruthless despots can be toppled
Professor Nic Cheeseman, University of Birmingham
Timely, authoritative and accessible ... Essential reading
Professor Erica Frantz, Michigan State University
A compelling and intricate portrait of how dictators survive and how they fall. Grounded in the latest research, it uses colourful real-world experiences to shed light on the central tensions underlying the reign of today's tyrants... How Tyrants Fall expertly captures the complex nature of strongman rule
Katja Hoyer, author of Beyond the Wall
A sparkling read full of original observations and captivating insights. This handbook on the vulnerability of tyrants is an important contribution to our political discourse at a time when democracy is once again competing against the lure of autocracy
Professor Joseph Wright, Pennsylvania State University
A timely and engaging romp through the world of dictators, exploring how they survive, how they fall, and what comes next when they collapse. A joy to read!
Thanks for this important work! Look forward to reading it.
This looks like a must-read for the crazy times we are in. Asked my locally owned bookstore to order it in for me.