Reviews - How to Stand Up to a Dictator

558 reviews for:

How to Stand Up to a Dictator

Maria Ressa

4.34 AVERAGE

d_kotamilburn's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 45%

It was more of a memoir than what I expected. Was hoping it was more historical laying out what happened in the Philippines at the time but was mostly the author’s life through that time

suegat's review against another edition

5.0

informative inspiring medium-paced

jacqiesbooks's review

4.75

challenging informative reflective tense medium-paced

charleymeows's review against another edition

4.75

informative sad fast-paced

timol's review

5.0

informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

This is a really important book and I wish that political decisionmakers had listened to Nobel laureate Maria Ressa much earlier. The book describes how social media was adopted rapidly in the Philippines and captures the hope and optimism that was associated with social media's promise to empower people and overcome autocracies. But we all know how that turned out! Maria describes how the Philippines were an ideal location to try and refine many of the manipulative sides of social media which contributed to the election of a new autocrat, democratic backsliding and the weaponization of the state against journalists. The book is not all bleak, however: what shines through in all chapters is Maria's immense optimism and the kindness of others that have helped her through many difficult years where the government has tried to shut her up.