This profound book, co-authored by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky, delves into the fragility of democratic institutions. It meticulously examines historical instances, drawing lessons from countries across interwar Europe and Latin America, to illustrate how democracies can subtly erode, not necessarily through military coups, but often by elected leaders gradually dismantling norms and checks and balances. Ziblatt and Levitsky identify crucial warning signs and propose strategies for citizens and political leaders to safeguard democracy against the rising tides of polarization and political extremism, making it an indispensable guide for understanding contemporary global political challenges.