They Thought They Were Free was probably the most influential book I have ever read in shaping my understanding and view of modern politics.
Written shortly after WWII, it simply asks the question nobody asked (or still asks) why did the people do it?
Not "why did Hitler do it"
Not "why did the NAZIs do it"
But why did the people of Germany do it.
Why did they vote Nazi?
Why did they play along?
Why did they ignore trainloads of people?
SPOILER ALERT:
The answer was terrifyingly simple: they were offered retirement packages, and cruise-ship holidays.
Inaction is the bane of society when it is needed, and the death of government when it stops acting. Keeping the government limited in it's actions is what the Constitution was written to do. It's taken only 200 years to fail...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings