What is a dictator? In the simplest terms, a dictator is the sole and absolute ruler of his country. But history has shown that dictators also often share many similarities in the ways they come to power, hold power, and topple from power. There are trends among dictators that can be studied together to create a bigger picture. "The Dictators" is a fascinating presentation of eighteen of this century's most powerful dictators, representing fourteen countries. Their lives, political and social theories, and their achievements, good and bad, are carefully examined. Learn how men like Lenin, Hitler, and Franco influenced their people and changed the world. Discover why a country will accept and support the rule of a dictator. The ideological and practical conflicts between dictatorships and democracies are carefully laid out within the pages of this book.

The lives of dictators are important because they have, to a large extent, shaped much of the world we live in, and will continue to do so for generations to come. We all know about Hitler, Stalin, Castro, Mao Tse-tung. But today we have new names, like Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un, Muammar Gaddafi and Robert Mugabe. It remains imperative that we understand as much about them as we can--the peace of the world depends on it.