Rules For Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals (Saul Alinsky)

I bought this book new, which is rare for me, but when I was at Chapters a little over two months ago and saw this on the shelf I just had to buy it. I find the movements of the 1960s and early 1970s fascinating. This book is a how-to manual for revolution (aka social change) form 1971. How could I not love this book?

Alinsky covers everything from the old debate of "does the means meet the end" to the desired qualities and methods of an organizer. Alinsky is careful to draw a line between leaders and organizers. In his form of revolution, there are no leaders; leaders gain and maintain power for their own gain, while organizers gather power for the use of others.

Alinsky likens his book to that of Machiavelli's The Prince, but designed not for rulers with power, but rather for the Have-Nots who wish to gain power. According the Alinksy, there are three classes of people: the Haves, Have-Nots and the Have-A-Little, Want Mores (the middle class). The natural progression of human society is that of a series of revolutions. The Have-Nots challenge the Haves and soon before the Haves, leaving others in the position of Have-Nots.

There exists no mountain tops in revolution, but rather a series of mountains with a higher plateau each time. "Life is there ahead of you and either one tests oneself in its changes," Alinsky writes, "or huddles in the valleys in a dreamless day-to-day existence whose only purpose is the preservation of an illusionary security  and safety."

Alinsky's work is about not hiding in the valleys, but rather facing the mountains. He tells readers how to effectively face the mountains and how not tackle issues. He suggest what will and will not work when trying to mobilize people. He speaks of life as a continuous education for both organizers and those who are organized.

Sadly, even though he died in 1972--over forty years ago--his forecast for "the second revolution" one in which people cry for "a purpose in life--a cause to live for and it need be die for," has not been realized as he seems to suggest would occur in the final page of his book. Strangely enough though, I feel as though the middle class is getting closer to the stage where we are willing to take on corporations and corrupt government to create a meaningful life apart from empty suburban consumerism. I suppose there is one thing I can say for sure; my generation is disillusioned. Perhaps a symptom of the coming change is our love for irony?  . . . . Then again maybe we'll just settle into the suburbs like each generation before us eventually did.

I'd rather be a radical than a reactionary. I'd rather try than remain stagnant.

Great Short Stories By American Women (Edited by Candace Ward)

I love this book cover. It's gorgeous, especially when you consider the fact that it's a 90s cover. The majority of books published in the 1990s tend to have putrid covers. Another great thing about this book is that I got it for free from a professor who was cleaning out his book collection.

I enjoyed every story in this collection, although I skipped "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman because I read it only a few short months ago. (I loved it). In total, there are 13 stories in the volume. I was most taken with Louisa May Alcott's "Transcendental Wild Oats" and Alice Dunbar Nelson's "The Stones of the Village." I also appreciated "A Jury Of Her Peers" by Susan Glaspell.

"Transcendental Wild Oats" tells the story of an experimental community in which a small group attempts to live without animal products while living off the land. Ultimately, a great deal of the strain of survival is placed on the women within the group, as the men are too busy trying to find their purpose or callings in the community.

"The Stones of the Village" tells the story of a boy who is rejected by both the blacks and whites in his community. Eventually, he founds a new life elsewhere and spends his whole like hiding his identity from his wife, his friends and the public.

"A Jury Of Her Peers," describes the examination of the house of a woman who has been arrested for the murder of her husband. While the men look of evidence, their wives examine the kitchen and the woman's sewing basket, while considering what they could have done to prevent the downfall of the woman.

Chances are, you won't stumble across this particular volume, but perhaps you as a reader can find other volumes with one or many of these stories included. Below is a complete list of the thirteen stories.

Trudeau (George Radwanksi)

This book dragged on and on. I'm not saying it was interesting. I just feel like I got the main ideas of the book within the first hundred and fifty pages and that the rest had little to offer. I've read many biographies on Trudeau, but never one like this, which was written in 1978 while Pierre Trudeau was still alive and still Prime Minister of Canada. 

I really like the format of the first portion of the book. In the author's note, Radwanski explains that he wishes to deal not with politics in Canada during Trudeau's time in office, but rather with Trudeau himself during his time in office and before office. I enjoyed the first chapter, "A Day in the Life" and especially a chapter later on titled, "Political Philosopher," which outlines some of Trudeau's perspectives on how government should ideally work. 

I have to admit though. I got bogged down by the intense, detailed analysis of Trudeau and decisions he made. It was a fascinating book, but not something I would read again. Unless you're writing a paper, I would not recommend this one. If, as a casual reader, you're looking for an informative and enjoyable biography on Trudeau, I would recommend one of the following: 

• Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau: 1968-2000 by English, John

• Citizen of the World: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Volume One: 1919-1968 by English, John 

• Trudeau Transformed: The Shaping of a Statesman 1944-1965 (Trudeau, Son of Quebec, Father of Canada) by Max Nemni and Monique Nemni 

Having read each other these books, I assure you these three recommendations are miles better than George Radwanski's Trudeau.

Samuel Marchbank's Almanack (Robertson Davies)

I've been on vacation all week and this is one of the books I threw in my suitcase before I left home. By the cover design, I'm sure you can tell it's a 60s printing. Actually, it's a "New Canadian Library" edition printed in 1968. I adore "New Canadian Library" not only for the series' unique and colourful covers, but also because through these printings, I've been introduced to many Canadian books and authors I would not have discovered otherwise. 

Many readers of literature, I'm sure, will recognize the author, Robertson Davies, as the writer of Fifth Business. Having read Fifth Business in a high school English class a few years back, I was taken by surprise when I started to read this book. While I recognize Davies' style, the content is much different. Fifth Business is a fairly serious, thought-provoking piece of work, while Samuel Marchbank's Almanack is comedy. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard . . . well actually I can. The last time I laughed as hard as I did reading this book was when I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. 

The book takes the form of a series of letter between Samuel Marchbanks' and a number of acquaintances, covering every subject from a law suit about a skunk, to a request for a garden hose, and a critique of the price for which a Sunday school is selling fudge. Much of the material, in an indirect way is a critique of Canadian society and government, as well as a few jabs at our American neighbours. I admit, I stopped many times in the course of this book, to read a passage aloud to the others in the room with me who had stopped their own activities to stare and ask what I was laughing so hysterically at.

Not only is it a hilarious book, but I do have to admit, it will look lovely on my bookshelf stashed between Gabriel Roy's The Tin Flute and Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel.

Building the Orange Wave (Brad Lavigne)

When Jack Layton passed in August if 2011, I spent the day in self-reflection alone in my room, writing one poem and short article after another. I remember I cried, despite never having met him. I promised myself I'd find out more about who he had been. Jack was the one who got me interested in Canadian Politics and his death opened up for me a new chapter, an introspective chapter, in my writing. Jack represented, to me, a political and idealistic ideal. I liked the way he looked at politics, at society, and at life. Now, over two years later, I've finally read a little more about Jack. I know more about his rise within the NDP and the NDP's rise to power in the role of Official Opposition.

Obviously, this book offers a very biased NDP based view of Layton and of the events which unfolded from the time Jack was elected in 2002 to the time of his death in 2011, but as Brad Lavigne says in the acknowledgements, quoting a friend, if he didn't write a book, his opponents would re-write history. If you're looking for another interpretation of politics, go read a book written by a Liberal, or a Conservative, or the Bloc. I'll leave you as the prospective reader to decide the truth of the angle of the events for yourself, but as for myself, I find Brad Lavigne's interpretation of events to be accurate. I'd sooner vote NDP any day, than I would vote Conservative or Liberal. 

This isn't about my political views though. This blog post is about Jack Layton and about this book. Not a lot of explanation is required. Reading the book is like a swift overview of Federal politics since the time I began to become conscious of a thing called politics, but it's also about looking at politics in a new way. 

Jack Layton latched on to the one thing that Canadian, and especially my generation, are looking for in politics. We're tired of fighting for the sake of fighting. We're tired of poor economic policy and poor funding for Canadian welfare programs, like education, healthcare and pensions. We're tired of corporations taking priority over the environment and over us as Canadians. 

A few key ideas from Building the Orange Wave really stick with me. Jack spoke of wanting to be "a politician of proposition, not just opposition" and wanting to work with whatever party is in power to ensure that things happen. He was all about hope. He had hope for the future of his party and for Canada. He had hope for himself. He believed that change was possible, and if someone said something was impossible, that it could be achieved anyway. 

I remember, back in August of 2011, picking up the Globe and Mail at my local library and reading the text of Jack's letter to Canadians, which he wrote in his last days. "My friends, love if better than anger Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let is be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world," Jack wrote. I didn't realize it at the time, but in Chapter 14, Lavigne points out that Jack's final letter was a manifesto for social democracy. As I think over the letter, I know it's true. 

There's so much more I could write about this book, but I'll address one last portion of Jack's final letter.  In a section dedicated to young Canadians, he writes, "As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world . . .  I believe in you. Your energy, you vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today." 

If the echos of Jack last long enough, maybe my generation will embrace the words that were meant for us. I think Jack understood that many young Canadians have become disenchanted with federal politics--with politics in general. He was reminding us not to give up on Canada's political system. I'm not giving up. 

Twelve (Nick McDonell)

I have to admit, this isn't my usual kind of read, but it was recommended to me via a book vlog on YouTube. It's a light book. In fact I tore through it in about two hours--between about 1am and 3am last night-- but please don't judge me based on my weird sleep habits.

The book is what is referred to as popular fiction. It revolves around the lives of a bunch of rich kid drug addicts and dealers who, because of their messed up lives, manage to get themselves into an enormous amount of life-threatening trouble over their Christmas break.

Usually I'd call a book like this, "fluff fiction," but McDonell seems to have a purpose to his writing. In fact, the ending reminds me of my own writing--violent, fast, unexpected and philosophical. McDonell does what any serious writer should strive to do. He makes a statement about the lives his characters have been living. Check it out if you're looking for a good story, or if you're just looking for something that will make you thank God you're not a screwed-up American rich kid.

Anti-Capitalism (Simon Tormey)

Even if you don't consider yourself an anti-capitalist, or a person with anti-capitalist tendencies, this is the book to read if you're looking for an analysis of recent unofficial politics, or if you're simply wondering what anti-capitalism is.

Tormey takes the reader through a brief history of capitalism before launching into the good stuff. By the good stuff I mean a discussion about the changing forms of political participation, and what Tormey refers to as a "movement of movements." Apparently anti-capitalism is not an organic whole, but rather a collection of  reformist and radical groups and ideologies which have unofficially united around a criticism of neoliberalism and what the Tormey refers to as finanicalization--a term referring to the increased importance of stock markets and the financial sector in our economies.

All the dominant political opponents to neoliberalism are discussed here, including Marxism and Anarchism, as well as environmental and globalization perspectives. A lot of information is offered, but Tormey does a descent job of summarizing it throughout the chapters.

The book's interpretation of modern politics suggests that people are avoiding so called-vertical or official politics in favour of unofficial politics. People create protests instead of parties. People, "seek to draw attention of the deficiencies of politics," showing little appetite for power." People "are motivated less by the prospect of taking over the apparatus of governance than by querying, challenging, mocking those who run it (154).

Pick up "Anti-Capitalism" next time you're in shop or library. It's one of the most insightful political science books I've read in a while.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

Last month, during a conversation with an acquaintance, we started talking about sci-fi novels and the political/ social messages which they contain. I've never been much of a sci-fi or fantasy novels. In fact, I tend to avoid such novels the same way I avoid the trashy magazines they sell along the checkout isles at the grocery store. But I picked up "Hitchhiker's Guide" because not only had I heard a lot about it over the years, but the acquaintance,  with whom I had the conversation about sci-fi, recommended it.

Let me sum up the humor of the book by saying that the entire household knew when I was reading it. The events of the books are absolutely absurd, which is part of what makes it so funny. One moment Arthur Dent is trying to prevent his home from demolished to make way for a new express way, and the next moment earth has been demolished to make way for an inter-galactic expressway. Rescued at the last moment with his friend Ford Prefect, who happens to be an alien, Arthur is soon hitchhiking across the galaxy.

Blended with the absurdity in this book, is a social critique. I knew I was reading something out of the ordinary, the moment I read this passage:  "Most of the people living on it [earth] were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most theses were largely concerned   with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy."

Anti-capitalism? A comment on our economic system? It looks that way.

Then there's this line: "Only six people in the Galaxy knew that the job of the Galactic President was not to wield power but to attract power away from it."

A comment of political systems? It looks that way too.

Through out the whole book, hidden in an odd assortment of sharp plot turns and crazy characters, Douglas Adams has slipped dozens of phrases which call attention to the absurdity of  societal norms. I think this is one book I may have to re-read someday.