Paperback, 272 pages
English language
Published April 2, 2010 by Ardent Press.
Anarchism is the boldest of revolutionary social movements to emerge from the struggle against capitalism, it aims for a world free from all forms of domination and exploitation. But at its heart is a simple and convincing proposition: people know how to live their own lives and organize themselves better than any expert could. Others cynically claim that we need a government to protect us. They claim anarchy is impractical and utopian: it would never work. On the contrary, anarchist practice already has a long record, and has often worked quite well. The histories in this book show that an anarchist society can succeed at enabling all its members to meet their needs and desires.
This book takes examples from around the world, picking through history and anthropology, showing that people have, in different ways and at different times, demonstrated mutual aid, self-organization, autonomy, horizontal decision making, and so forth–the …
Anarchism is the boldest of revolutionary social movements to emerge from the struggle against capitalism, it aims for a world free from all forms of domination and exploitation. But at its heart is a simple and convincing proposition: people know how to live their own lives and organize themselves better than any expert could. Others cynically claim that we need a government to protect us. They claim anarchy is impractical and utopian: it would never work. On the contrary, anarchist practice already has a long record, and has often worked quite well. The histories in this book show that an anarchist society can succeed at enabling all its members to meet their needs and desires.
This book takes examples from around the world, picking through history and anthropology, showing that people have, in different ways and at different times, demonstrated mutual aid, self-organization, autonomy, horizontal decision making, and so forth–the principles that anarchy is founded on–regardless of whether they called themselves anarchists or not. Too well documented to be strictly mythology, and too expansive to be strictly anthropology, this is an inspiring answer to the people who say that anarchists are utopian: a point-by-point introduction to how anarchy can and has actually worked.
Até agora, a leitura deste livro está a ser verdadeiramente interessante. Acredito que o nível de interesse aumente ainda mais, documentando que a vida em sociedade não depende da orientação de quaisquer governos. Mau sinal para os governos...
I picked up this book because I thought, based on the chapter names, that it would have sketches of how things would work in an anarchist society. Instead I got, mostly, a really long list of examples and stories, that don't answer the questions promised in the chapter names, but only hint at that an anarchist way is possible. I often found the book being too romantic, even though it tries not to be (no less in the few stories where I had prior knowledge), and I think its main usefulness is to convince people who are on the fence about anarchism, that it is not utopian. For me, already convinced that the inevitability of the status quo is bullshit, and looking for more concrete ideas about how society could be organized in a better world, it wasn't that useful.
This compilation of essays on topics about society and history and the ways we can, and have, organised without hierarchy or oppressive power strictures is a beautiful piece of work.
It is inspiring and earnest and a great road map to anarchist ideas, mutual aid and consent as basis of our relationships and interactions with each other.
It might feel utopian or too idealistic, but for me it's been a breath of fresh air. A reminder that this longing for a more just, more free society is shared. This book makes a compelling case for radical ideas like societies with no prisons or no police forces.
I will definitely return to this one.
Inspiring.
