Multi-issue Books

• Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, by Chalmers Johnson -- "The term 'blowback,' invented by the CIA, refers to the unintended consequences of American policies. In this incisive and controversial book, Chalmers Johnson lays out in vivid detail the dangers faced by our overextended empire, which insists on projecting its military power to every corner of the earth and using American capital and markets to force global economic integration on its own terms."~
• Community Organizing and Development, by Herbert J. Rubin and Irene Rubin -- "Introduces activists to ways of bringing about change, discussing theories of organizing, describing techniques and tactics, and presenting examples. Material integrates the experiences of organizers and activists with academic knowledge about communities, the political system, organizations, and social mobilization."~
• Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate (A Progressive Guide to Action), by George Lakoff -- "explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. He outlines in detail the traditional American values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate. Lakoff also breaks down the ways in which conservatives have framed the issues, and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate."~
• Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance, by Noam Chomsky -- "demonstrates how, for more than half a century the United States has been pursuing a grand imperial strategy with the aim of staking out the globe. Our leaders have shown themselves willing — as in the Cuban missile crisis — to follow the dream of dominance no matter how high the risks."
• Globalize Liberation: How to Uproot the System and Build a Better World, edited by David Solnit -- "weaves together the experiences and insights of community organizers, direct action movements, and global justice struggles from North America, Europe, and Latin America. Thirty-three essays provide food for thought, examples of effective action, and practical tools for everyone to use. This book, the product of hard-fought victories, uprisings and hopeful visions for the future, was created to articulate, popularize, and deepen the rebellious spirit and common sense of the new radicalism.''~
• Honeland by Dale Maharidge, with photos by Michael Williamson, 2004. An indispensible portrait of America after 9-11, and the fragility of civil liberties.~
• Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics, by Sidney G Tarrow -- "surveys the history of the social movement, puts forward a theory of collective action to explain its surges and declines, and offers an interpretation of the power of movement that emphasizes its effects on personal lives, policy reforms and political culture."~
• The Power Elite -- "an influential book written by sociologist C. Wright Mills in 1956. In the book, Mills sought to call attention to the interlaced interests of the leaders of the military, corporate, and political elements of society, suggesting that the ordinary citizen was a relatively powerless subject of manipulation by those entities." (wikipedia)~
• Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Practice, by Gene Sharp -- "builds on fifty years of Dr. Sharp’s academic research and practical experience working with nonviolent struggle movements around the world. In particular, Waging Nonviolent Struggle provides unprecedented information about how to strategically plan nonviolent action and make it more effective. Furthermore, it includes twenty-three case accounts of nonviolent struggle in the twentieth century."
• What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America, by Thomas Frank -- "a vivid portrait of an upside-down world where blue-collar patriots recite the Pledge while they strangle their life chances; where small farmers cast their votes for a Wall Street order that will eventually push them off their land; and where a group of frat boys, lawyers, and CEOs has managed to convince the country that it speaks on behalf of the People."
• Who Rules America? Power and Politics, by G. William Domhoff -- "Drawing from a power elite perspective and the latest empirical data, Domhoff‛s classic text is an invaluable tool for teaching students about how power operates in U.S. society."
• Who Will Tell The People: The Betrayal of American Democracy, by William Greider -- "a tough-minded exploration of why we're in trouble, starting with the basic issues of who gets heard, who gets ignored, and why. Greider shows us the realities of power in Washington today, uncovering the hidden relationships that link politicians with corporations and the rich, and that subvert the needs of ordinary citizens."

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