Ebook284 pages4 hours
Optimism over Despair: On Capitalism, Empire, and Social Change
By Noam Chomsky and C.J. Polychroniou
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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About this ebook
“From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation, a beacon of hope” (Sarah Jaffe, host of Belabored)
This volume offers readers a concise and accessible introduction to the ideas of Noam Chomsky, described by the New York Time as “arguably the most important intellectual alive.”
In these recent, wide-ranging interviews, conducted for Truthout by C. J. Polychroniou, Chomsky discusses his views on the “war on terror” and the rise of neoliberalism, the refugee crisis and cracks in the European Union, prospects for a just peace in Israel/Palestine, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the dysfunctional US electoral system, the grave danger posed to humanity by the climate crisis, and the hopes, prospects, and challenges of building a movement for radical change.
“A must read in these troubling times . . . This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%.” —Deepa Kumar, author of Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire
“In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.” —Robert Pollin, distinguished professor of Economics and codirector of the Political Economy Research Institute
“Especially valuable in helping us navigate the dreadful challenges of the Trumpian era.” —Michael Klare, defense correspondent for The Nation
This volume offers readers a concise and accessible introduction to the ideas of Noam Chomsky, described by the New York Time as “arguably the most important intellectual alive.”
In these recent, wide-ranging interviews, conducted for Truthout by C. J. Polychroniou, Chomsky discusses his views on the “war on terror” and the rise of neoliberalism, the refugee crisis and cracks in the European Union, prospects for a just peace in Israel/Palestine, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the dysfunctional US electoral system, the grave danger posed to humanity by the climate crisis, and the hopes, prospects, and challenges of building a movement for radical change.
“A must read in these troubling times . . . This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%.” —Deepa Kumar, author of Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire
“In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.” —Robert Pollin, distinguished professor of Economics and codirector of the Political Economy Research Institute
“Especially valuable in helping us navigate the dreadful challenges of the Trumpian era.” —Michael Klare, defense correspondent for The Nation
Author
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky was born in Philadelphia in 1928 and studied at the university of Pennsylvania. Known as one of the principal founders of transformational-generative grammar, he later emerged as a critic of American politics. He wrote and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary issues. He is now a Professor of Linguistics at MIT, and the author of over 150 books.
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Reviews for Optimism over Despair
Rating: 4.159090927272728 out of 5 stars
4/5
22 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Chomsky is king. Chomsky is always king. Very insightful read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The State of the WorldThe book comprises a series of interviews gave by Noam Chomsky over the course of the last four years (from late 2013 to early 2017) and originally published in Truthout. The interviews were organized in three groups. The first deals with capitalism and its social’s consequences. The second discusses american foreign policy and its intersections with the muslin word, Russia and climate change. The third examines Chomsky’s comprehension of anarchism, communism and democracy. The book gives a glimpse of Chomsky’s ideas and considers many contemporary facts, with special attention to the Trump election. It’s an enlightening exposition of Chomsky’s political views.
Book preview
Optimism over Despair - Noam Chomsky
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