Best of I. F. Stone [Hardcover]

I. F. Stone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2006

Izzy Stone was a reporter, a radical, an idealist, a scholar and, it is clear, a writer whose insights have more than stood the test of time. More than fifteen years after his death, this collection of his work from I.F. Stone's Weekly and elsewhere is astonishing in its relevance to our age, addressing the clash between national security and individual liberty, the protection of minorities, economic fairness, social justice, and the American military abroad.

The core of Stone's genius was his newsletter, I.F. Stone's Weekly, published from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s. His meticulous dissection of the news was unsurpassed, a direct descendent of the great pamphleteers like Thomas Paine, and a forerunner to the best of today's political blogs. Stone's brilliant, investigative reporting; his wonderful, impassioned style; and his commitment to his values all make this collection an inspiration, and a revelation.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When I. F. Stone died in 1989, it seemed reasonable to assume that his investigative reporting, columns, and editorials would soon be forgotten, as is the case with most journalism. But the words published in I. F. Stone's Weekly, a unique newsletter about national and international politics published from 1953 to 1971, have not faded from the record, and resonate today. Weber has chosen wisely from the newsletter and Stone's freelance pieces for the Nationand the New York Review of Books, and Peter Osnos, founder of PublicAffairs press and a former editorial assistant to Stone, has written a lively, loving introduction to the always erudite and passionate, sometimes irascible, hard-digging reporter. Osnos is not exaggerating when he stresses the relevance of Stone's journalism today, and that is uplifting. Indeed, a great journalist guarding the public interest is cause for celebration in any era. But it is also profoundly depressing because so little has changed within the U.S. government and in the world's trouble spots since Stone was on the case. For more on Stone, see the starred review on p.8 of Myra MacPherson's biography. Steve Weinberg
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Review

"Vivid, graceful, humorous, intelligent, and just a heckuva lot of fun to read." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

"as this collection proves, his intelligent insights, brilliant investigative reporting and impassioned, literate style stand the test of time" -- Globe and Mail, January 27, 2007

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: PublicAffairs (August 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158648463X
• ISBN-13: 978-1586484637
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great trek through recent history, January 26, 2010

By 

waw40 "waw40" (Newtown, PA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Best of I. F. Stone (Hardcover)

First, I have to admit I am an old I F Stone fan. And I generally agree with his politics. As a college student at the University of Colorado, I also had the thrill of being his driver when he participated in that school's famed international affairs week.

This book bought back a flood of memories of history going back to the '40s and on through the 70s. I sheds light on back stories and analysis (as only Stone could provide it) of important moments in our history. And it reveals Stone's integrity and skill as an investigative journalist. As a leftist, he was quite capable of holding the left's or unions' collective feet to the fire when they were on the wrong track or on the wrong side of important struggles for racial justice. As a Jew he was able hold Jewish teachers in NYC to account for their role in the 70s struggles for community control of schools.

I was always impressed by Stone's skill in providing deep insight into stories that the rest of the media ignored, by his intellect and wit, and by his deep humanity. This collection provides an impressive sample of all of these qualities for those who remember his Weekly and other writings, or for those who want to revisit this era of our shared history from a unique point of view.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recent history discussed as it happened, June 2, 2011

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ADMD (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Best of I. F. Stone (Kindle Edition)

A very interesting tour through the big issues of the last 50 years. The contemporary writing meant that the author did not know how the controversies of the day would turn out--this really casts current events in a whole new light. Really demonstrates that, while history may not repeat itself, it sure does rhyme. The same political and social issues come up repeatedly over time.

Pithy insightful comments, with really fine writing. Short articles make for easy digestible reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book and really learn about the past, August 27, 2010

By 

J. Edgar Mihelic "Iconoclast" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of I. F. Stone (Hardcover)

No matter your opinion of Stone, you have to admit that he lived his live with his eyes open. Here, in a compilation of the best of his work we can see his reactions to the world as events happen. These essays are like watching history develop with a very narrow focus. I kept thinking of a version of Zinn's A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present that was written at the time events were actually happening.

This book, and Stone's whole life, are wholly commendable from a leftist perspective as they give context that is wanting from most contemporaneous history books and hagiographies of figures that make appearances here. Read this book and really learn about the past.

The only issue is that this book is perhaps best appreciated as a side treat, dipped into occasionally. The nature of the structure keeps away the idea of a cover-to-cover reader.