Customer Reviews

The Common Good (The Real Story Series)

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first Chomsky book I've read, but it is thoroughly revealing of the terrors the US and others have inflicted on the world. Sections like the one on East Timor will change your political outlook entirely. There's not much else I can say, except that this stuff rocks. Um, yes.

I like the 'Real story' series of books because they are clear, concise, easy to read and above all- not boring. Though I certainly recommend that you read Chomsky's more detailed tomes- I think these little interview books serve as a good introduction to his political thinking.

I firmly believe that Chomsky is one of the most important thinkers of this century. After you read him I almost guarantee you'll change the way you look at politics, economics, global affairs and especially the way the US implements it's foreign policy.

The Common Good is a clever and concise primer focusing on the blight of globalization, and the derailing of democracy in the United States. The book is presented in an interview format, and if I have any complaint, it's that the book is too short. Chomsky has been accused of being too dense, but this book is readily accessible and enlightening. I would caution you to ignore the calls that his information is erronous and do some investigative work yourself. You'll see who's correct.

Let's say I was curious. I had heard about Chomsky, mostly derided by my conervative friends, and was intrigued by what I heard. I picked this book up and I'm glad I did. It is in an interiew format so it's easy to take in small bites. The Common Good is a mile wide and an inch deep. It covers a lot of ground but not in very much detail. If you are new to Chomsky or are looking for quotable Chomsky this is the book for you.

Noam Chomsky exhibits a certain sobriety that political pundits and lawmakers alike would be wise to adopt. If you are "Fox News" viewer, this book is liable to ruffle your feathers. If CNN is your flavor, this book is liable to ruffle your feathers. Noam stands alone with his well reasoned critique of power structures and the quality of life in America. Nobody is exempt from Chomsky's incisive criticism. Check it out!

It's not often that I find a book so easy to read but deliver such a magnitude of thought and ideas. After reading this book, I've more often considered my actions and thier impact on others as well as the actions of companies and countries on their people and their neighbors.

I'm not looking for all the answers and this book didn't have them, but without reading it, I wouldn't have know what questions to begin to ask and that is the most important part of thinking.

This is a bok for radicals - for those already persauded of the pitfalls and insane destructiveness of capitalism. It is also a book which has some very interesting points about political theory. Readers might like to consult, for example, the material on Aristotle excerpted here.

(...)

I think Mr. "blind self-assurance (9-2000)"'s limited thinking is best revealed by his statement that another book is superior because it shows "both" sides of an issue. There are never only two sides to an issue. Chomsky writes that it is this myth that prevents genuine dialogue and independent thought in a seemingly democratic nation. If you, unlike the aforementioned reviewer, are capable of opening your mind and engaging your intellect and common sense, then this book is an excellent read. A bit of truth in a sea of perfume scented garbage.

One of the benefits of reading Chomsky is that transcriptions of his interviews have all the discursive force, factual allusions and political insight of his prose works. Chomsky never disappoints.

The premise of this work is that economic equality vouchsafes the common good and in fact, historically, democracy is unthinkable without it:

"The idea that wealth and democracy can't exist side by side runs right through the Enlightenment and classical liberalism, including major figures like de Tocqueville, Adam Smith, Jefferson and others. It was more or less assumed"(p. 6).

The book then takes up how "radical [economic] inequality" became the norm and instantiates itself in the USA and elsewhere in the world. The book also contains interesting discussions about the role of the left and pseudo-left in addressing issues concerning the common good as well as strategies for individuals to promote the common good.

A helpful list of organizations that promote the common good appear at the end, making the effect of the entire work both theoretically grounded and practically useful.

This is a great place to start if you're new to Chomsky and political books. It is one of his most accessible books, with a lots of varied information to whet your appetite. You are left with a feeling of shock, but also a desire to go out and learn more, which this book points you in the right direction of. Well worth a read.

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Even though these interviews Chomsky gave to David Barsamian (Alternative Radio) between 1996 and 1998, they still make for an excellent read because they give naiive and unsuspecting readers like me a great background into the realities of American Politics and their consquences throughout the world. Also good index, source list, and list of organizations in the back of the book are helpful. The REAL STORY series from Odonian press is excellent with a comfy format.(If you want to know who ODO was, read Ursula LeGuin's "The Dispossessed") Chomsky is MUST READ material for people who just dont buy it and are not afraid of ugly truth. Especially relevant for globalization and financial crisis issues.