Fugitive Days: Memoirs of an Anti-War Activist (Paperback)

by Bill Ayers (Author)
Key Phrases: fugitive days, strategic hamlet, Bill Ayers, Viet Nam, Bill Arers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A fascinating memoir...distinct, original. ("The Washington Post Book World") Ayers' powerful, morally charged account of a life and a society in the political balance is provocative reading. ("Chicago Tribune")

Product Description
A gripping memoir of America in the '60s, of idealists turned radicals, and of a life lived on the run

In February 2008, in the heat of the Democratic primary elections, speculations began circulating in the media about a connection between presidential hopeful Barack Obama and Bill Ayers, a former member of the radical 1960s group the Weather Underground. In Fugitive Days, Ayers tells the real story of the defining events of the radical '60s. The book is an eyewitness account of a young pacifist who helped found one of the most radical political organizations in U.S. history, and who consequently lived for ten years as a fugitive. In a new era of antiwar activism and suppression of protest, Fugitive Days is more poignant and relevant than ever.

"For anyone who wants to think hard about the social conflagration the Vietnam War produced in the U.S., and more generally about a citizen's obligations in troubled times, Ayers's powerful, morally charged account of a life and a society in the political balance is provocative reading."
—David Farber, Chicago Tribune

"A memoir that is, in effect, a deeply moving elegy to all those young dreamers who tried to live decently in an indecent world. Ayers provides a tribute to those better angels of ourselves."
—Studs Terkel, author of Working and The Good War

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press; 1 edition (November 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807032778
• ISBN-13: 978-0807032770
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,451 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > History > United States > State & Local > Michigan
  #48 in	Books > History > Asia > Vietnam

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SURPRISING, December 13, 2008

By	CPIMCIRM (71909) - See all my reviews

I was expecting a review of the 1960's from a bitter radical's unchanged viewpoint. I was surprised to find this book to be a thought provoking, insightful, and reflective account of the what went right and what went wrong in the portion(s) of the anti-war movement Mr. Ayers was involved in--specifically the Weather underground. This is NOT another rehash of the 60's memoir. If you have been wondering what all the fuss about Bill Ayers has been, read this book. You too might be surprised!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Fugitive Days" inspires during troubled times, December 14, 2008

By	Sara A. Skolnik (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought "Fugitive Days" for my 16-year-old nephew. Ayers' book is an inspirational account of a young person's struggles to do what's right during troubled times when the government and those in power have created an Orwellian world where the truth can be hard to discern. Given the similarities between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, this is an important book for all to read today.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great read, December 20, 2008

By	relunctant reader "rr" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

I did not want the book to end....thought about stopping in the middle so that it could last longer. great read.