The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work [Hardcover]

Curtis White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

With his trademark intelligence and humor, Curtis White argues that the American left needs a new and compelling spiritual basis for its politics, and that its seeds can be discovered in Thoreau's spiritual politics of refusal and a return to human "fundamentals" especially work, home, and food. Along the way, White offers a shrewd reading of the cult classic Office Space, a scathing critique of Bill Maher's political comedy, and other acerbic cultural commentary. The book includes provocative interviews with James Howard Kunstler, John de Graaf, and Michael Ableman.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Curtis White is the author of the novels "Memories of My Father Watching TV" and "Requiem." A widely acclaimed essayist, his work appears regularly in "Context" and "Harper's." He is an English professor at Illinois State University and a board director at the award-winning Dalkey Archive Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 183 pages
• Publisher: Polipoint Press (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977825310
• ISBN-13: 978-0977825318
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,241,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turn off the tube, come read this!, July 6, 2007

By 

Maquina Gringo (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work (Hardcover)

If you get very tired of what passes for debate in this country, try this book on for size. White calls it like it is -- Democrats and Republicans claim to be so different, but they are basically both about keeping society this way it is, "good for business"; capitalism is bankrupt spiritually, leading to an unsustainable work/life balance for families, and a lousy car-centric suburbia landscape that has alienated ourselves from ourselves. I really liked his critiques of familiar pop-culture artifacts like the Simpsons and Office Space because often in a book like this, these pieces, accessible to general audiences, are ignored disdainfully. He also leaves you with some hope, which most critics don't get around to. Turn off the tube and give yourself some stimulation, read the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, March 13, 2009

By 

D. Scatena "dps39" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work (Hardcover)

I recommend you read this book. I very much agree with the basic premise to not blindly accept the status quo and to always question. Curtis White is a very interesting critic, though I am not sure he would be a lot of fun to be around, he is so CRANKY. Lighten up Curtis. Its not all bad!!

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb in the thickets, April 19, 2007

By 

Mary B. Wauben - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work (Hardcover)

This book is ofcourse fantastic. Like the Middle Mind, it unhinges you from being ok with being a zombie. Superb in the thickets, if I may steal. How do you live when you can't honestly live a happy and decent life these days without taking out the horse blinders is the only thing worth thinking/reading about.
Also- I had no idea Curtis White had written another non fiction book. Even his Harpers article didn't mention that he was about to come out with a new book- actually I got the article off of Lexis Nexis so perhaps thats the kind of garbling I didn't pay for.