Writings for a Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader (Paperback)

~ Tom Hayden (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former California State Senator Hayden (Ending the War in Iraq) has a long history of activism and politics, much of which has been chronicled in his writing; this collection pulls together more than four decades of work tackling vital social issues, from civil rights and Vietnam to genetically modified foods, Iraq and the global justice movement. Hayden writes in a clear and heartfelt manner, turning spotlights not just on problems, but on the commonsense, and often overlooked, implications of those problems: "A country that fails to provide living wages for so many of its young is more committed to its present privileges than its future potential"; "American empire seeks American independence by plunging other nations, cultures, and classes into dependence, which in turn triggers a spiral of resentment and resistance." These grim pronouncements are balanced by a sense of optimism and a clarion call for action: "The times are too hard for us to respond simply as comforters of the oppressed... we must move ahead concertedly with our goal-the changing of society." Dense and wide-ranging, this is a thorough survey of an important thinker and activist.
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Review

"It isn't the size of the book that makes it monumental; it's the life that has gone into the writing..." -- Richard Flacks, Truthdig

"Tom Hayden changed America...father to the largest mass protests in American history, whose reverberations we are still feeling today." -- The Atlantic

"...Hayden's 'Writings for a Democratic Society' celebrate and affirm an alternative American experience, while constituting...a history of our times." -- Thomas Rain Crowe, Smoky Mountain News

"...Hayden's voice is probably more important than ever...The writing is crisp, clear, provocative and inspiring." -- Jonah Raskin, San Francisco Chronicle

"...a surprisingly personal account of how one activist has tried to remain consistent, relevant and truthful across his own long, strange trip." -- Abe Peck, Los Angeles Times

"Tom Hayden, a brave young voice who was saying what I wanted to hear in the civil rights battles..." -- Lawrence Ferlinghetti

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Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872864618
• ISBN-13: 978-0872864610
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,915 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Perspective on the volatile '60s and early '70s, September 12, 2009

By	NYer "NYC" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

I'm not a good literary critic, so I'll keep this brief:

Hayden has a number of good articles dating back from his experiences in the 60s and early 70s with the anti-war and anti-poverty movements (the latter being more of an effort to organize community action). It's a good read as far as giving one insight into the goings-on of those heavily involved in 1960s movements, as well as how the government treated such "hippies". Hayden does go further and speak a little about the present, including the current war in Iraq, however, his book focuses mainly on his life in the 60s - what I'd coin his "good ol' days".