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How the World Works
by
Noam Chomsky,
Arthur Naiman (Goodreads Author) , David Barsamian
According to The New York Times, Noam Chomsky is �arguably the most important intellectual alive.” But he isn’t easy to read . . . or at least he wasn’t until these books came along. Made up of intensively edited speeches and interviews, they offer something not found anywhere else: pure Chomsky, with every dazzling idea and penetrating insight intact, delivered in clear,...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
September 20th 2011
by Soft Skull Press
(first published January 1st 2011)
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This book has considerable merit, but also some serious flaws. It is basically interviews with Noam Chomsky, who brings his vast knowledge to comment on subjects like how the U.S. government really works, imperialism, democracy, and economics. But there are no footnotes, so you can't check sources, you just have to take Chomsky's word for everything. It paints a grim picture of the modern corporate security state. By stringing together a number of short examples on particular topics, like how th...more
Oct 17, 2012
Carmen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
revolutionary-in-training-books
5 stars not for style, because it is a series of recorded interviews and as such can get a bit choppy, but for content. Corporations control government. And if you doubt this he can prove it to you a thousand different ways. That, and a U.S. government controlled by major corporations routinely undermines not communist states, not socialist states, but states with legitimate democracies. Why? Because as he demonstrates in the book a country with a legitimate democracy is a danger to corporations...more
A very educating piece of work, an interesting look at the not-so-behind-the-scenes global politics/profits we see today. Although the examples are a little dated, Chomsky's arguments will be valid for quite some time.
Though some of the interviews are as much as 20 years old, Chomsky’s commentary is still relevant today. Among many topics, he discusses the media, US intervention in Latin America, the war on drugs, corporate welfare and the gap between rich and poor (and here he brings up the forbidden word “class”). While an interesting and enlightening read, it’s a bit repetitive in places and it’s written for a more intellectual audience.
Read the rest of my review here: http://beckyajohnson.net/2012/06/13/n...more
Read the rest of my review here: http://beckyajohnson.net/2012/06/13/n...more
Noam Chomsky’s omnibus How The World Works is made up of four of his earlier books - What Uncle Sam Really Wants; The Prosperous Few and the Restless Many; Secrets, Lies and Democracy; and The Common Good. These four are made up of edited transcripts of radio interviews Chomsky did through the 80s and 90s, and the format works quite well - the questions are useful starting points, and Chomsky mostly just uses them as a springboard from which to make points, so they tend not to intrude too much.
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wow.very hard to read but worth it.full of idea and truth about Neoconservative,New World Order and else.time to think out of box.to quote Noam Chomsky Pick your cause and go volunteer for a group that's working on it - Noam Chomsky.this is a collection of essay like(it is interview actually) and short books combined together.although some of his books written in 1970 the idea sound more and more updated.after all now is past Arab Spring.a must read for powerless(us).do not let the ruler(read:bu...more
Chomsky has a tendency to write in long, convoluted sentences, so the purpose of this book is to make him more accessible by offering transcripts of interviews. It works. The stuff on corporations being totalitarian tyrannies should hit home for everyone who works in one.
A favourite quote: "The press isn’t in the business of letting people know how power works. It would be crazy to expect that....They’re part of the power system—why should they expose it?”
A favourite quote: "The press isn’t in the business of letting people know how power works. It would be crazy to expect that....They’re part of the power system—why should they expose it?”
Typical Chomsky; critical, harsh yet not unfair criticism of the US containment policy during the cold war. Would hope he stops writing about the attrocities that the US has committed, but perhaps more about how this century old colonialism game has evolved, and how the international organisations are less of a trojan horse to crack down on weaker economies compared to the direct and devastating policies of the US in the last century.
I love Chomsky's bluntness... reading this is like visiting some wise old monk and getting lots of surprisingly simple answers to a lot of big questions. Many aren't ready to hear what this man has to say, but I think there is a lot of truth in Chomsky's worldview.
I love Chomsky. Mind you it's pretty horrible what he says, but at least he gives you pointers on what to do if you can be bothered and have enough influential friends to help out!
A good collection of 3 of Chomsky's bigger books from the 90s. Obviously a little dated by now, but a decent introduction to someone who isn't familiar with all of his work.
Please read this book. It describes US History, and the terrible choices we've made.
Sep 14, 2011
Chad Colgur
marked it as to-read
The Prosperous Many and the Restless Few. I'll read for that essay alone.
This collection of 4 Chomsky books was written in the ninetieth, however they really describe what is going on around the globe now. It made me really understand a lot of incidents and policies taking place all over the world !
.......
Love the book, easy to read, truly informative.I had never read anything by Chomsky before. It's thanks to truthdig, which I found by accident, or I wouldn't be reading it now.
WOW... Chomsky says the best way to keep people obedient and passive is to strictly narrow the range of opinion and then encourage vigorous free debate within that range. Well he blows the lid off both ends off the range. You will never look at the world the same, this book would be banned in most places for it's irreverence or calling out of American policy.
Dec 28, 2012
Vinayak
added it
eye opener.
Yay, i finished a Chomsky book!
A book everyone should read.
mind's provoking.
May 25, 2013
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is currently reading it
May 24, 2013
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May 20, 2013
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Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. He is an Institute Professor and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Chomsky is credited with the creation of the theory of generative grammar, considered to be one of the most significant contributions to the field of linguistics made in the 20th century. H...more
More about Noam Chomsky...
Chomsky is credited with the creation of the theory of generative grammar, considered to be one of the most significant contributions to the field of linguistics made in the 20th century. H...more
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Aug 23, 2012 05:54am