The best of Chomsky's recent talks on the past, present, and future of the politics of power. In a series of enlightening and wide-ranging discussi...
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Apr 09, 2009
Todd
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Want to understanding international politics? Want to know how to read between the lines of the days headlines? Want to know where to start with Noam Chomsky? The answer to all those questions is: Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky.
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Jul 03, 2010
Intentions Good, Views Dangerous: Understanding Power is, without question, the most comprehensive and compelling presentation of Noam Chomsky's ideas. Reading this book will change the way you see the world. If you are interested in Chomsky, it is likely that you are a noble person who genuinely cares for others and yearns for a better world. Beware, reader, and make sure you choose the right vehicle for your hope. While his intentions are for a peaceful, safe, and healthy world, Chomsky's poli
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Dec 30, 2010
Zach
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This is the best single source of Chomsky's work I've come across. A triumph of editing, this book is made up of excerpts of talks Chomsky gave throughout the 80s and 90s. Loosely organized by topic, the book is highly flowing and readable. It includes an encyclopedic reference section available online that is longer than the main text of the book. This is where I recommend anyone not familiar with Chomsky's work to begin; it's the most comprehensive and accessible compilation of his thoughts. M
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Jul 28, 2010
Jack
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Having only read Chomsky in snippets here and there, I thought this book was a broad, accessible introduction to Chomsky's thoughts on the issues for which he is best known in pop culture (those relating to politics and power). Regardless of what one ultimately thinks of Chomsky's opinions (and he reiterates constantly that his intent is to provoke discussion, not to provide all the answers), the man is at least important to understand for modern democratic citizens. His knowledge of global cu
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Jun 01, 2010
I'm always afraid of reading political things (A) because I'm scared of it being completely over my head and (B) because I'm aware that I have a tendency to uncritically accept what people say [which makes for a lot of fun if you read different points of views because everything everybody says (even the contradictory stuff) sounds 100% right:].
This book was very conversational (partly due to format, transcribed Q&A sessions and I imagine partly due to Chomsky's dislike of the idea of More...
This book was very conversational (partly due to format, transcribed Q&A sessions and I imagine partly due to Chomsky's dislike of the idea of More...
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Dec 02, 2009
Mary
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Noam Chomsky is a respected linguist who is also known as a political dissident and writer. His best-known work is probably Manufacturing Consent, in which Chomsky and Edward Herman examined “how the media ought to function and how they do function” within a framework of propaganda.
Years ago, I remember picking up something by Chomsky and finding it very academic and dry. Understanding Power, on the contrary, is infinitely readable. Discussions among groups of activists, from dozens of More...
Years ago, I remember picking up something by Chomsky and finding it very academic and dry. Understanding Power, on the contrary, is infinitely readable. Discussions among groups of activists, from dozens of More...
Nov 09, 2009
Jonathan
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All right, here we go:
I'm not a political scientist -- probably this works in my favor -- so I can't level this kind of assessment with anything like authority, but for what it's worth, I think Chomsky's mostly right about most everything he talks about.
BUT. Rather than attempt once again to articulate an objection that's always struck me as sort of obvious every time I've dipped into one of his books (and I have read a few now, sure. I really like the guy), I think I'll More...
I'm not a political scientist -- probably this works in my favor -- so I can't level this kind of assessment with anything like authority, but for what it's worth, I think Chomsky's mostly right about most everything he talks about.
BUT. Rather than attempt once again to articulate an objection that's always struck me as sort of obvious every time I've dipped into one of his books (and I have read a few now, sure. I really like the guy), I think I'll More...
Nov 01, 2008
Randy
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This is the second time through this book for me. I met Noam in the 70s through professor types who revered him (justifiably) for his talents in linguistics. He has a range of knowledge amazingly far reaching and is a very engaging person to have dialogue with. This book is worth the ride if only for the footnotes @ http://www.understandingpower.com/.
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Dec 17, 2009
Patrick
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A fantastic collection of talks given by Chomsky over the years. Serves as the perfect introduction to his work if you are unfamiliar with it. Just pick a chapter and read it a little at a time.
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Mar 03, 2011
Kassandra
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This is an amazing collection of Chomsky's work. For me it wasn't the type of book I sat and read cover to cover in one sitting. It was one I slowly worked my way through wrapping my mind around the vast amount of information he provided. I actually read this book with a highlighter in hand as though it was a college text book! Noam Chomsky is brilliant and this is my favorite book of his that I have read. I have a couple others and I feel like this one presents his views in the most compre
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Sep 11, 2011
Nikzad
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I came to know and appreciate Chomsky's ideas via some of his interviews. This was my first book by Chomsky. Its a collection of his lectures in the 90's, compiled such that you clearly follow the flow of ideas. I guess even if somebody remotely follows politics through the media, this book is must. The book provides with the basics of trying to read between the lines... not just following what “they” present. It also gave me some confidence to question the ideas behind governments, ideas that I
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Jun 15, 2011
Alessandro
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Inquietante e spaventoso. A volte si dice senza pensarci troppo "la realtà supera la fantasia", ma leggendo questo libro ci si rende conto di quanto sia vero. Sconsigliato a chi soffre di crisi depressive e di manie di persecuzione, perché potrebbe portare al suicidio. L'autore (o meglio "il protagonista") esprime naturalmente la sua opinione su molti dei punti discussi, e si tratta di un punto di vista da "anarchico". Su ogni argomento si può concordare o meno, m
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Nov 25, 2008
Charlie
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This was my introduction to the most quoted author after Seakspear and the Bible. He has been called the "world's most important intellectual" by the New York Times (and that is why they won't print most of what he has to say) and was placed in Richard Nixon's top 100 enemies of the United States when Nixon was President. In the mid 60's when Vietnam was acceptable to most Americans Professor Chomsky (Noble laureate and professor of Linguistics at MIT)was leading anti-war demonstations
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Jan 03, 2011
Callsign222
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A great collection of thought and critique on Power and the Structures of Power. Highly recommended. A little dated since lots of the conversations are from prior to 9-11, but still very applicable to today. Refreshing, critical analysis. I have some quibbles here and there about taking some examples out of proportion, but that does not necessarily invalidate the idea he is trying to support. I enjoy that he understands and recognizes how great it is to be able to speak our mind freely in t
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Jun 25, 2010
Shawn
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I was reading this at my local coffee shop about five+ years ago and some guy asked to use my cellphone. I obliged, but then he started walking towards the door with it as he was leaving a message! So I yelled out, "Hey. Where you going with my phone?" He was not pleased, or 'ungrateful' depending on your perspective, and he then noticed my reading material when he handed back the phone. He made a snide remark concerning the title of this book and how it relates to my control of my
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Mar 21, 2010
R.
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The book is very detailed and insightful look into Chomsky's activism, politics and issues with the US' foreign policy by way of interviews with Mr. Chomsky and lectures by him from the late 80s into the early years of the past decade.
Whatever your opinion is regarding Chomsky's politics, you have to give credit to the vast knowledge this man possesses. Understanding Power could have easily been titled Understanding Chomsky. It's a window into the mind of one of the most controversia More...
Whatever your opinion is regarding Chomsky's politics, you have to give credit to the vast knowledge this man possesses. Understanding Power could have easily been titled Understanding Chomsky. It's a window into the mind of one of the most controversia More...
Jul 27, 2011
Christian
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Let me start of by saying I didn't agree with everything he says in this book, but we should not only read things we agree with. We should strive to seek NEW information. This book definitely expanded my mind.
While Chomsky definitely has a cynical view of the US and the world, this book still contains great insights into all sorts of things. For instance, he talks about the military-industrial complex, tons of references to Orwell's 1984, propaganda, any people from other countries per More...
While Chomsky definitely has a cynical view of the US and the world, this book still contains great insights into all sorts of things. For instance, he talks about the military-industrial complex, tons of references to Orwell's 1984, propaganda, any people from other countries per More...
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Nov 13, 2011
Evelyn
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An eye-opening book which is accessible for almost everyone to read without too much trouble and a great introduction to many topics surrounding the politics of Power. Packed within these 400 pages, Chomsky discusses US foreign policy & US politics in general, Israel, Palestine & the Middle East, histories of labour and social movements, propaganda techniques of the mainstream media, the military-industrial complex and the UN to name just a few. He also talks about activism and the need for peo
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May 25, 2011
Chris
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Chomsky is one of the critical deans of American political history: ironic and pessimistic; forever probing and analyzing the decrepitude, deceit, and delusion rife within the ready presentation and understanding of the United States as an exceptional force of good in the world, and a constant decrier of the various means and manipulations the government and media undertake to stoke this view; content in generally limiting himself to pointing out the flaws in the system, the hypocrisy and moral
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Oct 24, 2010
Devin
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To put it mildly, I was unaware of Chomsky's politics before reading Understanding Power. It provides a detailed insight into his views over the past few decades, although that is the one fault. I am the type of person who is interested in the "now," or up-to-the-minute details. It took some effort to work through Chomsky's views on events, some rather minimal ,that occured in the 70's and had little relevence for me today. However, the information is pure Chomsky, and a good asset to
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Oct 10, 2011
Sophee
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This book was my introduction to Chomsky, and ever since I have had the utmost respect for his work. This is a long book, but if you can read just parts of it I know it would enlighten you (more than you may ever want to be). It covers so much of U.S. foreign and domestic policy that I can't even begin to say what you'll discover. I was particularly interested in the Latin American atrocities because I had never known about them until I read this book.
Nov 26, 2008
Gemma
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I am becoming a serious Chomsky addict. This is a collection of talks with the emphasis on dissidence and organising for change. Chomsky is excellent on the analysis of power and on the importance of the individual. He is completely down to earth and has a wonderful focus on the abilities of people to understand and engage with the world. Encouraging stuff, despite all the appalling issues raised here. I love his direct approach and his commitment.
Dec 04, 2008
Emily
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A must for anyone who wants to really educate themselves on how the government, media (and the corporations who control both), really work in this country. Noam is very smart man, to say the least. Most of his speeches were collected in the 1980s, so it's a little dated, but for most part scarily prescient.
Feb 08, 2009
This is a compilation of interviews with The Man. I find his interviews to be more readable than his prose, but that's just me. Chomsky's a walking encyclopedia, and it comes through in this book. His political stances are always backed up by factual, demonstrable evidence. Hard to beat that.
Jul 28, 2011
Some of his observations are excellent. You may disagree with some of his views and opinions, but it is still a good book, I found those parts about international politics especially interesting. The structure of the book was a bit disturbing for me (question - answer.., like a long interview).
Nov 30, 2011
Ryan
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This is the first piece of work I have read by Chomsky. It is so succinct and easy to read it's kind of absurd. Really shed an illuminating light on history and power structure for me, especially since WWII.
Jul 08, 2008
Jared
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This book will blow your mind. I think everyone should read it. Explains and uncovers the motives and goals of our current media and government, and details how we all need to join up in solidarity to help change the rotten, perverted direction our society is heading toward. It paints a grim outlook for the future, considering the institutional mechanisms in place, but it also shows that with effort and time, things can and will change. Written in a conversational/interview style that's very
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Aug 23, 2010
Ryan
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Reads like either an activist's handbook or a demagogue's guide to suppressing dissident thought in an ostensibly free society. Nothing in this book should come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention, but Chomsky's command of policy and history should impress even hardened cynics.
Aug 16, 2009
Eric
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An overview of Chomsky's critique of American foreign policy after forty years of study and activism. Brilliant stuff and a conversational form that is easy to digest.
Jun 09, 2011
Justin
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An excellent, readable overview of Chomsky's ideas. I loved how easy it was to read. It was almost frustrating how obvious Chomsky made some of his thoughts.
