In this timely, highly original, and controversial narrative, New York Times bestselling author Mark Kurlansky discusses nonviolence as a di...
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Jun 08, 2008
James
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This book was absolutely captivating.
The history of non-violence is unrepresented in our educational system. In fact, it is quite the opposite: our educational system presents history almost entirely as a progression of violent acts.
Kurlansky's book is remarkable for several reasons. It is a fascinating, lucid account of the non-violence movement throughout history, most of which we have never before encountered. His writing is excellent - clear and concise, and yet descr More...
The history of non-violence is unrepresented in our educational system. In fact, it is quite the opposite: our educational system presents history almost entirely as a progression of violent acts.
Kurlansky's book is remarkable for several reasons. It is a fascinating, lucid account of the non-violence movement throughout history, most of which we have never before encountered. His writing is excellent - clear and concise, and yet descr More...
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Mar 30, 2008
Ted
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A lovely little book with a nice organizational conceit: a list of lessons. The author makes arguments that will be impossible to disagree with, even if they are hard to put into practice. Others are less obvious and might make some readers question the assertions made. But that's good. I found myself questioning some assumptions I had labored under for some time (e.g., was WWII really a good or even necessary war?).
The folks who will find this book most useful are those of us More...
The folks who will find this book most useful are those of us More...
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Jan 27, 2009
Derek
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A brilliant book examining the history of nonviolence. Conventional wisdom holds that nonviolence is the dream for idealistic fools and naïve dreamers; a sweet idea, but one incredibly ineffectual in the real world. Kurlansky digs through history to refute this idea. He presents evidence that the success of Gandhi s nonviolent revolution in India is hardly the singular, nor the result of a confluence of serendipitous conditions which cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Other nonviolent movements
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Dec 19, 2010
Cwalker
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I finished this book feeling not particularly optimistic about non-violent resistance, despite some well researched and interesting history of instances where it has worked given sufficient time (20 years in the case of Poland), grassroots support and the incredible courage, forbearance and suffering of people in the front lines. I found the history of Denmark's resistance to the Nazis and the Pathans' resistance to the British inspiring but wondered why the most recent history of Northern Irela
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Aug 25, 2010
Jason
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As I waited for our '03 Honda Civic to get serviced today, I finished reading, Nonviolence: The History of A Dangerous Idea by Mark Kurlansky. And, I must say that this is a great read! I love reading history, so maybe it's just me, but I really enjoyed this book. Kurlansky is accessible and does a good job of representing the history of nonviolence throughout history. The book is fairly short, so he does not go into too much detail but enough to entice the imagination of those that dream of a
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Feb 02, 2009
Ronny
rated it:
2009#7
buku yg mencerahkan!! banyak rujukan ttg para pemikir non-violence yg aku tidak tahu, sebagiannya karena mereka sengaja ditenggelamkan oleh pemikiran2 mainstream yg mendukung violence.
Banyak rujukan dan rincian juga di titik mana teks2 agama dibelokkan utk mendukung violence. Bgmn umat Kristen Perdana adalah penyokong teguh non-violence dan kondisi ini berubah ketika Roma mengkooptasinya. Cara termudah adalah dg mengangkat tokoh2nya sbg Santo. Misalnya Santo Martin dari More...
buku yg mencerahkan!! banyak rujukan ttg para pemikir non-violence yg aku tidak tahu, sebagiannya karena mereka sengaja ditenggelamkan oleh pemikiran2 mainstream yg mendukung violence.
Banyak rujukan dan rincian juga di titik mana teks2 agama dibelokkan utk mendukung violence. Bgmn umat Kristen Perdana adalah penyokong teguh non-violence dan kondisi ini berubah ketika Roma mengkooptasinya. Cara termudah adalah dg mengangkat tokoh2nya sbg Santo. Misalnya Santo Martin dari More...
Apr 08, 2009
David
rated it:
A very interesting history of non-violence, from ancient times to the present. Kurlansky presents some provocative ideas questioning the wisdom of war, any war, throughout history, including the saintly "Good War" of World War II and the American Civil War. He uses alot of examples, (such as Gandhi's campaign in India) to suggest that non-violence is more effective than armed struggle. He points out that in the Middle East, violence hasn't worked, isn't working and probably won't eve
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Jan 26, 2009
Eliezer
rated it:
It is a brilliant study of nonviolence towards political goals. While I do not agree with every one of the below statements, his argument and development of these "rules"(my term, not the authors) is detailed and contains both well known and not well known examples. There are not enough historical analysis of Nonviolence as a political strategy written by a historian rather than an activist. While the author's bias is obvious he sells this method of political change as the only lasting
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Nov 29, 2011
Jackson
rated it: 
Charts a course of nonviolent action and thought from ancient times (India, China, Japan), through a mostly Western track through the middle ages and finally to the 20th century. The actual 25 lessons are excellent, and take up a mere two pages in the appendix. Their explication comes in the preceding history. Kurlansky assumes some familiarity in his readers about such prominent nonviolent events as Ghandi's campaign in India and the Civil Rights Movement--I was with him on most of it but wou
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Sep 17, 2010
T.L.
rated it:
Mark Kurlansky's treatise, Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea, examines the effectiveness of nonviolence as a means to create change in socity. Kurlansky explores the failures of violences to be effective in exacting real change as well as why leaders, countries, and people accept, excuse, and advocate violence when nonviolence would garner greater results. The reasons are often simple but just as often convaluted and almost always self-serving. He uses examples of nonviolence from
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Feb 07, 2011
Bobby
rated it:
A 4.5 star effort really but I'm rounding it up to 5 as 1/2 stars are not allowed. In a short book, Mark Kurlansky manages to pack a lot of history, especially as it pertains to the history of nonviolence. The breadth covered is quite large, from ancient Christians to more modern figures like Gandhi and MLK. A key premise is that often religions start out with nonviolence at their core but once the religions are co-opted/adopted by the state/monarchy, violence seems to become part of the religio
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May 19, 2010
Kay
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An outstanding contribution to the understanding of nonviolence in world politics. I was startled to learn fact after historical fact that has been suppressed or simply ignored by our culture of violence. Kurlansky does not directly address the application of nonviolence to private, interpersonal politics -- or to the power struggles that go on within one person among competing values and beliefs. And he uses the term "power" only in the culturally accepted sense of "violent powe
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Oct 29, 2011
Larry
rated it:
The subtitle of this book lets you know what to expect if you pick it up intending to read it: Nonviolence: Twenty Five Lessons from the History of a Dangerous Idea.
For me, nonviolence is a part of an ideal world. I am drawn to it but do not know where in my being it originated. I do not want to make the concept a weak rationale that explains how I try to travel on my life’s path. How do people fall under the spell of nonviolence?
I am a member and supporter of the War Re More...
For me, nonviolence is a part of an ideal world. I am drawn to it but do not know where in my being it originated. I do not want to make the concept a weak rationale that explains how I try to travel on my life’s path. How do people fall under the spell of nonviolence?
I am a member and supporter of the War Re More...
May 24, 2011
Missjgray
rated it:
I love "history of xyz" books. And this is one of the better ones--and Kurlansky knows what he's doing (author of "Cod" and "Salt" which I now also have to read).
This book moves through many different movements, people and instances of nonviolent activism.
Lots of people you would expect, Gandhi, Tutu, Jesus and some unexpected groups, the Waldensians, lots of abolitionists, and other interesting folk.
This book points to Jesus as " More...
This book moves through many different movements, people and instances of nonviolent activism.
Lots of people you would expect, Gandhi, Tutu, Jesus and some unexpected groups, the Waldensians, lots of abolitionists, and other interesting folk.
This book points to Jesus as " More...
Jan 11, 2009
Shinynickel
rated it:
I've always been fascinated by nonviolence - it's one of those political tactics that I've seen touted, but secretly thought of as largely ineffective. After all, if the government has shut a large group of people out of the decision-making process, whether by disenfranchising a subset of the population or by becoming a dicatorship, I had trouble seeing how getting a bunch of them together and, for example, chaining them to something, was really going to change anything.
I think I be More...
I think I be More...
Apr 16, 2010
Sara
rated it:
This book what not exactly what I was expecting, though I did find chunks of it both interesting and revelatory. It seemed more like an anti- war book than a strict chronology of non-violence and there were a number of unfortunate omissions- like the Rosenstrasse Prison demonstration and the non-violent regime changes in Central America. Still, I'd recommend it as a good starting point for anyone interested in non-violent movements.
Jan 22, 2008
Celeste
rated it:
I liked reading history books, and this is a new look at the history I thought I knew. Kurlansky points out missed opportunities as well as success stories of non violent demonstration. The 25 lessons have to do with the ridiculous, yet compelling arguments and tactics of violence. "Behind every war, there are a few founding lies" etc. It was very thought provoking. It is so easy and takes zero thought to be violent. But to be non violent in the face of violence takes such self d
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Mar 23, 2009
Kathy
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I listened to this book, which is read by Richard Dreyfuss, while traveling over spring break. As a conscientious objector, the historical analysis of non-violence as a strategy for dealing with conflict was both enlightening and frightening. Highly recommended to both war mongers and peace activists who want to understand more clearly the plight of our world today.
Feb 23, 2009
Kristin
rated it:
forget all that "history" you learned in public school and from the media - this book has all the past knowledge you NEED to know. we must learn from our past as to not repeat it again. unfortunately all of the history books are biased and don't give the correct info. this is a MUST READ (also a quick read, i finished it in 3 days)
Feb 18, 2010
Allison
rated it:
This was the most thought provoking, revealing book I may have EVER read. It should be REQUIRED reading in order to get a driver's license - it has absolutely nothing to do with driving but more people get their driver's licenses than do almost anything else the same way.
It will keep you up nights. It will force you to rethink everything you thought you knew about war, the founding and history of our country and world history.
It will rock your moral fibers to the core. More...
It will keep you up nights. It will force you to rethink everything you thought you knew about war, the founding and history of our country and world history.
It will rock your moral fibers to the core. More...
Apr 12, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
The beginning of the book was not spellbinding--for me at least--as it was all about how the various religions of the world grew away from their original positions of nonviolence as they succumbed the the lure of power, but when he talked about the nonviolent movements that existed during the wars of the 20th century it was interesting. And sad.
Oct 08, 2011
Donald
rated it: 
This book really disappointed me. It was a great concept, but the execution wasn't that great. A few interesting characters show up - Mozi, a pacifist opponent of Confucius, and some groups in the Reformation/Early-American era - but the general narrative lacked cohesion and vision. Not really worth the read.
Feb 27, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is a fascinating book showing quite a different light on world history with convincing arguments that there is no such thing as a 'just' war. Kurlansky writes: "History teaches us over and over that [...:] if the nonviolent side can be led to violence, they have lost the argument and are destroyed".
Jun 02, 2011
David
rated it:
A fascinating book chronicling examples of active non-violent resistance. The author presents a powerful argument for the efficacy of such movements, and contrasts their differences from mere passive acceptance of a situation.
Unfortunately, because the book covers such a breadth of history and movements, it never delves too deeply into any of them. This left me with a feeling that any inconvenient facts which may have overtly challenged the main thesis of the book were put to one sid More...
Unfortunately, because the book covers such a breadth of history and movements, it never delves too deeply into any of them. This left me with a feeling that any inconvenient facts which may have overtly challenged the main thesis of the book were put to one sid More...
Jul 30, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Great overview of non-violence. Makes me dislike Augustine all the more. The only question I have is about Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps it is just dates, but Kurlansky states that Lincoln would have accepted slavery to keep the Union. However, at one point keeping slavery was on the table for negotiation, and Lincoln said that he could not take back the slaves' freedom. It could be that one was before the Emancipation Proclamation and the other after, but I would have to check the dates.
Mar 03, 2011
Jeffrey
rated it:
I lost my copy of this book too. Ugh. I'd really like to read it again. I loved it. I'd've never guess that there was so much history, and INTRIGUING history at that, on the subject of nonviolence, pacifism, ahisma. I will buy a copy of this again if I have the chance.
Sep 22, 2009
Nick
rated it:
I didn't particularly enjoy Kurlansky's book on nonviolence--although his facts are accurate, they are often incomplete and his tone is snarky throughout. Someone whose introduction to nonviolence is this book is likely to reject the whole business.
Mar 30, 2008
Shaun
rated it:
A very interesting look at history through the nonviolent perspective. Defining nonviolence not as inactive pacifism (which he labels cowardly), the author makes a fairly compelling case that nonviolence is a more powerful tool for change than violence. It also attacks "just war" theory by highlighting the horrors of war and violence. No historian is ever completely correct, and perhaps the main criticism of this book is the brevity of his specific examples due to the rather short leng
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Aug 02, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
Everyone should read this -- a much-needed antidote to our culture's glorification of violence and war. I came away from it feeling that nonviolence is a far more courageous approach to life than the battlefield valor most of see as courage.
Dec 16, 2008
You know about the Quakers, the Mennonites, the Cathars. But what abou the Waldenses? Taborites? St. Maximilian of Tebessa, the conscientious objector? LOTS of history (and
precedent) you'll be amazed to know about.
precedent) you'll be amazed to know about.
