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Playbook for Progressives: 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer
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An organizing manifesto for the twenty-first century, Playbook for Progressives is a must-have for the activist's tool kit. This comprehensive guide articulates pragmatically what is required in the often mystifying and rarely explained on-the-ground practice of organizing. Here, Eric Mann distills lessons he learned from over forty years as an organizer, as well as from o
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Eric Mann has long been involved with Los Angeles' Strategy Center -- which spawned the Bus Riders Union -- and a mentor of Patrisse Cullors (Black Lives Matter, Dignity and Power Now, Justice LA). This background led me to pick up this book. It has two parts: 12 roles of the successful organizer and 16 qualities of the successful organizer. In each relatively short chapter, Mann relates the story of a specific organizing campaign or the contributions of a specific organizer. Most of the case st
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Eric Mann has been an organizer since the 1960's. I read about him back in my Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) days. He's been a community organizer and labor organizer and was one of the founders of the LA Bus Riders Union. He draws upon his deep and wide experience and the many human contacts he has made over the years to give us a point by point guide to successfully Fight the Power.
Mann knows we are in a marathon, not a sprint and that it may take generations to achieve our deeper and ...more
Mann knows we are in a marathon, not a sprint and that it may take generations to achieve our deeper and ...more
"A Book of Nuts & Bolts for Your Breakfast of Nuts & Bolts"
Eric Mann's "Playbook for Progressives" (2011) might seem quite dated, given that it was published months before the great left reawakening after Occupy Wall Street, BLM and Bernie Sanders Five-Year Campaign for President, but the author really shines when he provides small poignant vignettes of what organizers do, and how they really are quite different than the sometimes-there activists, who buzz in-and-out for food samples, but aren't ...more
Eric Mann's "Playbook for Progressives" (2011) might seem quite dated, given that it was published months before the great left reawakening after Occupy Wall Street, BLM and Bernie Sanders Five-Year Campaign for President, but the author really shines when he provides small poignant vignettes of what organizers do, and how they really are quite different than the sometimes-there activists, who buzz in-and-out for food samples, but aren't ...more
This book provides some good ideas for folks looking to improve their community organizing skills and I appreciate how he names names of so many of the folks he's worked with throughout many years and settings. I do wish the author intentionally brought his identities into the book - I think that would help him write in ways that are more open, accessible, and encouraging especially to those of us who aren't white men.
It’s very accessible and dumbs down very basic roles and qualities one needs to be a successful organizer. Something I couldn’t get passed is how it displays these roles and qualities as like pop psychology. It’s really not the worst read, it’s always good to go over your basics, but it can express these basics in an infuriatingly infantile way at times.
Great frameworks for any kind of community leader, not just political leaders.
The table of contents is the most useful portion. I ended up reading just the first few paragraphs of each chapter because the rest of the chapters were examples that were quite superfluous.
The table of contents is the most useful portion. I ended up reading just the first few paragraphs of each chapter because the rest of the chapters were examples that were quite superfluous.
Many of us pass through (not just once) a point in our political lives where we see the difference between organizer, activist, and other terms for our engagement, as forks in the road. For those in this process, Eric Mann offers his perspective and arguments for becoming "transformative organizers." He draws on his experience to give a framework for thinking about the organizer's roles and qualities. Most valuably, he provides vignettes and profiles of organizers he's learned from and who demon
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Frank, practical training guide for going from issue activism and engagement to becoming a committed grass roots, social change organizer. Based on Eric Mann's years of commitment to and experience with radical organizing in Los Angeles. Reading it alone, you gain some perspectives. To really use it, I suspect you would need to go through a training program with him.
This book was great. A lot of real examples that you can relate to. It moved fast and has lots of great lessons for people considering organizing. I felt like the word 'revolution' was used a bit broadly for my taste. Read it.
This is an excellent and comprehensive field guide on the principles and practices of transformative organizing. There are decades of local, regional, national, and international movement building experience distilled in its pages. A must read for anyone wanting to make systemic change.
Excellent and specific advice
Mann's case studies are some of the strongest portions of the book that both serve to illustrate his arguments and offer concrete examples for organizers to present to people of times mass mobilization has produced positive tangible change
Mann's case studies are some of the strongest portions of the book that both serve to illustrate his arguments and offer concrete examples for organizers to present to people of times mass mobilization has produced positive tangible change
Very helpful for current organizers or would be organizers. Very helpful for people working in organizations and managing volunteers.
For me, right now, not so helpful.
For me, right now, not so helpful.
Nothing fancy, just a good breakdown of the qualities and roles of good organizers, with some nice examples.
Got energized by Occupy? Want to stay in for the long-haul? Read this book. Nuff said.
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Eric Mann is director of the Los Angeles–based Labor/Community Strategy Center and cofounder of the Bus Riders Union. He is the author of six books and has worked extensively with many organizations, including the Congress of Racial Equality, Students for a Democratic Society, and the United Auto Workers. He lives in Los Angeles.
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