Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi

by Mark Boyle

Get ready for the new three R' Resist, Revolt, Rewild More than ever, people are longing for deep and meaningful change. Another world is not only possible; it is essential. Yet despite our creative and determined efforts to attain social justice and ecological sustainability, our global crises continue to deepen. In Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi , bestselling author Mark Boyle argues that our political and economic system has brought us to the brink of climate catastrophe, ransacking ecosystems and unravelling communities for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. He makes a compelling case that we must "rewild" the political landscape, as history teaches us that positive social change has always been wrought by movements prepared to use any means available. The time has come for pacifists, revolutionaries, and freedom fighters to work together for the creation of a world worth sustaining. Eloquent, visionary and beautifully written, this incendiary manifesto strikes at the heart of the world's crises and reframes our understanding of how to solve them, signaling a turning point in our journey towards an ecologically just society. The three R's of the climate change generation-reduce, reuse, and recycle-are long overdue for an upgrade. Welcome to resist, revolt, rewild.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Mark Boyle (born 8 May 1979) is the best-selling author of The Way Home (2019), The Moneyless Man (2010), and The Moneyless Manifesto (2012) and Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi (2015).

He lives on a smallholding in Ireland.

Reviews

[Robin Greenfield]

Each of Mark’s books have inspired me to dive deeper into myself then ever before. With the knowledge he shares in his writing I have had no choice but to make great changes in my life to live out my beliefs. Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi was the toughest of his books to swallow but the most necessary in realizing what must be done to live on a truly sustainable and just planet. There is no hiding from the truth after reading this book.
-Rob Greenfield author of Dude Making a Difference

[Kristian Gunn]

Outstanding, inspiring, well researched with well argued case points. Ultimately depressing however. There's not an argument I disagree with in this book and Boyle's vision of a future world is a beautiful one, but how to actually get there is less evident. Sabotage of industrial corporate's facilities and the re-introduction of the grey wolf into the wild doesn't seem like a particularly coherent plan to destabilise the despised 'Machine'. But then, it's not an easy conquest either. More than one mind is required for a solution, at least Boyle has provided full rationale as to why this revolution is necessary. Boyle's book will hopefully sow the seeds for more inspiring notions in minds with greater imaginations than mine. This is definitely a book I need to re-read and pass on to others which is the greatest result an author could hope for from a reader I am sure.

[Marina]

When does preventing the destruction of our home planet, which is necessary for all life as we know it, turn into self-defense and thus justify violent resistance against those who are causing it? This is the key query in Mark Boyle's 'Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Ghandi'.

To my personal disappointment, in attempting to answer this otherwise profound existential question, the author begins to profusely drool over prehistoric hunter-gatherer culture. (Yes, the same culture that wiped out all of North America's megafauna through overhunting in just a few thousand years. If only some authors engaged more actively with research whilst writing their books). Yearning for a return to such a simplistic state, Boyle fails to provide a viable alternative to our current way of living, and the reader is driven to cling to this nonsense of an unrealistic vision for the rest of the book.
In a similar vein, the author does little to pinpoint particular targets and makes no distinctions about scale or intent to aid any potential sympathisers in understanding what could be the best course of action.

Despite the fact that the Sixth Mass Extinction as a direct result of the aggression of consumer capitalism is indeed an issue that needs to be tackled with passion, Boyle's book fails to offer much else. It successfully and eloquently strikes at the heart of the crises caused by the dominant political and economic system, but regrettably fails (repeatedly) to reframe our understanding of how to solve them, offering nothing else but a desire to recreate a lost state of nature which can only be described as a romantic pursuit of Eden - a space separate from man, but by man's machines and in his own vision.

[ave9]

Mark Boyle presents an interesting argument for violent resistance aganist "The Machine" (i.e., Capitalist society). Boyle fails to give great examples of violence being used to bring about good ends. Despite beginning the book with references to a number of movements I hoped he would expand on, he only points out that many supposedly pacifist movement leaders were not, in fact, very pacifist. Although to stop the "The Machine", violence is probably necessary, Boyle fails to deal with the classic problem of what comes next. He provides an unappealing vision of a preindustrial society without the technologies and comforts of today. While Boyle believes that these advances have led us astray, the case he presents is not strong.

For example, Boyle argues that mass society is the only reason we need advanced ethics. Simpler societies were not concerned with complex ethical issues because they weren't needed. This argument does not hold weight and the romanticisation of prehistoric hunter/gatherer culture is difficult to ignore.

However, his principle point, that non-violence actually plays into the hand of corporate interest, is compelling and deserving of attention (however unoriginal it may be).

[Tony Permaculture]

You won't be quite the same after reading this. Just the title makes you want to read it doesn't it!

[Allen]

This is advanced reading for those who are already well-read in the science and philosophy of environmentalism. It would be a mistake to give this book to someone who has not cultivated a depth of understanding in the areas of economics, natural history, sociology, and climate science as it could be easily misconstrued. Even with a lot of background, it could be misconstrued. It is a challenging book on a challenging subject. There are a few important points which are not given a lot of weight, but are essential for providing context - this is a conspicuously demanding task for the reader, to recognize them as they appear and to then hold them in mind there forward. That, and the language chosen makes it essential, for better or for worse, that the reader discard prior associations and approach the essence of text with an open mind, withholding snap judgements. All in all, a tall order... but that's Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi.
Personally, I find this a curious precursor to 'The Way Home' (which I've read multiple times and has become one of my favorite books). The Way Home is more personal and I would say also - wiser. But it is interesting to see that 'Cocktails' led to 'Home'. It is something I've thought a lot about... "personal integrity" - the most concise summation.

[Parashar Kumar]

One of the best books which i have ever read is Drinking Molotov Cocktail with Gandhi. This my third book written by Mrak Boyle after Moneyless Man and Moneyless Manifesto. i had always been thinking about 'money'. What is money and how does it comes into existence. How money is created and how some people has lot of money as well as how some has not? All the three books gave me answer to the above question and now my focus is more on living rather than earning money. Wonderful read and recommended for everyone who want to have a clarity of thought on the money and want to lead a meaningful life.

[PPEsquire]

A rather tediously long call to resist actively the destruction of the environment. By heavily relying on guilt, I’m not sure Boyle does not deter readers and actually offers any useful advice.

I preferred Andreas’ Malm book which is both shorter in making the same point about the need for a dose of violence in fighting violence but also brought a radical joyous optimism to it.

[Phill]

A misrepresentation of Nonviolence.

[Krzysztof Strug]

Well written and engaging, but presents its point quite narrowly, without looking into any potential side-effects of proposed tactics.

[Neil]

Absolute garbage. This is what happens when someone with very basic writing skill tries to rewrite industrial society and its future with a poorly developed ecologist viewpoint.

It’s poorly written, badly thought out, filled with extremely stupid opinions about how modern technology has failed us and goes nowhere beyond “maybe we should actually bomb Monsanto”.

I wonder if he wrote it with a quill pen and delivered it by horse to his publisher.

I regret purchasing it and the time I wasted reading it.

[Ginger Eager]

An excellent read during the first two weeks of Georgia's quarantine during the global Covid-19 pandemic. What is the appropriate role of violence in the Green Movement? I don't have an answer to this question after finishing this book, but certainly my considerations have become more nuanced.

[Sam Townson]

Looking for a book to challenge your points of view? This is it.
Looking for a book that makes you think (a lot)? This is it.
Looking for something that makes you rethink your attitude towards violence? This is it.

[Amanda Em]

10 stars.

[Fionn]

This book must be read and acted upon. Absorb it, believe it, know it to be true and move forward knowingly, purposefully.