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Signs of Resistance: A Visual History of Protest in America
“Clever images of dissent are not a recent phenomenon in the United States. . . . [ Signs of Resistance is] visually fascinating. . . . [and] there is bigly wit here, too.”
— The Washington Post
In hundreds of iconic, smart, angry, clever, unforgettable images, Signs of Resistance chronicles what truly makes America citizens unafraid of speaking truth to power.
Two hundred and forty images—from British rule and women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War; from women’s equality and Black Lives Matter to the actions of our forty-fifth president and the Women’s March—offer an inspiring, optimistic, and visually galvanizing history lesson about the power people have when they take to the streets and stand up for what’s right.
— The Washington Post
In hundreds of iconic, smart, angry, clever, unforgettable images, Signs of Resistance chronicles what truly makes America citizens unafraid of speaking truth to power.
Two hundred and forty images—from British rule and women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War; from women’s equality and Black Lives Matter to the actions of our forty-fifth president and the Women’s March—offer an inspiring, optimistic, and visually galvanizing history lesson about the power people have when they take to the streets and stand up for what’s right.
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2018
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248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 9, 2018
I heard an interview with the author on NPR and was immediately interested, especially when she talked about how some of our iconic political signs did not have the origins we assume, notably the famous Rosie the Riveter sign.
This is, for the most part, a picture book with the author's very short explanations of their history. This is a book focusing on protest, and the author is unapologetically anti-Trump, so no one should be surprised that it has a liberal bias. I presume that most people who pick up this book will be fine with that, but even I was annoyed when I detected the author's unquestioning support of a movement that I don't. But I am not looking to start a debate here so I won't say which movement that is.
This is, for the most part, a picture book with the author's very short explanations of their history. This is a book focusing on protest, and the author is unapologetically anti-Trump, so no one should be surprised that it has a liberal bias. I presume that most people who pick up this book will be fine with that, but even I was annoyed when I detected the author's unquestioning support of a movement that I don't. But I am not looking to start a debate here so I won't say which movement that is.
November 5, 2018
Signs of Resistance is a visual history mostly of the US's recent history with protest, such as the feminist battles for suffrage and other social, political, and economic rights, the AIDS protests, and war protests for Vietnam the the Gulf Wars. Other reviewers have noted that the book has a distinct anti-Trump slant. This shouldn't surprise anyone, as Siegler says in the introduction that this documentation of other american protests is a response to the Trump administration and a way to show other appalled, demoralized people that "that there have been other dark, shameful chapters in American history, and yet somehow democracy survived. Because we did what we do best: We kept fighting" (Siegler, Introduction).
All in all, Signs of Resistance is a good overview of famous protest artwork associated with other major sociopolitical movements, and is sprinkled throughout with commentary on what makes those pieces so powerful and enduring. It is a book that I am happy to have purchased and one that I would recommend.
All in all, Signs of Resistance is a good overview of famous protest artwork associated with other major sociopolitical movements, and is sprinkled throughout with commentary on what makes those pieces so powerful and enduring. It is a book that I am happy to have purchased and one that I would recommend.
March 5, 2018
Signs of Resistance is outstanding! It pulls together protest art from throughout America's history to show how it has grown and changed, There is humor used both in the artwork and in the text. This book has much to use with students, however, it also has some that would not work well in elementary or some middle schools. Well done, Bonnie Siegler!
March 7, 2024
I LOVED this so much! It convinced me to purchase my own copy. Very powerful images,.
January 23, 2019
This is a must have. How many books cover American history through protest art? I was reading it at the dentist and multiple people wanted a copy. Lots of humor and powerful art. The descriptions are thorough and every artist gets credit. Wanna know the true origin of Rosie the riveter? I kinda wish some of the “tea party” signs were included to show the hate that was brewing up before trump.
What I learned: “our bodies ourselves” was written by a collective of women who met at a liberation conference. It sold millions.
What I learned: “our bodies ourselves” was written by a collective of women who met at a liberation conference. It sold millions.
April 4, 2018
Interesting take on American history thru protest signs and images, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Inspiring and fascinating!
May 24, 2018
Astounding, important and enlightening....the use of images and words have been important since day one of this country to convey propaganda by the government and opposition to it.
January 23, 2019
Hard to resist "Signs of Resistance" based on the cover alone. This is an important subject with the potential to draw in all kinds of readers, even those who might resist standard historical texts. The role of art and symbolism in protest work is also compelling-- how posters may draw on famous images or quotes to add power to the cause at hand. My expectations are high and perhaps unfair, but I have the sense that the book would have benefitted from more editing and more in depth coverage of different movements and particular pieces of art. I really was delighted, for instance, that the book begins with the colonial era but I was disappointed that the closing pages are so grounded in the present without a sense of where we are headed. Maybe that's an unfair expectation-- no one has a crystal ball. But I think the timeliness of this subject may have pressured the author to get this book out and there was a cost. There are some inconsistencies and missed opportunities. For instance, early on in the colonial section a heading reads "For Americans in the revolutionary era, the art of dissent was dictated by the technology available. It was all about the words themselves, rather than persuasion through style." There are three posters on the page, and two of them have elaborate graphic designs-- only one of the posters uses words exclusively-- and so the heading seems to be contradicted by the examples at hand. In the anti-draft section, there is a vein of sexism that's unremarked upon (and that was a huge phenomenon in the time frame-- there's so much scholarship on this). The famous sixties era"Girls say yes to boys say no" poster reveals a lot about imbalanced gender politics in the period. The text observes "resisting the draft was sexy,"-- yes, effective technique (the Baez sisters are featured) but there is a lot more to consider about the dynamics here and I don't recall any discussion of this aspect anywhere in the text. To her credit, the author makes a point of showing anti-progressive poster art in different periods-- the Know-Nothings, for instance, and the Palin campaign's co-opting of Rosie the Riveter. Siegler mentions that the Irish were particularly targeted in the anti-immigration movements of the late 80s but she could have included an enlightening discussion of the reasons why artists represented the Irish features and form as ape-like, and the significance of this custom in political cartoons of the period. It's great to see the unbridled enthusiasm in the other reviews, and I feel like a wet blanket. So please be clear that by raising these observations I am holding this work to a high standard. I love the topic and really enjoyed the images. There are some real gems I had never seen before (the 1778 rebus-style poster is especially compelling). I appreciated the moments where Siegler singled out particular artists (the great Corita Kent and Kiyoshi Kuromiya, whose career spanned multiple movements). It's because this topic is so significant that I would love to see more extensive analysis of this moving and extraordinary art form, with a deeper interpretation of the mores and issues of the periods reflected by this art.
January 20, 2019
I originally bought this book for the recent events but it's actually a wonderful historical document that goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War! It covers many of the basic conflicts in U.S. history and shows that resistance has been an essential part of our national identity. Seeing all this evidence of creative protest makes me proud to be an American. Some of these signs brought back memories from my own experiences in protests. Some of the signs are from before my time and added to my education about our country. I recommend this book to all citizens of the USA....
December 31, 2019
Siegler gives you just enough information on each 'sign' while letting it speak for itself.
September 8, 2020
Really cool book that not only includes historical references to protest signs, but also the importance and intention behind color/typeface/layout to get a strong message across. Fun to look through
September 6, 2018
After her total frustration with the 2016 presidential election outcome, graphic designer Bonnie Siegler @bonnie8point5 marched in the Women's March and then began researching what people had done in the past to push back against political and social injustices. She compiled her research into a visually stunning (and intentionally shocking) book, “Signs of Resistance”.
This book spans over 250 years of American political and protest art:
--Think Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join, or Die” sectioned snake, urging the early colonies to unite.
--Think about the patriotic ideals Uncle Sam or Rosie the Riveter conjure in your mind.
--Think Barack Obama’s “Hope” poster.
--Think Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” red hats.
Siegler supplies a short description with each of the images which will make you run to your computer to try to learn everything you didn't know about a particular event or time period.
Bonnie Siegler studied graphic design at Carnegie Mellon University, worked at MTV, and has taught in the graduate programs at Yale University and the School of Visual Arts. She has been voted one of the 50 most influential designers working today by Graphic Design USA. She now runs her award-winning design studio Eight and a Half and most recently she was the creative director of the Trump parody memoir “You Can’t Spell America Without Me” by Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen. Her list of design work credentials is beyond impressive, but this book has launched her in front of a new audience of readers.
Be sure to grab a copy for yourself, your favorite protestors, and anyone else who is fed up and not gonna take it anymore!
March 20, 2018
An across the political spectrum collection of flyers, cartoons, and posters.
Chapters on Independence, Immigration, Rights, and War.
It's interesting to see how the country expressed social commentary before GIFs and tweets.
Classic "Rosie The Riveter" poster adopted by Chicana and White Nationalist activists.
I'd recommend the paperback over the electronic edition.
Chapters on Independence, Immigration, Rights, and War.
It's interesting to see how the country expressed social commentary before GIFs and tweets.
Classic "Rosie The Riveter" poster adopted by Chicana and White Nationalist activists.
I'd recommend the paperback over the electronic edition.
April 12, 2018
Funny, surprising, terrifying and inspiring all wrapped-up between two cardboard covers.
December 16, 2020
Bonnie Siegler was a graphic designer who had owned her studio for twenty-five years when she was invited to speak at a creativity conference. She was asked to speak about the future of design. That drew a blank. Instead, she told them she wanted to talk about the design of the resistance in America. The result was an 140-image presentation. After the conference she was swamped by requests for copies. There weren’t any. The result is a book: Signs of Resistance: A Visual History of Protest in America. It is a collection of images from posters, magazines and newspapers, sculpture, painting, ads, book covers, broadsides, postcards, greeting cards and handmade signs. Many are from prominent artists and designers, but some of the most impactful are handmade by ordinary people.
Siegler covers our history from before the Revolution through the conflicts over immigration, the struggle for women’s suffrage and equality, the Civil Rights movement including its newest iteration, Black Lives Matter. She shares images from the Vietnam War and the oil wars and the anti-war movements that opposed them. Other issues include the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ struggles and the turmoil created by the Trump administration. Particularly interesting is a section that treats our two greatest political, social and cultural icons, Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter,
There are marketing and advertising lessons to be learned here. Obvious is the tried-and-true persuasive design formula: one simple image, very few words, and a sprinkle of shock value. Other considerations include humor, satire, and emotion. The reader learns about the power of exaggeration in caricature and political cartoons and the effectiveness of language ownership and using your opponent words, as a reflective weapon.
Perhaps a sort of spoiler alert is necessary. Those unaccustomed to resisting may not understand or appreciate Siegler’s point of view. She is sassy and she is partisan. Chapter 11, “Trump: Make America Protest Again” is incisive includes a terrific and hilarious display of variations of MAGA hats.
Signs of Resistance, is also cool in that reading it was like a trip back to primary school. That’s when books were heavy on pictures and illustration and light on words. It was a fun and, in many ways, a nostalgic read!
Siegler covers our history from before the Revolution through the conflicts over immigration, the struggle for women’s suffrage and equality, the Civil Rights movement including its newest iteration, Black Lives Matter. She shares images from the Vietnam War and the oil wars and the anti-war movements that opposed them. Other issues include the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ struggles and the turmoil created by the Trump administration. Particularly interesting is a section that treats our two greatest political, social and cultural icons, Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter,
There are marketing and advertising lessons to be learned here. Obvious is the tried-and-true persuasive design formula: one simple image, very few words, and a sprinkle of shock value. Other considerations include humor, satire, and emotion. The reader learns about the power of exaggeration in caricature and political cartoons and the effectiveness of language ownership and using your opponent words, as a reflective weapon.
Perhaps a sort of spoiler alert is necessary. Those unaccustomed to resisting may not understand or appreciate Siegler’s point of view. She is sassy and she is partisan. Chapter 11, “Trump: Make America Protest Again” is incisive includes a terrific and hilarious display of variations of MAGA hats.
Signs of Resistance, is also cool in that reading it was like a trip back to primary school. That’s when books were heavy on pictures and illustration and light on words. It was a fun and, in many ways, a nostalgic read!
January 28, 2019
3.5 stars I took off half a star because the captions were in the ubiquitous grey (!) tiny sans serif typeface so popular currently. This is not the first book I have encountered this poor design factor. The author is a graphic designer too.
There was plenty of room on pages for something slightly larger and darker. Other parts of the book were in readable type size.
Impossible to read without making my eyes go crazy even with good light and magnification after about 15 minutes. It's more distracting to be unable to read than to see dark type next visuals. Good design can include legibility to a wide range of sight abilities.
The visuals were excellent. There is a good selection of examples from the 18th century onward, covering topics of political resistance across the spectrum. The information included is interesting.
So even though it was a struggle to read it was worth reading. If the type doesn't impede you the reading experience will be much better.
There was plenty of room on pages for something slightly larger and darker. Other parts of the book were in readable type size.
Impossible to read without making my eyes go crazy even with good light and magnification after about 15 minutes. It's more distracting to be unable to read than to see dark type next visuals. Good design can include legibility to a wide range of sight abilities.
The visuals were excellent. There is a good selection of examples from the 18th century onward, covering topics of political resistance across the spectrum. The information included is interesting.
So even though it was a struggle to read it was worth reading. If the type doesn't impede you the reading experience will be much better.
November 8, 2020
Good curation, weak commentary
This collection of American protest art is a good one. I saw many that I had never seen before, and the author does a better job of describing and analyzing the earlier ones, perhaps because their context is further in the past.
But as the book reaches the Vietnam War era and onward, the commentary often collapses into describing the obvious message of the art itself; it might next been better to just say, "and this one is cool," or nothing at all.
Moreover, because the author is an activist, it is like listening to a missionary teach the history of religion, once the book reaches the modern era.
This collection of American protest art is a good one. I saw many that I had never seen before, and the author does a better job of describing and analyzing the earlier ones, perhaps because their context is further in the past.
But as the book reaches the Vietnam War era and onward, the commentary often collapses into describing the obvious message of the art itself; it might next been better to just say, "and this one is cool," or nothing at all.
Moreover, because the author is an activist, it is like listening to a missionary teach the history of religion, once the book reaches the modern era.
July 31, 2021
I’ve been working to rebrand our nonprofit and this book was an amazing resource. Essentially, the author collected protest signage throughout American history and explained why the images worked. Why they stuck in our minds and our culture. While it did err very much into recent history, it didn’t ignore older messaging completely. This is a great book if you are working on creating a visual message with staying power.
July 13, 2019
I loved this book! Chronicles protests all throughout American history. Would make a great coffee table book or a gift for friends. What I also love about it is that each photo has an in-depth description, so not only is this book interesting to flip through and look at but you can actually read the entire thing as well.
March 7, 2020
Purely partisan propaganda
I bought in hope to find some examples to present high school history students. This is standard, already seen anywhere, and presented only in support of a liberal leftist ideology. There is nothing informative or useful here; if I could give it a lower rating I would. Don't waist your money!
I bought in hope to find some examples to present high school history students. This is standard, already seen anywhere, and presented only in support of a liberal leftist ideology. There is nothing informative or useful here; if I could give it a lower rating I would. Don't waist your money!
January 29, 2020
Excellent overview
February 28, 2025
I wish this was longer. Found on Hoopla.
Are you doing all you can?
Are you doing all you can?
April 1, 2025
Powerful display of protests through America's years, with just the right amount of descriptions. I found it very encouraging in these dark days as I find myself out protesting our current regime.
June 10, 2025
The vibe is very "twee, earnest, Hamilton-coded Obama-era liberal grappling with the first Trump admin."
December 19, 2020
Fantastic
This book is a great collection of signs, posters, slogans and other collected work of art showing how people over the years have attempted to rally others and show support for a cause or against a cause. Well designed and very interesting
This book is a great collection of signs, posters, slogans and other collected work of art showing how people over the years have attempted to rally others and show support for a cause or against a cause. Well designed and very interesting
Want to read
March 13, 2018Note: I received a finished paperback copy of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews