Dec/Jan Book Selection

[Tinea]

I figured we might as well start choosing the next book now so there's less of a gap between books, and to allow some time to find a copy or order from a library whatever we choose to read.

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
We'd already decided to consider this one.

What else?

[Cole]

Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber.

I'm excited about it because it's new and being talked about as a big contribution to thinking about the origins of economic systems. It's long and in hardcover; I'm not sure it's in libraries yet. It will probably show up in pdf form on the web.

[Tinea]

Any other book suggestions? What anarchist books are on your to-read lists? What might generate debate, questions, controversy?

[Kevin]

I wouldn't mind reading the Graeber book if it's available. Also I've been wanting to read Expect Resistance from the Crimethinc group.

[justdave]

I'd like to suggest

Work by the Crimethinc group

[justdave]

otherwise my vote goes to The Wretched of the Earth

[Kevin]

Crimethinc also has just published a new book that would be worth reading at some point, if not next. (What are we reading next?) It's called Work.

[Tinea]

Kevin, due to lack of participation I stopped pushing the group read, but I'm happy to put up polls and threads and participate if others do.

A lot of the other groups I participate in give each book two months, so maybe we were rushing books? I can put up a poll for the books suggested here and we can choose for a December/January group book.

[Kevin]

I'd be in favor of that.

[Fergus]

ok seems good would anyone be willing to check out any negri books not anarchist but i think would be interesting to debate his politics.

[abclaret, facilitator]

Sorry, I feel bad I dropped the ball on the Fanon book even after I suggested it. They closed the local library and I begrudgingly didn't want to buy the thing.

I am happy to buy Work by Crimethinc, but still want to read Fanon.

[Tinea]

Poll is up til November 30th!

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/41...

[Tinea]

The poll so far has Conquest, Wretched of the Earth, Debt, and Work just about tied.

Why did you choose which book you picked?

I chose Conquest because I already have a copy I plan to read in the next month or two, but I'd be into Wretched of the Earth or maybe Work if I can find a copy. Debt is too long for me to undertake right now.

[Kevin]

I chose Work because I'm especially interested in how people are affected by their workplaces, and how people in turn can have an effect on the workplace.

And I've liked everything I've read so far from Crimethinc.

[Tinea]

I haven't read a Crimethinc book since Days of War, Nights of Love : Crimethink For Beginners but I've loved Rolling Thunder so it'd be probably good to give this a go. It'd be a good contrast to an anarchism & class book I'm reading for another book club, Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism which is pretty adamantly against Crimethinc-style politics I'm pretty sure.

Anyone else into Work? Anyone else want to argue for a different book?

[Demelza]

Hello everyone! I picked Wretched of the Earth b/c I have a copy of it already and have been meaning to read it. However, I am just as interested in reading the Crimethinc books. I have already read Conquest, and I have some issues with it . . . I probably wouldn't re-read it, but I would be interested to see what others think of it. If you don't know much about North American indigenous history, it's a good book to pick up.

[Tinea]

If Demelza and I switched our votes to Work, we'd start to have a majority there, 5 for work, 3 for the rest. How do other people feel about Work?

[Patrick]

I've already read wretched and conquest. Both were quite good but i don't really want to re-read now. I don't really have much interest in Graeber's book. I've got his Direct Action on my to-read shelf and it will be where i start with him. I can assume that Work will drive me bananas but I insist on reading crimethink books just to see what is popular in parts of the mov't. Hopefully they have a copy at the local bookstore.

[abclaret, facilitator]

I was interested in 'work' because I have had issues with crimethinc in the past, but it seems they have made an earnest few steps to get on the bandwagon.

[Tinea]

It's been about ten days and the poll plus the discussion here seem to agree on Work, so that'll be our group read for the next 2 months. I'll start a discussion thread, and feel free to begin with questions, thoughts, background, and reactions onc eyou get a copy and start reading.