77 ratings (3.30 avg)
42 reviews

Ganglion Bard-barbarian

Add friend

Ganglion’s Bookshelves

read‎ (73)

currently-reading‎ (7)

to-read‎ (18)

political-non-fiction‎ (0)

Stats | More…

Ganglion is Currently Reading

Ganglion Bard-barbarian is currently reading

Shenandoah Voices: Folklore, Legends and Traditions of the Valley

by John L. Heatwole

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Ganglion Bard-barbarian said: " Got it as a Yule present, can't wait to read it! "

Dec 21, 2010 04:02PM · see review

Ganglion Bard-barbarian rated a book it was amazing

Defying the Tomb: Selected Prison Writings and Art of Kevin "Rashid" Johnson featuring exchanges with an Outlaw

by Kevin "Rashid" Johnson

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Ganglion Bard-barbarian said: " I hope to study this book at greater length, thanks to Kerspledebeb and my Virginia comrades for giving this underground classic to the world. The almost folkloric story of Rashid Johnson's transformation from apolitical gangster to dedicated Marxist I hope to study this book at greater length, thanks to Kerspledebeb and my Virginia comrades for giving this underground classic to the world. The almost folkloric story of Rashid Johnson's transformation from apolitical gangster to dedicated Marxist-Leninist revolutionary is one of Virginia's most captivating and inspirational. A rousing introduction by Big Tom Warrior, an Appalachian legend in his own right, sets the score for Rashid's dramatic autobiography and, best of all, a clandestine prison correspondence between Rashid and a fellow New African prisoner named Outlaw, smuggled between segregation and general population at the notoriously gruesome Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, VA.

The letters offer a huge insight into contradictions within the movement. Rashid on the one hand is a hardline Maoist, Outlaw on the other hand quotes Nechaev with enthusiasm. When the two men muse about the issue of homosexuality, Rashid clearly sees the phenomenon as a subjective product of the capitalist superstructure whereas Outlaw entertains the notion that homosexuality is genetic. Rashid pens a brilliant critique and analysis of the 5%ers, possibly the only Marxist criticism of the group in print. Outlaw on the other hand seems partially open to the possibility of synthesizing Marxism with 5%er ideology, although later expresses frustration that his cellmate shows more interest in religious mysticism than the materialist analysis of history. (I skimmed this book very quickly in the course of a drunken yuletide family reunion so apologies if my analysis is sketchy and incoherent. Again, I desperately hope for the opportunity to give this book a thorough study)

A spiritual sequel to George Jackson's canonical Blood in My Eye, every bit as rousing and inspirational. A must-have for those interested in researching the US prison system, the history of Virginia, or the intersection of Marxism and black nationalism.

On a final note, as an anarchist and unorthodox marxist, I must say that I strongly disagree with Rashid and Big Tom when they characterize folks' of Rashid's background as "lumpen". The supposed "lumpen" class was never a real part of Marx's economic analysis, only a derogatory term he occasionally applied in journalistic accounts as an expression of his cultural chauvinism. For better or for worse, the kids in Rashid's childhood neighborhood encapsulate the US proletariat. The young, criminal-minded Rashid was, in the words of Mike Ely, just a working-class kid caught up in some bullshit. ...more "

Dec 21, 2010 04:12PM · see review

Ganglion Bard-barbarian rated a book it was amazing

The Odyssey

by Homer

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Nov 30, 2010 12:35PM

See all 7 books that Ganglion is reading…

rss
Ganglion’s Recent Updates

Ganglion Bard-barbarian is now friends with Aurelian Baša
Jan 24, 2014 09:24PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian wants to read Society Against the State: Essays in Political Anthropology by Pierre Clastres	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2011 06:32PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian wants to read Ethics of Sexual Difference by Luce Irigaray	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2011 12:45PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian wants to read Speculum of the Other Woman: New Edition by Luce Irigaray	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2011 12:45PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian wants to read This Sex Which Is Not One by Luce Irigaray	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2011 12:45PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian liked Lawin's review of The Science Question in Feminism: "to question the "objective" stance in science and to rethink "politics" as a major factor in determining legitimate scientific projects."
Apr 16, 2011 12:44PM · see review
Ganglion Bard-barbarian wants to read The Science Question in Feminism by Sandra G. Harding	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2011 12:44PM · like
Ganglion Bard-barbarian and 5 other people liked Bryan's review of Speculum of the Other Woman: New Edition: "Take that Plato and Lacan. You fuckers are pigs!"
Apr 16, 2011 12:31PM · see review
Ganglion Bard-barbarian and 4 other people liked Mirza Sultan-Galiev's review of This Sex Which Is Not One: "Fluid mechanics, Lacan as a-hole. women as commodity. Singular masculine subjectivity as crap. Long live hysteria. Read it. "
Apr 10, 2011 07:32PM · see review