Political and Social Commentary
Common Sense and Rights Of Man
By Tom Paine
1776 and 1791
A fiery revolutionary, Tom Paine's writings still carry immense power
and insight. Paine, an Englishman, discusses the American and French
revolutions in order to explain a monumental change in social
paradigms. Paine's other well-known work, The Age Of Reason,
caused many to brand him an atheist. Not only is this untrue, but is
also an unkind categorization of a man with complex and profound
ideas.
The Natural Mind
By Andrew Weil
1986
Weil presents the argument that drug use and abuse should not be viewed as subversive
activities; but rather as the acting out of natural desires within the mind to
achieve altered states of reality. A professor at the University of Arizona College
of Medicine, Weil is best known for a series of holistic medicine, natural living
books. The Natural Mind is one of his earlier works and presents a compelling
explanation of drug use. Perhaps the most important, that drug users should be
helped and treated; not arrested and locked up.
Steal This Urine Test: Fighting Drug Hysteria in America
By Abbie Hoffman
1987, Penguin Books
Radical Abbie Hoffman's last book is his most relevant to today's
world. American President Ronald Reagan's War On Drugs continues to
dominate the political conscience of the country. As more private
corporations begin to institute employee drug testing, this book is a
valuable resource for those wishing to subvert this oppressive
tactic.
Manufacturing Consent
By Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky turns his eye to the role of the media in Western
society as a tool of propaganda and control. His socio-scientific
appraoch views the foriegn policy of the US and it's interpretation
in the mass media as a means of disincentive and pacification for US
citizens. Topics include Vietnam, East Temor, and Nicaragua.
-- reviewed by Lindsay Taylor
Surfacing
by Margaret Atwood
In this novel, Margaret Atwood writes about a woman who takes her
boyfriend and another couple up to the cabin in rural Canada where
she grew up. She intends to only spend a weekend there with them, but
as the trip progresses, it turns into a real learning process about
both herself and her friends. Atwood expresses her fears of modern
industrial society taking over her beloved canada, and also adresses
importand feminist issues. Any naturalist or humanist would love this
book.
-- reviewed by Annemarie DuBois
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women
By Susan Faludi
Backlash uncovers the historical role of the government and media in
protecting stereotypical social roles. This book is relevant to any
media consumer as it improves reader/viewer interpretation skills.
References to previous backlashes provide an excellent historical
overview of reactions to women's attempts to enter the work place and
reshape the female vision.
-- reviewed by Sharon Pittman
The Seduction of the Innocent
By Fredric Wertham
This book concentrated on the dehumanizing aspects of pop culture on
children primarily focusing on cheap, easily available comic books in
the 50s. BUT, very interestingly, the observations and effects are
almost identical to what's been happening on a vastly larger scale do
to television. It's very good reading. It's very interesting to
observe how pop culture tries to 'debunk' this book or its author in
almost the same obnoxious ways pop culture either ignores or attacks
Jerry Mander.
-- reviewed by Mark Warrian
Turner Diaries by Andrew McDonald
The book is set up as a diary kept by the main character, Earl
Turner, who lives in the 1990's in the United States. Earl Turner is
a part of a White Revolutionary network that is attempting to
overthrow the government. The book is not for politically correct or
squeamish. Regardless of whether or not you agree with Earl, the
author does a great job of portraying revolutionary atmosphere and
state of mind of a committed revolutionary. After reading this book
you will get a better understanding of a mentality of an extremist be
he a religious fanatic, a freedom fighter, a communist, a
nationalist, or anyone else who values an ideal above ALL else.
-- reviewed by Nikolai Sazonov
Future Shock, by Alvin Toffler
A true classic, warning the general public that we were in danger of
losing ourselves in a sea of choices and information of our own
creation. With the advent of digital information and the Internet,
the book brings home the poignancy of trying to become masters of
information, before we are overtaken by it.
-- reviewed by Alex Schuh, Ph.D.
Tales Out of School, by former New York City Schools
Superintendent Joseph Fernandez, and a co-author John Underwood.
Through a series of fascinating anecdotes about his years at the top
of the largest school system in the U.S., Fernandez makes the case
that our school systems have become so large and so politicized that
they have lost the ability to focus on what should be their core
mission- what should be done to help kids learn. Instead, school
boards and parents' groups get sidetracked constantly by hotly
contested arguments such as whether or not school bathrooms should
provide condom vending machines.
-- reviewed by Alex Schuh, Ph.D.
The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
If you intrested in learning history from a completely new
persepective pick this book up and learn about the real history of
the United States told from the perspective of the oppressed.
-- reviewed by Mr. Chicken Fiesta
Do you have a favorite book that you would like to review? Submit
one-paragraph book reviews to comments@turnoffyourtv.com.
