Reviews for Representing resistance

The average rating for Representing resistance based on 4 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-12-04 00:00:00 Rg Allen An interesting relatively un-spun read that takes the reader behind the smokescreen & media portrayal of the coalescent global political resistance dissident movement. The author uses his own first-hand experiences and witnessing movements on the inside - in such seminal areas as Chiapas and the Zapatistas, the infamous G8 protests in Genoa which ended in the death of Carlo Giuliani, Soweto township... - to actively put across his viewpoint there might be many different problems and acts of injustice, one answer (a resistant NO!) and many yeses (multiple different solutions). At times it does feel like a thinly-veiled soapbox sermon without the adrenalizing effect of the likes of John Pilger or Noam Chomsky, at other times it comes across as more of an incidental travelogue sprinkled with a dollop of politics on top. Combined, those factors mean that it doesn't quite feel like your usual political book nor have the same inspirational motivating effect I've felt elsewhere. There's also some rather glaring omissions on the topics covered. For example, the book is about a global network of active resistance to state oppression and persecution yet there is no mention whatsoever of the burgeoning international BDS (Boycott, Diversity, Sanctions) movement which promotes boycotting Israel for it's barbaric treatment of Palestinians; a movement which is vividly active in Europe, South Africa and beyond yet isn't deemed worthy of mention in Kingsnorth's book. Whether it's omission is down to the big villain of the piece being a contentious state and not 'The global capitalist machine' or down to the author's own undisclosed personal political inclinations is not clear. Overall, you could summarise this book as saying it's almost like Mark Thomas without the jokes and satire. A good start but far from authoritative. It's probably more deserving of a 3 out of 5 generally but I based my score on the fact I'd file it far more under 'it was ok' than I'd be confident to say 'I liked it'.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-09-20 00:00:00 Karen Gesler Once again a very informative (though confronting) book by Kingsnorth. Not only does he explore some of the wonderful things happening locally to fight back against corporate growth and dominance, he also offers solutions. I think, though, I should have read this book before I read his later Confessions. I think between the two books he became rather disillusioned about whether or not the poorer, less powerful types CAN actually change things and has opted, instead, to live a quiet, rather secluded life learning about gardening and scything. Sigh. Lots of chew on....

Review # 3 was written on 2013-12-04 00:00:00 Rosemarie Fandrich An interesting relatively un-spun read that takes the reader behind the smokescreen & media portrayal of the coalescent global political resistance dissident movement. The author uses his own first-hand experiences and witnessing movements on the inside - in such seminal areas as Chiapas and the Zapatistas, the infamous G8 protests in Genoa which ended in the death of Carlo Giuliani, Soweto township... - to actively put across his viewpoint there might be many different problems and acts of injustice, one answer (a resistant NO!) and many yeses (multiple different solutions). At times it does feel like a thinly-veiled soapbox sermon without the adrenalizing effect of the likes of John Pilger or Noam Chomsky, at other times it comes across as more of an incidental travelogue sprinkled with a dollop of politics on top. Combined, those factors mean that it doesn't quite feel like your usual political book nor have the same inspirational motivating effect I've felt elsewhere. There's also some rather glaring omissions on the topics covered. For example, the book is about a global network of active resistance to state oppression and persecution yet there is no mention whatsoever of the burgeoning international BDS (Boycott, Diversity, Sanctions) movement which promotes boycotting Israel for it's barbaric treatment of Palestinians; a movement which is vividly active in Europe, South Africa and beyond yet isn't deemed worthy of mention in Kingsnorth's book. Whether it's omission is down to the big villain of the piece being a contentious state and not 'The global capitalist machine' or down to the author's own undisclosed personal political inclinations is not clear. Overall, you could summarise this book as saying it's almost like Mark Thomas without the jokes and satire. A good start but far from authoritative. It's probably more deserving of a 3 out of 5 generally but I based my score on the fact I'd file it far more under 'it was ok' than I'd be confident to say 'I liked it'.

Review # 4 was written on 2018-09-20 00:00:00 Victor Robichaud Once again a very informative (though confronting) book by Kingsnorth. Not only does he explore some of the wonderful things happening locally to fight back against corporate growth and dominance, he also offers solutions. I think, though, I should have read this book before I read his later Confessions. I think between the two books he became rather disillusioned about whether or not the poorer, less powerful types CAN actually change things and has opted, instead, to live a quiet, rather secluded life learning about gardening and scything. Sigh. Lots of chew on....