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mcyewfly's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.25
Like all good theory, you take what you understand out of it, and you keep moving forward. I know I’ll come back to this collection with more insights, historical background, and personal theories. For now, it was well-written, challenging, and a massive bummer. You just don’t appreciate how much of modern society is built on bloodshed and inequality until someone drags your head against every square foot of it. It’s all so despicable, and if I hadn’t read this book along with all of these other hopeful books, I may not be so light on this review. I’m eager to read more of Chomsky beyond his linguistic-based works, and I’m especially ready to try some of the harder theory-based works in the new year. For now, I’ve had enough for this course.
sean_mann's review
5.0
This was a great intro to Chomsky. Besides some quotes or passages here and there, I had never really read anything from him. This selection of his essays and lectures over a long period gave an excellent idea of his style and the absolutely brutal logic with which he lays out his arguments.
I would best describe him as someone looking to enlighten, rather than debate or argue. In critiquing other's work, he holds them to their own standards and often finds them lacking. He has a way of finding the obscuring word casually thrown into an argument and revealing its implicit meaning. He relentlessly seeks the truth and derides those who accept conventional narratives without examining the evidence themselves. I will definitely be reading more of his work.
I would best describe him as someone looking to enlighten, rather than debate or argue. In critiquing other's work, he holds them to their own standards and often finds them lacking. He has a way of finding the obscuring word casually thrown into an argument and revealing its implicit meaning. He relentlessly seeks the truth and derides those who accept conventional narratives without examining the evidence themselves. I will definitely be reading more of his work.
hbermudes's review
A worthwhile read mostly. Hard to rate a collection- some essays were 5/5 some 2s. Also with an author this prolific and this well known I feel that when you pick up this book you probably know what you’re getting into
mantaq10's review
5.0
Slim in size but loaded with Chomsky's best points out forwarded in his vArious articles. Spanning over 6 decades, these articles showcase consistent disection of political world order and clearly articulated patterns prevelant in international politics , religion, society and imperialism. Took time to digest each article but well worth the read and re-reads