'Rules for Radicals' by Saul Alinsky; Power, Politics & Practice Meetings 2/3
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"Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have." - Saul Alinsky.
A book all about ends vs means - the modern Machiavelli discusses how groups of the 'Have-Nots' can collectively self-organize and seize power.
This has to be one of my favourite books - not that I agree with it entirely, but it packs a punch. Alinsky is the so-called father of community organizing; going out into a community, asking what's wrong, and uniting people to solve it. Sounds fair enough? Alinsky had a dubious take on how ends can achieve means, the value of morals, and how we should go about making a better world.
A very easy book to sink your teeth into - and a must-read (even if you disagree) for all political campaigners and lovers of politics.
If that's not enough, Hillary Clinton wrote her university thesis about Alinsky, and Obama structured a lot of his community organising work (also the structure of his book The Promised Land) on Alinsky's writing. So, Alinsky's influence continues today. What will you make of it?
This follows Machiavelli as Alinsky tips his hat in the acknowledgments to Machiavelli and Lucifer... got him in a fair bit of trouble in the States at the time. A must read. Join us at 10 am on Sunday 27th March. A brilliant book to disagree over!
'Rules for Radicals' by Saul Alinsky; Power, Politics & Practice Meetings 2/3