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savaging's review
2.0
If this were subtitled "A History of European Anarchist Philosophy," I would be less disappointed in this book. The anarchist ideas and movements that are relevant to me hardly appear. Instead of the rich and lively anti-authoritarian experiments that have happened throughout the world, this book focuses on the intellectual Authorities, the big men with their big ideas, who -- surprise surprise --
at some point try to make themselves secret presidents of secret societies and betray the hope at the heart of anarchism.
Though Emma Goldman appears, she is called an "unoriginal thinker."
Proudhon believed that a woman equaled 8/27 of a man. Though Marshall takes him to task for his misogyny, I wish the book he wrote was at least 8/27 women. Also what about people of color, queer folks, and all the big wide rebellious world outside of those dusty white-man books?
at some point try to make themselves secret presidents of secret societies and betray the hope at the heart of anarchism.
Though Emma Goldman appears, she is called an "unoriginal thinker."
Proudhon believed that a woman equaled 8/27 of a man. Though Marshall takes him to task for his misogyny, I wish the book he wrote was at least 8/27 women. Also what about people of color, queer folks, and all the big wide rebellious world outside of those dusty white-man books?
_tourist's review
nothing makes the beautiful idea seem more ugly than a long exposition of dead white people extolling the inevitability and nature of the coming Utopia.
an interesting info dump for someone particular about these things, but one i probably could have managed without. definitely from a more 'traditional' interpretation of anarchist theory than i find enjoyable, though the epilogue wrapped things up nicely.
i'm glad i read it, but probably not worth the rather substantial time investment for the average anarchist or sympathiser. the epilogue was more valuable, but better perhaps to develop connections with more lively texts, or just cultivate a more lively personal anarchism.
an interesting info dump for someone particular about these things, but one i probably could have managed without. definitely from a more 'traditional' interpretation of anarchist theory than i find enjoyable, though the epilogue wrapped things up nicely.
i'm glad i read it, but probably not worth the rather substantial time investment for the average anarchist or sympathiser. the epilogue was more valuable, but better perhaps to develop connections with more lively texts, or just cultivate a more lively personal anarchism.
samuraihelmet's review against another edition
An extremely long list of facts that are just vague and incoherent enough to avoid being wrong. At least up until Nietzsche, where I jumped off, the author manages to sell every anarchist as an enlightened, well meaning philosopher. Which, given the philosophies described, is less a reach and more an out and out deception.
This book would have worked much better had the author not clearly had an agenda.
This book would have worked much better had the author not clearly had an agenda.
nerdy_scholar's review against another edition
5.0
No other book I read gives such a detailed account of the evolution of anarchic ideas as this one does. It's a library summed up in one volume, of moderate length considering its vast subject. The book is lucid in style, well-documented, and masterly turned from one subject to the next in the simplest manner.
mattmclean's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Very informative. For such a broad topic, the author was able to explain the historical and philosophical context for each major movement in anarchism, tracing its ancestry through anti-consumeristic spiritual movements to the present day
emma_ireland's review against another edition
5.0
Some books change the way you see the world and Demanding the Impossible is one of them. If, like me, you've spent years wrangling with socialism/communism/other assorted left wing isms but had a vaguely uneasy feeling about all of them, then you'll probably find your spiritual home in this book. It covers too much to give comprehensive detail on everything, but it's an excellent history and a great starting point for further exploration.
sumayyah_t's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent resource for the future. Of course, this book feels alarmingly like a text book.
kmarxtheleft's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this book was fantastic. It truly helped me to expand my knowledge of anarchism. What I found truly illuminating was the author's discussion of how anarchists do not, in actuality, have the most favorable view of human nature. Personally, I had always assumed that anarchists had the MOST favorable view in this regard, given the level of solidarity required to make such a society feasible; however, what I found in reading this book is that many anarchists have a completely realistic view of human nature. They understand, probably better than any other group, what can happen when individuals are given to much power and authority. Hitler is a prominent example of this. Donald Trump would be a recent example in the United States. Conclusion: Great book, overall.
jbogerhawkins's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
heavenlyspit's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced