I want to say that I had read and admired Karl Hess and his writings but this book is nothing more than a diatribe. He seems stuck in black/white thinking and ranting on and on about 'left vs. right'. He also seems to have taken a path OPPOSITE that of Rose Wilder Lane who started out with socialist leanings and turned more and more towards individual freedoms. Yes I admire Hess for making such direct actions as to organize and 'lead' more local efforts and endeavors. But so much of the undercurrent of this book is a bit too 'we!' in tone with assumptions that 'social' needs come before, or at least ought to be superior to, individual ones. I seldom either not read a book thoroughly, but I found myself skimming and thinking 'yada yada yada' (more & more of same same) as he belabored point after point.
He may have written great speeches but this book isn't something that reflects being able to make a point with understanding and passion for REALLY believing what is being said. To me it seems like a cathartic exercise to purge his soul for all the previous misguided efforts he later regretted. His later book - Community Technology - is a much better presentation of his ideas and how he would and did choose to live by and for his own ideals.
He may have written great speeches but this book isn't something that reflects being able to make a point with understanding and passion for REALLY believing what is being said. To me it seems like a cathartic exercise to purge his soul for all the previous misguided efforts he later regretted. His later book - Community Technology - is a much better presentation of his ideas and how he would and did choose to live by and for his own ideals.
