Understanding Power
the indispensable Chomsky
by Noam Chomsky, Peter R. Mitchell, John Schoeffel · first published 2002
63% recommend35% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Transcribed town-hall Q&As with Chomsky on US power, media and foreign policy. Readers call it an accessible, eye-opening intro to his views, with footnotes for sources; suits those wanting to read the news critically.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"A major new collection from "arguably the most important intellectual alive" (The New York Times). Noam Chomsky is universally accepted as one of the preeminent public intellectuals of the modern era. Over the past thirty years, broadly diverse audiences have gathered to attend his sold-out lectures. Now, in Understanding Power, Peter Mitchell and John Schoeffel have assembled the best of Chomsky's recent talks on the past, present, and future of the politics of power. In a series of enlightening and wide-ranging discussions, all published here for the first time, Chomsky radically reinterpre
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…comments are inconsequential to me (or absurd, etc...), I'm more likely to follow that recommendation. Likewise the reverse. http://www.amazon.com/review/R31KSCZ4TXPLIR/ref=cm_cr_pr_per... Reposting: Understanding Power is, without question, the most comprehensive and compelling presentation of Noam Chomsky's ideas. Reading this book will change the way you see the world. If you are interested in Chomsky, it is likely…
on “Aaron Swartz: The Book That Changed My Life” ↗Chomsky is one of the most eloquent people that I've ever come across. Manufacturing consent and Understanding power are indeed life changing books. They are in the sense that after reading them you will look at the media and politics in a new way and that that way will never leave you. It's like putting on glasses…
on “Aaron Swartz: The Book That Changed My Life” ↗…While the public opinion is manipulated both in the US and in Russia, the methods and outcomes are vastly different. For a diligent study of the US media manipulation I highly recommend Chomsky's book "Understanding Power" [2]. You may disagree with his opinions, but they are still worthy of consideration because Chomsky backs up each observation with a verifiable reference, to the point where all of the references combined…
on “A Russian TV Insider Describes a Modern Propaganda Machine” ↗Understanding Power by Noam Chomsky. I knew the United States was complicit in some nefarious things, both domestic and abroad, but wow, that book really blew my hair back.
on “Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?” ↗…Degrasse Tyson, raised in that mythology, it seems plausible that such a human social arrangement is in fact a force of nature. But if you read Graeber's Debt: the First 5000 Years, or maybe even Chomsky's Understanding Power, the myths get deflated. (http://www.zcommunications.org/debt-slavery-and-our-idea-of-...) (Though I suppose with capitalism's negative externalities which threaten to turn the Earth into another Venus,…
on “Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s Eight Books Everyone Should Read” ↗…was it when the US intentionally shot down a commercial Iranian airliner? yes, exactly, it was non existent. a good read with a lot more information and a lot of sources also is Noam Chomsky's book: Understanding Power: The Indispensible Chomsky, truly a great read!
on “The Smears Against Edward Snowden Have Begun” ↗Aaron Swartz reviewed Chomsky's "Understanding Power" (http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/epiphany). It's the best introduction I know. The system isn't a secret; there's no conspiracy. Obama really is president; election money has a deciding effect on elections;…
on “CIA Confirms Role in 1953 Iran Coup” ↗…Klein - What Technology Wants, Kevin Kelly - The Art Of Happiness, Dalai Lama - Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen - The Four Agreements, Miguel Ruiz - Man's Search For Meaning, Viktor Frankl - Understanding Power, Noam Chomsky - The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander - Good To Great, Jim Collins - Abundance, Peter Diamandis - The Mystery Of Capital, Hernando De Soto - Pathologies Of Power, Paul Farmer - Metaphors…
on “Ask HN: book suggestions in non-tech fields (e.g. psychology, philosophy…)” ↗…who'd prefer to listen, an excellent narration is available on Audible -- http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/The-Power-Broker-Audi... Next I'd consider: "Hacking Politics" (about SOPA/PIPA) or "Understanding Power" - a collection of talks by Noam Chomsky -- not for his ideological insights but for his manner of making observations and thought-provoking perspectives.
on “The Most Ambitious Environmental Lawsuit Ever” ↗Two come to mind for me. The first is Understanding Power by Noam Chomsky. This was the first political book I had ever read and it completely rocked my world. I knew the US was involved in some nefarious stuff, but never to that extent. Completely changed the…
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗…not really going into the nitty gritty details. His books, however, do go into the nitty gritty details while still being relatively easy to read. For anyone interested in Chomsky I highly recommend "Understanding Power"[1] as the intro to his views on the world. It's not as detailed in every topic as many of his other books and is primarily conversational in style - owing to it being transcribed discussions with audience…
on “The CIA and the Media (1977)” ↗…Until that happens, you will just be seen as a pessimistic contrarian by such folk. I recommend that anyone who fiercely disagrees, or is confused by, Michael's viewpoints on this issue to read Chomsky's Understanding Power.
on “24 year old Ogilvy China employee dies from 'overwork'” ↗From the books not already mentioned above, I would strongly recommend this one: "Understanding Power: The Indispensible Chomsky" by Noam Chomsky
on “Ask: Read a book that changed your life? Title?” ↗…videos of free talks he gave. For instance, you might reconsider your premise that Occupy "failed" — where did you learn that, and why do you believe it? Incidentally, Aaron Swartz recommended Chomsky's _Understanding Power_, which provides some general context. (http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/epiphany)
Same here. His speeches and books are indeed pretty monotonous, but his interviews are much better. "Understanding Power" is probably the best Chomsky book, and it wasn't written by Chomsky. It's just a collection of transcribed town-hall style meetings with Chomsky, and is truly eye opening. Regarding media, I think this…
on “Thousands of deadly U.S. military airstrikes have gone unreported” ↗