Books by Noam Chomsky

Book Synopsis American Power and the New Mandarins is Noam Chomsky''s first political book, widely considered to be among the most cogent and powerful statements against the American war in Vietnam. Long out of print, this collection of early, seminal essays helped to establish Chomsky as a leading critic of United States foreign policy. These pages mount a scathing critique of the contradictions of the war, and an indictment of the mainstream, liberal intellectualsthe new mandarinswho furnished what Chomsky argued was the necessary ideological cover for the horrors visited on the Vietnamese people. As America''s foreign entanglements deepen by the month, Chomsky''s lucid analysis is a sobering reminder of the perils of imperial diplomacy. With a new foreword by Howard Zinn, author of A People''s History of the United States, American Power and the New Mandarins is a renewed call for independent analysis of America''s role in the world.

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Book SynopsisThe 1959 Cuban Revolution remains one of the signal events of modern political history. A tiny island, once a de facto colony of the United States, declared its independence, not just from the imperial behemoth ninety miles to the north, but also from global capitalism itself. Cuba's many achievements - in education, health care, medical technology, direct local democracy, actions of international solidarity with the oppressed - are globally unmatched and unprecedented. And the United States, in light of Cuba's achievements, has waged a relentless campaign of terrorist attacks on the island and its leaders, while placing Cuba on its "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list. In this updated edition of her classic, Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History, Jane Franklin depicts the two countries' relationship from the time both were colonies to the present. We see the early connections between Cuba and the United States through slavery; through the sugar trade; then Cuba's multiple wars for national liberation; the annexation of Cuba by the United States; the infamous Platt Amendment that entitled the United States to intervene directly in Cuban affairs; the gangster capitalism promoted by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Battista; and the guerilla war that brought the revolutionaries to power. A new chapter updating the fraught Cuban-U.S. nexus brings us well into the 21st century, with a look at the current status of Assata Shakur, the Cuban Five, and the post-9/11 years leading to the expansion of diplomatic relations. Offering a range of primary and secondary sources, the book is an outstanding scholarly work. Cuba and the United States brings new meaning to Simon Bolivar's warning in 1829, that the United States "appears destined by Providence to plague America with miseries in the name of Freedom."Trade Review"Whether one reads it as a history, or keeps it handy as a ready reference...this is a book that no serious student of U.S.-Cuba relations can afford to be without." - Philip Brenner, American University

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Book SynopsisThe 1959 Cuban Revolution remains one of the signal events of modern political history. A tiny island, once a de facto colony of the United States, declared its independence, not just from the imperial behemoth ninety miles to the north, but also from global capitalism itself. Cuba's many achievements - in education, health care, medical technology, direct local democracy, actions of international solidarity with the oppressed - are globally unmatched and unprecedented. And the United States, in light of Cuba's achievements, has waged a relentless campaign of terrorist attacks on the island and its leaders, while placing Cuba on its "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list. In this updated edition of her classic, Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History, Jane Franklin depicts the two countries' relationship from the time both were colonies to the present. We see the early connections between Cuba and the United States through slavery; through the sugar trade; then Cuba's multiple wars for national liberation; the annexation of Cuba by the United States; the infamous Platt Amendment that entitled the United States to intervene directly in Cuban affairs; the gangster capitalism promoted by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Battista; and the guerilla war that brought the revolutionaries to power. A new chapter updating the fraught Cuban-U.S. nexus brings us well into the 21st century, with a look at the current status of Assata Shakur, the Cuban Five, and the post-9/11 years leading to the expansion of diplomatic relations. Offering a range of primary and secondary sources, the book is an outstanding scholarly work. Cuba and the United States brings new meaning to Simon Bolivar's warning in 1829, that the United States "appears destined by Providence to plague America with miseries in the name of Freedom."Trade Review"Whether one reads it as a history, or keeps it handy as a ready reference...this is a book that no serious student of U.S.-Cuba relations can afford to be without." -Philip Brenner, American University

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Book SynopsisBased on firsthand reporting from Syria and throughout the Middle East,Inside Syriaunravels the complex dynamics underlying the Syrian Civil War. Through vivid, on-the-ground accounts and interviews with rebel leaders, regime supporters, and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad himself,veteran journalist Reese Erlichgives the reader a better understanding of this momentous power struggle and why it matters. Through his many contacts inside Syria, the author reveals who is supporting Assad and why; he describes the agendas of the rebel factions; and he depicts in stark terms the dire plight of many ordinary Syrian people caught in the cross-fire. The book also provides insights into the role of the Kurds, the continuing influence of Iran, and the policies of American leaders who seem interested only in protecting US regional interests. Disturbing and enlightening at once, this timely book shows you not only what is happening inside Syria but why it is so important for the Middle East, the US, and the world.

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Book SynopsisTwo of our most celebrated intellectuals grapple with the uncertain aftermath of the American collapse in Afghanistan “Through the structure of a deeply engaging conversation between two of our most important contemporary public intellectuals, we are urged to defy the inattention of the media to the disastrous damage inflicted in Afghanistan on life, land, and resources in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal and the connections to the equally avoidable and unnecessary wars on Iraq and Libya.”—from the foreword by Angela Y. Davis Not since the last American troops left Vietnam have we faced such a sudden vacuum in our foreign policy—not only of authority, but also of explanations of what happened, and what the future holds. Few analysts are better poised to address this moment than Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad, intellectuals and critics whose work spans generations and continents. Called “the most widely read voice on foreign policy on the planet” by the New York Times Book Review, Noam Chomsky is the guiding light of dissidents around the world. In The Withdrawal, Chomsky joins with noted scholar Vijay Prashad—who “helps to uncover the shining worlds hidden under official history and dominant media” (Eduardo Galeano)—to get at the roots of this unprecedented time of peril and change. Chomsky and Prashad interrogate key inflection points in America’s downward spiral: from the disastrous Iraq War to the failed Libyan intervention to the descent into chaos in Afghanistan. As the final moments of American power in Afghanistan fade from view, this crucial book argues that we must not take our eyes off the wreckage—and that we need, above all, an unsentimental view of the new world we must build together.Trade ReviewPraise for The Withdrawal:“A fierce and well-informed condemnation of U.S. imperialism.”—Publishers Weekly“A collection of insightful geopolitical analysis.”—Kirkus Reviews “This approachable book is recommended for readers interested in thought-provoking works on international relations and current affairs.”—Library Journal“This book combines Vijay Prashad’s deep knowledge of the Global South with Chomsky’s ever insightful analysis of events that are not part of the common knowledge, thus helping us to decipher what are presented by the U.S. propaganda machine as ‘facts’—that have been so often used to package the imperialist, brutal wars in many countries including Iraq and Afghanistan.”—Haifa Zangana, author of Dreaming of Baghdad and Women on a Journey “Truth is like the sun, it cannot be hidden with two fingers. The Withdrawal is an account of those facts and narratives often manipulated and hidden . . . a must-read.”—Heela Najibullah, author and daughter of former Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah

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Book SynopsisBased on firsthand reporting from Syria and throughout the Middle East, Inside Syriaunravels the complex dynamics underlying the Syrian Civil War. Through vivid, on-the-ground accounts and interviews with rebel leaders, regime supporters, and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad himself, veteran journalist Reese Erlichgives the reader a better understanding of this momentous power struggle and why it matters. Through his many contacts inside Syria, the author reveals who is supporting Assad and why, describes the agendas of the rebel factions, and depicts in stark terms the dire plight of many ordinary Syrian people caught in the cross fire. Erlich explains how, after colonization by the British and the French and later becoming a focal point of political intrigue by numerous international powers, the region became increasingly volatile and dangerous. He also provides insights into both the past and the present roles of the Kurds, the continuing influence of Iran, and the policies of American administrations that seem interested only in protecting US regional interests, even at the expense of innocent Syrian civilians. Disturbing, compelling, and enlightening, this timely book--now with a new epilogue with the latest information-- shows not only what is happening inside Syria but why it is so important for the Middle East, the United States, and the world.

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Book SynopsisIn The Precipice, Noam Chomsky sheds light into the phenomenon of Trumpism, exposes the catastrophic nature and impact of Trump’s policies on people, the environment, and the planet as a whole, and captures the dynamics of the brutal class warfare launched by the masters of capital to maintain and even enhance the features of a dog-eat–dog society to the unprecedented mobilization of millions of people against neoliberal capitalism, racism, and police violence/Trade Review"The Precipice is a vehement discussion of how American politics have changed, particularly over the past forty years." —Foreword Reviews Praise for Optimism Over Despair: "The elder statesman of a resurgent left offers clear-eyed assessments of the US, past and present, and its role in the world. From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times." —Sarah Jaffe, Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt "This book of interviews with Noam Chomsky is a must read in these troubling times. Divided into three parts, it begins with Chomsky’s razor sharp analysis of neoliberalism, imperialism, the EU, the role of religion in politics, and class polarization. In the second, it focuses on the Trump presidency and lays out the long history of US foreign policy, as well as other topics such as health care, global warming and education policy. Finally, it looks at various alternatives—anarchism, communism and socialism. This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%." —Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire. “In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.”—Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst “…Chomsky argues that the choice between optimism and despair is really no choice at all. I have a great admiration for Chomsky’s combination of consistent critical moral perspective and sharp eye for the details of world politics…”—Heikki Patomäki, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, and a civic and political activist "In this series of highly informative conversations deftly organized by CJ Polychroniou, Noam Chomsky teaches us - yet again - so much on a huge range of issues - from economic globalisation through international politics to the linguistic foundations of humanity. If you haven't read Chomsky before, this book will open your eyes. Even if you have, reading this book will make you realize that you still have more eyes to be opened. This book is a beacon - or, rather a GPS - in this turbulent and darkening world."—Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, author of Bad Samaritans, 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and Economics: The User's Guide "For all those of us who have always dreamed of spending a day with Noam Chomsky and getting his answers to all our questions and concerns about the (sorry) state of the world, here's the next best thing: a collection of interviews with our greatest living intellectual on capitalism, empire, and social change, fielded by C. J. Polychroniou of Truthout. Especially valuable in helping us navigate the dreadful challenges of the Trumpian era."—Michael Klare, Professor of Peace & World Security Studies, Hampshire College and Defense Correspondent, The Nation “This fascinating series of interviews convincingly covers an astonishing range of fundamental and urgent issues of societal concern, demonstrating anew that Noam Chomsky is the world’s most humane, philosophically sophisticated, and knowledgeable public intellectual. I cannot imagine a better primer for anyone seeking a better, safer, fairer future.” —Richard Falk, Professor of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University

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Book SynopsisA wide-ranging and incisive collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky, addressing the urgent questions of this tumultuous moment.; and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale.Throughout, Chomsky “remains…a beacon of hope in the darkest of times" (Sarah Jaffe).

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Book SynopsisA wide-ranging and incisive collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky, addressing the urgent questions of this tumultuous moment. In these informative interviews, conducted for Truthout by C.J. Polychroniou, Noam Chomsky addresses the rapid deterioration of democracy in the United States and rising tensions globally. He examines the crumbling social fabric and fractures of the Biden era, including the halting steps toward a Green New Deal; the illegitimate authority of the Supreme Court, in particular its decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade; and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale. Throughout, Chomsky “remains…a beacon of hope in the darkest of times" (Sarah Jaffe).Trade ReviewPraise for Optimism Over Despair: "The elder statesman of a resurgent left offers clear-eyed assessments of the US, past and present, and its role in the world. From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times." —Sarah Jaffe, Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt "This book of interviews with Noam Chomsky is a must read in these troubling times. Divided into three parts, it begins with Chomsky’s razor sharp analysis of neoliberalism, imperialism, the EU, the role of religion in politics, and class polarization. In the second, it focuses on the Trump presidency and lays out the long history of US foreign policy, as well as other topics such as health care, global warming and education policy. Finally, it looks at various alternatives—anarchism, communism and socialism. This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%." —Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire “In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.” —Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst “…Chomsky argues that the choice between optimism and despair is really no choice at all. I have a great admiration for Chomsky’s combination of consistent critical moral perspective and sharp eye for the details of world politics…” —Heikki Patomäki, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, and a civic and political activist

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Book SynopsisAs the Israel-Palestine conflict rages on, it is more important now than ever to understand the history of the Palestinian people. Rosemary Sayigh's The Palestinians is a classic of radical history. Through extensive interviews with Palestinians in refugee camps, she provides a deeply-moving, grassroots story of how the Palestinians came to be who they are today. In their own voices, Palestinians tell stories of the Nabka and their flight from their homeland. Sayigh's powerful account of Palestinians' economic marginalisation the social and psychological effects of being uprooted and the political oppression which they have faced continues to resonate today. Reissued with an extensive new foreword by Noam Chomsky, which brings the story that Sayigh tells up-to-date in the context of the Hamas victory and the war in Lebanon, this book is both a fascinating historical document and an essential insight into the situation in the contemporary Middle East.Trade Review'Invaluable reading for those who care about the Palestinian issue' Jonathan Dimbleby 'This well-written book is really essential for those who wish to keep up on the Middle East' Choice 'This is not merely a scholarly but a deeply moving work' Middle East NewsTable of Contents New Foreword by Noam Chomsky Foreword to First Edition by Noam Chomsky Preface 1. The Peasant Past 2. The Uprooting 3. The New Reality, 1948 - 1965 4. The Palestinian Revolution 5. Epilogue Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIt's Noam Chomsky vs the Bush regime in this much-anticipated spoken word release. Recorded in November 2004, just after the re-election of Bush, Chomsky pinpoints the principle commitments of the current administration.

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Book SynopsisOn 7 July 2014, in an apparent response to the murder of three teenagers, Israel launched a major offensive against the Gaza Strip, lasting 51 days, killing 2145 Palestinians (578 of them children), injuring over 11,000, and demolishing 17,200 homes. The usual news machine rolled up, and the same distressing images and entrenched political rhetoric were broadcast, yet almost nothing was reported of the on-going lives of ordinary Gazans – the real victims of the war. One of the few voices to make it out was that of Atef Abu Saif, a writer and teacher from Jabalia Refugee Camp, whose eye-witness accounts (published in The Guardian, The New York Times, and elsewhere) offered a rare window into the conflict for Western readers. Here, Atef’s complete diaries of the war allow us to witness the full extent of last summer’s atrocities from the most humble of perspectives: that of a young father, fearing for his family’s safety, trying to stay sane in an insanely one-sided war.Trade Review‘Witnessed, lived, and recorded page by page. A searing account of living through the 2014 bombardment of Gaza. We who report it can never capture the true scale of individual and collective suffering. As a Gaza resident, Atef Abu Saif's diary provides an insight no outsider could ever have achieved.’ – Jon Snow; 'In this luminous account of Israel’s 2014 invasion of Gaza, Atef Abu Saif creates a literary equivalent to Goya’s Disasters of War. The Drone Eats with Me deserves to become a modern classic of war literature. But for all the surrealist absurdity of the horrors Abu Saif chronicles, the book pulses throughout with the sublime, mundane and ferocious love for life.' – Molly Crabapple, author of Drawing Blood; 'The Drone Eats with Me is a devastating contemporary war journal. This is what war is like in the 21st century – the voice of a civilian in the onslaught of drone warfare, a voice we have never heard before.' – Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient and Divisadero.

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Book SynopsisIn this urgent new book, Noam Chomsky surveys the dangers and prospects of our early twenty-first century. Exploring challenges such as the growing gap between North and South, American exceptionalism (including under President Barack Obama), the fiascos of Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S.-Israeli assault on Gaza, and the recent financial bailouts, he also sees hope for the future and a way to move forward—in the democratic wave in Latin America and in the global solidarity movements that suggest "real progress toward freedom and justice." Hopes and Prospects is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the primary challenges still facing the human race. "This is a classic Chomsky work: a bonfire of myths and lies, sophistries and delusions. Noam Chomsky is an enduring inspiration all over the world—to millions, I suspect—for the simple reason that he is a truth-teller on an epic scale. I salute him." —John Pilger "In dissecting the rhetoric and logic of American empire and class domination, at home and abroad, Chomsky continues a longstanding and crucial work of elucidation and activism...the writing remains unswervingly rational and principled throughout, and lends bracing impetus to the real alternatives before us." —Publisher's Weekly "Chomsky’s commentary is razor sharp and offers a compendium of facts that make a well-supported—and undoubtedly controversial—claim of the incongruity between US actions and the democratic ideals it professes....A valuable resource for both academics and everyday concerned citizens." —ForeWord Professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Noam Chomsky is widely regarded to be one of the foremost critics of U.S. foreign policy in the world. He has published numerous groundbreaking books, articles, and essays on global politics, history, and linguistics. Among his recent books are The New York Times bestsellers Hegemony or Survival and Failed States.

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Book SynopsisDe quién es el mundo? Puede la civilización sobrevivir al capitalismo? Qué es el bien común? En Porque lo decimos nosotros, Chomsky explora estas y otras cuestiones relacionadas con temas que van desde el cambio climático hasta la expansión de Estado Islámico, pasando por la política nuclear, la guerra cibernética, el terrorismo, la NSA y la seguridad nacional. También aporta reflexiones más profundas sobre cuestiones de filosofía social, la función de lo comunal en una sociedad democrática y la influencia derechista en la política estadounidense.

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Book SynopsisLa propaganda es a la democracia lo que la cachiporra al estado totalitario. Chomsky nos muestra, tomando casos concretos, qué son las técnicas de persuasión, cómo y quién las aplica, con qué intenciones y cómo actúan sobre nosotros. Ramonet da un paso más. Examina, e ilustra con hechos, cómo los medios de control y vigilancia se han multiplicado con la fantástica capacidad de las nuevas herramientas. Quién tiene la propiedad de estos medios?

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Book SynopsisAvram Noam Chomsky (1928) estudió en la Universidad de Pensilvania bajo la dirección de Zellig S. Harris. Fue profesor desde 1955 del Institute of Thechnology de Massachussets. Su primera publicación importante fue Syntactic Structures (1957), resumen de The logical structure of Linguistic Theory (1955). Entre sus obras fundamentales en el ámbito de la lingüística cabe destacar: Current Issues in Linguistic Theory (1964), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965), que suele considerarse como la primera modificación importante en el campo de la gramática transformacional, Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought (1967), Language and Mind (1968), etc.

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Book SynopsisLa obra monumental de Noam Chomsky ha merecido en 1988 el premio Kyoto, el equivalente al Nobel para ciencia básica. Chomsky ha estudiado sobre todo dos temas: el problema de Platón (cómo sabemos tanto a partir de tan poco datos?) y el problema de Orwell (cómo se logra que cerremos los ojos a datos obvios?). Publicadas aquí en dos volúmenes, que corresponden a estos dos problemas, estas conferencias para un público no especializado son ya una referencia clásica. A su riqueza temática se une el interés de unos coloquios sin prejuicios.

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Book SynopsisEste libro se centra principalmente en Israel y Palestina y en cómo ha evolucionado en los últimos treinta y cinco años el papel que en él juegan los EE.UU. de América. Los ensayos que recoge este libro fueron escritos entre 1968 y 1973 y entre 1997 y 2002.Los nueve primeros ensayos fueron escritos antes del 11/S. Los Estados de todo el mundo aprovecharon el 11/S para aumentar la violencia y la represión en nombre de la "lucha contra el terrorismo". La administración estadounidense adoptó una postura tan extrema que llegó aprovocar serias desavenencias incluso con sus aliados más cercanos.

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Book SynopsisEl Triángulo Fatal puede que sea el libro más ambicioso sobre el conflicto entre el sionismo y el pueblo palestino desde un punto de vista que involucra de manera crucial a Estados Unidos. Se trata de una contundente exposición de corrupción humana, cod

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