Political activism / Political engagement Books

Book SynopsisThe time has arrived to resurrect the works of the early anarchist clubs, their unsung heroes, tumultuous political activities, and searing manifestos.

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Book SynopsisABOLISHING STATE VIOLENCE is an urgent and accessible analysis of the key structures of state violence in our world today, and a clarion call to action for their abolition.Connecting movements for social justice with ideas for how activists can support and build on this analysis and strategy, this book shows that there are many mutually supportive abolition movements, each enhanced by a shared understanding of the relationship between structures of violence and a shared framework for challenging them on the basis of their roots in patriarchy, racism, militarism, settler colonialism, and capitalism.This book argues that abolition is transformative. It is about defunding, demilitarizing, disbanding, and divesting from current structures of violence, but also about imagining new ways to organize and care for each other and our planet, and about building new systems and cultures to sustain ourselves in a more equitable, free, and peaceful way. It shows that change is possible.

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Book SynopsisMaud Gonne, the legendary woman known as the Irish Joan of Arc, left her mark on everyone she met. She famously won the devotion of one of the greatest poets of the age, William Butler Yeats. Born into tremendous privilege, she allied herself with rebels and the downtrodden and openly defied what was at the time the world’s most powerful empire. She was an actress, a journalist and an activist for the cause of Irish independence. Ignoring the threat of social ostracism, she had several children out of wedlock. She was an independent woman who charted her own course. Yet Maud Gonne was also a lifelong anti-semite, someone who, even after the horrors of the Second World War, could not summon sympathy for the millions murdered by the Nazis. A believer in the occult and in reincarnation, she took mescaline with Yeats to enhance visions of mythic Irish heroes and heroines, and in mid-life converted to Catholicism in order to marry her husband, the Irish Catholic war hero John MacBride. What motivated this extraordinary person? Kim Bendheim has long been fascinated by Maud Gonne’s perplexing character, and here gives us an intensely personal assessment of her thrilling life. The product of much original research, including interviews with Gonne’s equally vivid, unconventional descendants, The Fascination of What’s Difficult is a portrait of a powerful woman who, despite her considerable flaws, continues to inspire.Trade Review“With clear-eyed forays into obsession, love, and friendship, Kim Bendheim fleshes out one of the most enigmatic and alluring women in the history of European letters and politics.”—Florence Williams“Much more than a muse: biography shows us the Maud Gonne we didn’t learn about at school” — Irish Independent“The great virtue of Kim Bendheim’s book is that she brings fresh perspectives – non-academic, contemporary and American – to bear on the known facts of Gonne’s life… Revelatory.” — The Irish Times “[A] richly detailed critical biography of one of Ireland’s most celebrated and enigmatic political and cultural figures” — The Arts Fuse “Thanks to her role as muse to W.B.Yeats, Maud Gonne (1866-1953) is well-known in mythic form to many who have never heard her name. The initial corrective was her own 1938 autobiography, but Kim Bendheim’s book is a much more candid and useful book.” — Tortoise

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Book SynopsisMichael Ratner (1943–2016) was one of America’s leading human rights lawyers. He worked for more than four decades at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) becoming first the Director of Litigation and then the President of what Alexander Cockburn called “a small band of tigerish people.” He was also the President of the National Lawyers Guild. Ratner handled some of the most significant cases In American history. This book tells why and how he did it. His last case, which he worked on until he died, was representing truth-telling whistleblower and now political prisoner Julian Assange, the editor of WikiLeaks. Ratner “moved the bar” by organizing some 600 lawyers to successfully defend habeas corpus, that is, the ancient right of someone accused of a crime to have a lawyer and to be brought before a judge. Michael had a piece of paper taped on the wall next to his desk at the CCR. It read: 4 key principles of being a radical lawyer: 1. Do not refuse to take a case just because it is long odds of winning in court.2. Use cases to publicize a radical critique of US policy and to promote revolutionary transformation.3. Combine legal work with political advocacy.4. Love people. Compelling and instructive, Moving the Bar is an indispensable manual for the next generation of activists and their lawyers.Trade Review“If you care as deeply and passionately as Michael Ratner, the suffering of the oppressed forces you to become a radical.” — Chris Hedges “He was fearless. He was outraged by outrageous things. He was inventive when the law stopped short of providing justice. And working with Michael let you experience the exhilaration of taking the law to places where it had never been.” — Peter Weiss, former vice-president of the Center for Constitutional Rights “Driven by love and compassion, Michael Ratner was the most tenacious and brilliant of lawyers” — Amy Goodman “A fascinating read that covers much radical U.S. history.” —Ajamu Baraka “Reading Michael Ratner’s Moving the Bar shows just how unusual he was in the crowded room of radical lawyers… especially when other radical lawyers fell by the wayside, and opted for money, fame and notoriety.” — CounterPunch “An honest, poignant, sprawling, remarkable, and inspiring account” — LA Progressive “One of America’s foremost human rights lawyers” — The Guardian“[A] lively, thoughtful and remarkable memoir” — Morning Star “Inspiring” — Mondoweiss“Concise and easy to read for all who care about justice… Candidly offers a glimpse of the thoughtful soul behind the legal legend.” — The Indypendent“A beautiful and compelling account from one of the leaders of the legal left” — David Cole, The Nation“A vivid memoir of a storied attorney” — The Progressive“The memoir of a great constitutional lawyer” — Radio Woodstock“A valuable guide for activists and attorneys looking to use the law as part of larger movements for justice” — Against the Current

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Book SynopsisBorn in the old Transvaal town of Schweizer Reneke, Essop Pahad started on a path of political activism from his parents’ flat in Becker Street, Ferreirastown, where an all-welcome policy prevailed and visionaries of the Congress alliance, such as Yusuf Dadoo, Walter Sisulu, O.R.Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada were regular visitors. His parents instilled in the family strong anti-racist principles and a genuine concern for all human beings regardless of race, class or religion. A graduate of the ‘Congress School’ in Johannesburg, Essop’s growing commitment to social justice was nurtured by teachers who were among the struggle’s most eminent leaders. An executive member of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress, Essop was banned in 1964 and went into exile in the UK where he was recruited into the South African Communist Party (SACP). In 1973 he studied at the Lenin Party School in Moscow and then worked in Prague representing the SACP on the editorial board of the World Marxist Review for a decade. During this time he was sent by the ANC for military training with Umkhonto we Sizwe in Angola, which he was unable to complete as he contracted malaria. Essop returned to South Africa in 1990, where he played a central role in shaping our new democracy.A Life Committed is the memoir of a revolutionary whose diverse experiences with other progressive people and movements, local and international, enabled him to deepen his understanding of how to better face the challengesconfronting South Africa, Africa and the world. The book is spiced with anecdotes from his impressive memory archive and lightened by his mischievous sense of humour. Profiles of his mentors and friends from liberation movements and workers’ parties provide insight into the extent of the fierce integrity,compassion and humanity of the author.

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Book SynopsisAmazing Grace tells the story of the remarkable life of the abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759 -1833). This accessible biography chronicles Wilberforce's extraordinary role as a human rights activist, cultural reformer, and member of Parliament. At the centre of this heroic life was a passionate twenty year fight to abolish the British slave trade, a battle Wilberforce won in 1807, as well as efforts to abolish slavery itself in the British colonies, a victory achieved just three days before his death in 1833. Metaxas discovers in this unsung hero a man of whom it can truly be said: he changed the world. Before Wilberforce, few thought slavery was unjust. After Wilberforce, most societies in the world came to see it as a great moral wrong.

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Book Synopsis‘It is love of country that inspires us; not hate of the enemy …’ Terence MacSwiney, the renowned Republican lord mayor of Cork, died on 25 October 1920, on the seventy-fifth day of a hunger strike he started in Brixton Prison in an attempt to gain recognition as a political prisoner of war. His sacrifice brought worldwide media attention to Ireland’s struggle for independence. Principles of Freedom, his collection of political writings, provides a glimpse into the thinking of a man prepared to give his all for Irish freedom.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the Post-Truth era— a time in which the art of the lie is shaking the very foundations of democracy and the world as we know it. The Brexit vote; Donald Trump’s victory; the rejection of climate change science; the vilification of immigrants; all have been based on the power to evoke feelings and not facts. So what does it all mean and how can we champion truth in in a time of lies and ‘alternative facts’?In this eye-opening and timely book, Post-Truth is distinguished from a long tradition of political lies, exaggeration and spin. What is new is not the mendacity of politicians but the public’s response to it and the ability of new technologies and social media to manipulate, polarise and entrench opinion. Where trust has evaporated, conspiracy theories thrive, the authority of the media wilt and emotions matter more than facts . Now, one of the UK’s most respected political journalists, Matthew d’Ancona investigates how we got here, why quiet resignation is not an option and how we can and must fight back.Trade ReviewD’Ancona’s punchy polemic asks questions that are urgently topical and undeniably important. -- John Gray * Guardian *To anyone who is invigorated by urgent writing, Matthew d’Ancona’s work is as startling as a cold shower. -- Nick Cohen * Observer *Elegantly written and erudite, it's also a rousing rallying cry. -- Jonathan FreedlandIt's officially BRILLIANT. And badly needed. -- Emily Maitlis

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Book SynopsisA major revision of animal rights bible Striking at the Roots, referencing changes from the last 10 years including the rise of social media, which is now a key part of any campaign. The book brings together the most effective tactics for speaking out for animal rights. Activists from around the globe explain why their models of activism have been successful - and how you can become involved. Concise and full of practical examples and resources, this manual for success demonstrates how many of the world's most engaged activists effectively speak to the public, lobby policymakers, and deal with law enforcement - all while keeping their eyes on the prize of achieving victories for animals. This book will empower you to make the most of your skills. From simple leafleting to taking direct action, each chapter clearly explains where to begin, what to expect, and how to ensure your message is heard.

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Book Synopsis'Rousing, hopeful and important reading' - Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible WomenHad enough? Feeling hopeless? Don't give up - join the rebellion.Activist, journalist, founding leader of the Women's Equality Party and 'modern-day suffragette' (Evening Standard) Sophie Walker presents an inspiring, five-step journey to incorporating activism into our lives.Featuring stories of new and seasoned activists - including Amika George and Jack Monroe - campaigning on a range of issues from reproductive rights and poverty to the environment and access to education - the book shows us how to see activism not as a series of pitched battles but as a positive, lifelong learning experience.Escape the numbing effects of despair, learn to channel anger, arm yourself with hope, practise perseverance and connect with others compassionately.Five Rules for Rebellion explains how we can convert our confusion and impatience into a powerful force for change.'Thoroughly engaging, empowering and inspiring ... blows invigorating air into the weary world of politics and makes you want to get out there NOW and do something about it' - Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of Together For Yes and convenor of Coalition to Repeal the 8th AmendmentTrade ReviewRousing, hopeful and important reading -- Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible WomenThe book is a manifesto, a call to arms, and a reminder at a time of increasing tribalism that activism and leadership doesn't have to be a series of pitched battles; it can be a collaborative, enriching experience. Less a polemic than a pep talk, it is an antidote to the rising tide of despair. -- The HeraldSophie Walker will pick you up, dust you off and put the fire in your belly to change the world. Whether you're a new activist or have been in the arena for a while, this book offers sustenance for everyone -- Nimko Ali, CEO and co-founder of The Five Foundation and author of What We're Told Not To Talk AboutAs it becomes depressingly clear that those presently in power are not taking the urgent action required on climate change, poverty and inequality, we must ourselves take action wherever and whenever we can. This book - by one of the most visionary women I have ever met - will tell you how. -- Emma Thompson, actor, screenwriter and activistSophie is an extraordinary communicator. I've seen her inspire thousands to activism. This book will inspire many more -- Catherine Mayer, co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party and author of Attack of the 50 Ft. WomenThoroughly engaging, empowering and inspiring ... blows invigorating air into the weary world of politics and makes you want to get out there NOW and do something about it -- Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of Together For Yes and convenor of Coalition to Repeal the 8th AmendmentShort, clear and practical -- Courier Mail

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Book Synopsis'Rousing, hopeful and important reading' - Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible WomenHad enough? Feeling hopeless? Don't give up - join the rebellion.Activist, journalist, founding leader of the Women's Equality Party and 'modern-day suffragette' (Evening Standard) Sophie Walker presents an inspiring, five-step journey to incorporating activism into our lives.Featuring stories of new and seasoned activists - including Amika George and Jack Monroe - campaigning on a range of issues from reproductive rights and poverty to the environment and access to education - the book shows us how to see activism not as a series of pitched battles but as a positive, lifelong learning experience.Escape the numbing effects of despair, learn to channel anger, arm yourself with hope, practise perseverance and connect with others compassionately.Five Rules for Rebellion explains how we can convert our confusion and impatience into a powerful force for change.'Thoroughly engaging, empowering and inspiring ... blows invigorating air into the weary world of politics and makes you want to get out there NOW and do something about it' - Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of Together For Yes and convenor of Coalition to Repeal the 8th AmendmentTrade ReviewRousing, hopeful and important reading -- Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible WomenThe book is a manifesto, a call to arms, and a reminder at a time of increasing tribalism that activism and leadership doesn't have to be a series of pitched battles; it can be a collaborative, enriching experience. Less a polemic than a pep talk, it is an antidote to the rising tide of despair. -- The HeraldSophie Walker will pick you up, dust you off and put the fire in your belly to change the world. Whether you're a new activist or have been in the arena for a while, this book offers sustenance for everyone -- Nimko Ali, CEO and co-founder of The Five Foundation and author of What We're Told Not To Talk AboutAs it becomes depressingly clear that those presently in power are not taking the urgent action required on climate change, poverty and inequality, we must ourselves take action wherever and whenever we can. This book - by one of the most visionary women I have ever met - will tell you how. -- Emma Thompson, actor, screenwriter and activistSophie is an extraordinary communicator. I've seen her inspire thousands to activism. This book will inspire many more -- Catherine Mayer, co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party and author of Attack of the 50 Ft. WomenThoroughly engaging, empowering and inspiring ... blows invigorating air into the weary world of politics and makes you want to get out there NOW and do something about it -- Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of Together For Yes and convenor of Coalition to Repeal the 8th AmendmentShort, clear and practical -- Courier Mail

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Book Synopsis'An illuminating portrait of Baltimore ... Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly A kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world.When Freddie Gray was arrested for possessing an 'illegal knife' in April 2015, he was, by eyewitness accounts that video evidence later confirmed, treated 'roughly' as police loaded him into a vehicle. By the end of his trip in the police van, Gray was in a coma from which he would never recover.In the wake of a long history of police abuse in Baltimore, this killing felt like the final straw - it led to a week of protests empowered by the Black Lives Matter movement, then five days described alternately as a riot or an uprising.New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore tells the story of the five days through his own observations and through the eyes of other Baltimoreans: Partee, a conflicted black captain of the Baltimore Police Department; Jenny, a young white public defender who's drawn into the violent centre of the uprising herself; Tawanda, a young black woman who'd spent a lonely year protesting the killing of her own brother by police; and John Angelos, scion of the city's most powerful family and executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, who had to make choices of conscience he'd never before confronted.Each shifting point of view contributes to an engrossing, cacophonous account of a moment in history with striking resemblances to far more recent events, which is also an essential cri de coeur about the deeper causes of the violence and the small seeds of hope planted in its aftermath.

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Book SynopsisFive years ago, DeRay Mckesson quit his job as a schoolteacher, moved to Ferguson, Missouri, and spent the next 400 days on the streets as an activist, helping to bring the Black Lives Matter movement into being. Now, in his first book, he draws on his own experiences – of growing up without his mother, with a father in recovery, of having a house burn down and a bully chase him home from school, of pacifying a traffic cop at gunpoint and being dragged out of a police station by his ankles, of determined activism on the streets and in the White House – to make the case for hope, for believing a better future is possible. It is a visionary’s call to take responsibility for imagining, and then building, the world we want to live in.Trade Review‘Hope and insight and empathy spring from every page of On the Other Side of Freedom. DeRay Mckesson…stares down the faces of bigotry and unfreedom and cynicism and doesn’t flinch in writing out our marching orders toward freedom.’ -- Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning author Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America‘He forces anyone who reads his words to understand the humanity of the black body; the black body that has otherwise been demonised, made monster-like, or contorted into some negative narrative. A vital read, if you are to truly know resistance, and the stories it gives rise to.’ -- Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie‘On the Other Side of Freedom reveals the mind and motivations of a young man who has risen to the fore of millennial activism through study, discipline, and conviction. His belief in a world that can be made better, one act at a time, powers his narratives and opens up a view on the costs, consequences, and rewards of leading a movement.’ -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.‘Mckesson and a core group of other activists have built the most formidable American protest movement of the 21st century to date.’ * New York Times *‘An inspiring reminder that hope is vital to any political change, and it’s the driving force for any successful attempt at social justice.’ * Esquire (Best Nonfiction Books of 2018) *‘Riveting and affecting . . . written with astounding poetry, vulnerability, and flair. Mckesson is a gifted, pointed storyteller.’ * The Village Voice *

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Book Synopsis'Simon Woolley revolutionised British politics' - GuardianCan an outsider ever become a member of the establishment?Simon Woolley is a member of the House of Lords, the first Black man to head an Oxbridge college, and a policy changemaker who has the ear of prime ministers and the future King. But this is a Lord who wants to shake up the establishment; an outsider who knows how important it is to bring underrepresented voices to the table.Raised by loving white foster parents on the impoverished St Matthew's Estate in Leicester, young Simon soon learnt about politics while in line at the barber's and about racism as one of the few Black children in the neighbourhood. The desire to make the world better was awakened during a trip to South America, where he saw revolutionary politics first hand, and discovered how activism could change people's lives. Inspired, he co-founded Operation Black Vote in 1996, credited with encouraging thousands of Black men and women to exercise their right to vote over the past 25 years.Soar is a story of courage and commitment, of perseverance and remaining positive despite the challenges of institutional racism. It's about becoming a father and honouring your heritage. But most of all, it's about being your own role model, when no others have been available to you.

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Book SynopsisWhy are we so obsessed by the pursuit of happiness? With new ways to measure contentment we are told that we have a right to individual joy. But at what cost? In an age of increasing individualism, we have never been more alone and miserable. But what if the true nature of happiness can only be found in others? In Radical Happiness, leading feminist thinker Lynne Segal believes that we have lost the art of radical happiness- the art of transformative, collective joy. She shows that only in the revolutionary potential of coming together it is that we can come to understand the powers of flourishing. Radical Happiness is a passionate call for the re-discovery of the political and emotional joy that emerge when we learn to share our lives together.Trade ReviewAn expansive and contemplative exploration of love, joy, desire, and the concepts surrounding Utopias, all of which find the author navigating human psychology, sociology, societal mores, and the economics of happiness. A calm, refreshing breath of fresh air in a dangerously uncertain moment in human history. * Kirkus Review *The socialist feminist we need to listen to right now. Her book is an important one because we need "a politics of hope" like never before. -- Emma Rees * Times Higher Education *A unique capacity for clarity and wit, along with her courage of intellect. -- Sheila RowbothamWide ranging in its analyses of feminist, political and social theory -- Margaret Drabble * [on Out of Time] *An engaging, enlightening read for anyone who wants to ponder the links between personal dissatisfaction and political disengagement - and possible remedies. The idea of collective happiness as the root of much satisfaction is simple, but deceptively hard to write about, let alone achieve. Segal succeeds in inspiring on many levels. -- Isabel Berwick * Financial Times *Radical Happiness ultimately arrives at a convincing argument about our need to overcome the now-common tendency to view dystopian thinking as a political act in and of itself . If happiness is 'not so much an emotion, a psychic state or inner disposition, but rather a way of acting in the world,' then so is the path to real social change. It is defined not by a list of demands, but by a commitment to the common good. A feminism that's about showing up for each other and not merely ourselves: how radical. -- Charlotte Shane * The Nation *Straightforward in argument and essential in content for our times ... a source of much joy and inspiration. * Peace News *There can be something exhilarating about taking part in a protest or other instance of activism. In her book Radical Happiness, Lynne Segal examines this side of activism, and also explores the ways in which avoiding politics entirely may be tied to a greater sense of disquiet and frustration. It's an incisive look at another facet of politics and society. -- Tobias Carroll * Signature *

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Book SynopsisMany Christians are nervous about politics - isn't the political world murky and sleazy, a den of deceit and backstairs deals? At the same time, the image of Christians in politics isn’t great either – often seen as judgemental hypocrites, intolerant and hateful control freaks... shouldn't this mean that faith and politics should be kept firmly apart? In A Mucky Business, Tim Farron, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Party and friends, explore and defend why Christianity and politics should and must work together. If Christians are to love their neighbours, they need to engage with the issues that affect everyone. Why should Christians leave their beliefs at the door when they enter public life? No one else does! Tim Farron shares his experience as the UK’s best known Christian MP and draws on case studies from across the political spectrum. Many of these case studies come from his successful A Mucky Business podcast. Demonstrating that it’s possible to be both a Christian and to step into the political world with confidence. A Mucky Business will both inspired and better equip christians to care about politics, pray knowledgeably, and engage with politics effectively.Trade ReviewWhy should Christians engage in politics? Because Christ calls us to be salt of the earth, light of the world. Love of God and love of neighbour mean we are to get involved. Rooted in Scripture and prayer, this book brilliantly explains what that looks like in practice, how we can be compassionate without compromise in the fundamentals. It is part of a tradition that calls us to be 'the King's good servant, but God's first' (Thomas More). * Fr Mark Vickers, author of 'God in Number 10' *A frank, thought-provoking challenge to Christians to get involved with the world around them, whether through neighborhood projects or national politics. * Rob Hutton, Parliamentary Sketchwriter, Critic Magazine *This book offers a refreshingly honest, brave, insightful and reasoned account of Christian engagement in politics. It avoids being either naive or cynical. It draws on outstanding scholarship and provides practical wisdom. It not only argues that the gospel relates to all of life, including politics, but considers the challenges and opportunities of taking such a claim seriously. Politics is indeed a mucky business, and one in which we must play our part if we are serious about loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves. * Paul Woolley, CEO, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity *A fantastic read, A Mucky Business shows that social injustice should be on the heart of every Christian. Politics and the gospel are entwined in giving the world the good news of Jesus Christ. The different conversations in this book all speak the same language. Tim blends the text in such a way that the reader wants more. * Pastor Mick Fleming, leader of Church on the Street Ministries in Burnley, and author of Blown Away: From drug dealer to life bringer *Tim Farron is a hero of mine, and I’m so glad he’s written this book that will help Christians pursue faithfulness in all of life, including politics! I trust this book will be a great encouragement to all who have grown weary of our politics, and I believe it will empower Christians to make a difference for good. * Michael Wear, author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America *Jesus didn’t run away from the muck. He waded straight into it. But in the knowledge that he was doing what his Father was calling him to. If you’ve been trying to keep your feet clean by avoiding the muck of the public square (both online and offline), this is the book for you. It will help you get stuck in but also understand why and for whom you’re suddenly knee-deep. * Andy Flannagan, Executive Director of Christians in Politics *Tim Farron’s book is a timely antidote both to widespread apathy about involvement in social issues and frustration with the deceptions and intrigues of politicians. Here is an active politician who is honest about his Christian beliefs as well as his own failures and passions. Of course he is not the only one, as is clear from the many case studies. But in this book, he does more than simply offer models of people who have devoted themselves to the ‘mucky business’ of politics. He tackles common objections and concerns head on. He also provides practical paths for others to follow suit. In its quirky, self-deprecating way, this is a book to inspire and encourage, and if a large proportion of readers get involved as a result, that has to be a good thing! * Mark Meynell, former Whitehall chaplain, and author of A Wilderness of Mirrors: Trusting again in a Cynical World. *This book has its head in a theological vision for cultural engagement and its feet firmly planted in the mucky business of political life. Like Tim Farron himself, it is ebullient, principled, astute, and hopeful in all the right ways. * Glen Scrivener, Director and Evangelist at Speak Life, author of The Air We Breathe *There are few people better placed than Tim Farron to advise people of faith on the opportunities and perils of political engagement. Tim and his co-authors are realistic about what politics is, but also hopefully that there is good work to be done by Christians in the public square. This book doesn’t offer political theory, but a biblically informed political practice. Any Christian who senses a call to the public life should read it. * Paul Bickley, Acting Head of Research, Theos *

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Book SynopsisIn his new book, Edward Carpenter: A Victorian Rebel Fighting for Gay Rights, Brian Anderson explores the life of the neglected Victorian gay icon Edward Carpenter. Using a large number of previously unpublished letters to his lovers, and friends, his tortuous journey from conforming youth to outspoken critic of Victorian society is traced. His adolescent hurts and sexual confusion, his fumbling first love affairs, the remarkable expansion of his mind at Cambridge and his timely release from a priestly and donnish life, are recounted. His entry into the world of socialist politics as a polemical writer and his turning from socialist rhetoric to sexual politics forms a central part of the narrative, together with an account of the obstacles that he faced in finding publishers daring enough to take his work at the height of the Oscar Wilde scandal. The intimate details of his gay life are, for the first time, combined with the most extensive analysis to date of his pioneering writing on homosexuality.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE PEN HESSELL-TILTMAN PRIZE*****'There have been many books written about the events of Bloody Sunday, however, none has wrenched the reader as violently back to those CS gas-choked streets, dumping them right in the heart of the screaming, running, shooting and crying, as Julieann Campbell's On Bloody Sunday. A powerful chronicle of one of the darkest episodes of modern times.' - Sunday Times'Powerful and moving ... The strength of this important new book lies in the artistry the author brings to the tasks of portraying both the community upon which the massacre was perpetrated, and the individuals within it.' - Irish Times'Meticulous.... On Bloody Sunday possesses a veracity and cumulative power that sets it apart from previous accounts' - Observer'A momentous chronicle, timely and vital, which highlights that the burden of change rests, as always, upon the shoulders of those who suffered and yet, have nurtured the desire that lessons be learned.' - Michael Mansfield QC, who represented a number of families during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.'It is a vital record of the time, the city, and its people, and more impressive still it does so almost entirely in their own words, their heartbreak, their anger, their resilience, their humour. Julieann Campbell has given their voices, so long silenced, the dignity they deserve. It is a staggering achievement.' - Séamas O'Reilly'It's a wonderful book. The technique used - multiple voices speaking directly to us - is very simple but it has a profound effect. It puts us into the middle of the chaos of Bloody Sunday and keeps us there throughout the grief and anger that follow. A wonderful, wonderful book.' - Jimmy McGovern, BAFTA winning screenwriter, creator of 'Sunday' (2002)In January 1972, a peaceful civil rights march in Northern Ireland ended in bloodshed. Troops from Britain's 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment opened fire on marchers, leaving 13 dead and 15 wounded. Seven of those killed were teenage boys. The day became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.The events occurred in broad daylight and in the full glare of the press. Within hours, the British military informed the world that they had won an 'IRA gun battle'. This became the official narrative for decades until a family-led campaign instigated one of the most complex inquiries in history. In 2010, the victims of Bloody Sunday were fully exonerated when Lord Saville found that the majority of the victims were either shot in the back as they ran away or were helping someone in need. The report made headlines all over the world. While many buried the trauma of that day, historian and campaigner Juliann Campbell - whose teenage uncle was the first to be killed that day - felt the need to keep recording these interviews, and collecting rare and unpublished accounts, aware of just how precious they were. Fifty years on, in this book, survivors, relatives, eyewitnesses and politicians, shine a light on the events of Bloody Sunday, together, for the first time.As they tell their stories, the tension, confusion and anger build with an awful power. ON BLOODY SUNDAY unfolds before us an extraordinary human drama, as we experience one of the darkest moments in modern history - and witness the true human cost of conflict.Trade ReviewRaw, meticulous and deeply personal, On Bloody Sunday is a remarkable act of public memory. The book gathers hundreds of different voices in testimony and reflection, retelling the unresolved story of the massacre of unarmed civilians in 1972. In doing so, it expands the possibilities of oral history as a resource for truth and justice. -- Dan HicksThrough multiple voices, Campbell puts us in the thick of history and humanity in this chronicle that throbs with grief, anger and frustration. It also frames the legacy of that tragic day in the context of the greater historical picture, how the people of Derry's efforts to get justice lay down a benchmark for similar campaigns across the world to this day. -- Donal O'Donoghue * RTE *Bloody Sunday was a pivotal moment in Irish history. Julieann Campbell places it perfectly in its time and place. The dominant notes are of anger and grief, and admiration for the indomitable spirit of the families and other campaigners who strove against daunting odds to vindicate the memory of the murdered. -- Eamonn McCann, journalist, author and Irish civil rights leaderA momentous chronicle, timely and vital, which highlights that the burden of change rests, as always, upon the shoulders of those who suffered and yet, have nurtured the desire that lessons be learned. -- Michael Mansfield QC, who represented a number of families during the Bloody Sunday InquiryThe technique used - multiple voices speaking directly to us - is very simple but it has a profound effect. It puts us into the middle of the chaos of Bloody Sunday and keeps us there throughout the grief and anger that follow. A wonderful, wonderful book. -- Jimmy McGovern, BAFTA-winning screenwriterSo many people - judges, politicians, generals, journalists - have had their say on Bloody Sunday. his book allows the voices of the people of Derry to be heard. Their accounts are exciting, tragic, infuriating, but, above all, authentic. The fear, anger and grief leap off the pages. -- Anne Cadwallader, journalist and authorHeartbreaking, poignant, powerful. -- Joe Duffy, broadcaster and authorThis was a day like no other in my lifetime ... a day that affected the lives of countless thousands on this Island. -- Christy Moore, Irish folk songwriter and musicianPowerful and moving ... The strength of this important new book lies in the artistry the author brings to the tasks of portraying both the community upon which the massacre was perpetrated, and the individuals within it... Campbell takes the voices of marchers, leaders, family members, doctors, priests and others and works her material like a woman knitting an Aran jumper, using a complicated pattern to create something that looks in the end simply beautiful. The book is animated by nothing less than love. The people of Derry are Campbells's people. She is from one of the Bloody Sunday families - her uncle, Jackie Duddy, was the first of the 12 people who were murdered that day. He was just 17. -- Susan Mckay * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of ''Hands Off Wales'' addresses the campaign of militant activism which Wales witnessed between 1963 and 1969, showing that it was fuelled by both the contentious flooding of Cwm Tryweryn and the failure of Plaid Cymru to prevent the valley''s drowning via constitutional means.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on years of research with activists around the world, sociologist Naomi Braine describes the strategies, politics, and tactics of direct action feminists bringing abortion pills, information, and support to people seeking to end unwanted pregnancies. From combatting the legal strictures of Bolsonaro's Brazil, to navigating the NGO-dominated landscape of Kenya and Nigeria, feminist activists are making safe, accessible abortion care available against the odds.Even more important, these women are building a robust transnational feminist network. Tactics developed in the Global South - hotlines, practices of accompaniment and peer-to-peer care, and scientific information - are now being shared with activists in Europe and North America, building a new model for international feminist solidarity.Trade ReviewThis book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know how the global feminist movement for self-managed abortion has been providing access to safe and quality pregnancy termination-beyond legal and medical authority. -- Nayla Luz Vacarezza, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, ArgentinaRead this book and learn all about the creative strategies and intrepid people making a real difference in the lives of millions. -- Francine Coeytaux and Elisa Wells, Cofounders, Plan CTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Abortion Is Unstoppable: The Emergence of a Transnational Movement2. We Are Everywhere: The Shape of the Global Movement for SMA3. An Act of Solidarity between Women: Strategies to Share Information and Enable Safe Abortions4. Being an Activist Is Not Easy: Managing Security and Sharing the Risks5. We Have Become the Experts: Scientific Research, Medical Protocols, and Movement Knowledge6. We All Work Together: Building Activist Networks from the Local to the Global7. In It for the Long Term: The Lives of Committed ActivistsConclusion: Moving ForwardAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisA passionate witness to the colossal upheaval that has transformed her native South Africa, Gillian Slovo has written a memoir that is far more than a story of her own life. For she is the daughter of Joe Slovo and Ruth First, South Africa's pioneering anti-apartheid white activists, a daughter who always had to come second to political commitment. Whilst recalling the extraordinary events which surrounded her family's persecution and exile, and reconstructing the truth of her parents' relationship and her own turbulent childhood, Gillian Slovo has also created an astonishing portrait of a courageous, beautiful mother and a father of integrity and stoicism.Trade ReviewA luminous achievement * OBSERVER *Wonderfully moving ... anger, frustration, and the hunger for sharing wash her pages, though they never swamp the admiration for her parents * GUARDIAN *Gillian Slovo has written a brave book, as unsparing of herself as it is of her parents ... a moving testimony * Christopher Hope, INDEPENDENT *An extraordinary expression of the very nature of loving, which illuminates, with the anger and tenderness of deep emotion, that human territory we all occupy, and where we conceal so much from ourselves * Nadine Gordimer *

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 2012 to wide acclaim, this updated edition, Why It's Still Kicking Off Everywhere, includes coverage of the most recent events in the wave of revolt and revolution sweeping the planet-riots in Athens, student occupations in the UK, Quebec and Moscow, the emergence of the Occupy Movement and the tumult of the Arab Spring. Economic crisis, social networking and a new political consciousness have come together to ignite a new generation of radicals.BBC journalist and author Paul Mason combines the anecdotes gleaned through first-hand reportage with political, economic and historical analysis to tell the story of today's networked revolution. Why It's Still Kicking Off Everywhere not only addresses contemporary struggles, it provides insights into the future of global revolt.Trade ReviewA wonderful piece of journalism that tries to draw links between the Arab Spring, the Syriza movement in Greece, the Podemos movement in Spain, Occupy. -- Paul Greengrass, director of Jason BourneThe mix of wide-ranging reportage and historical analysis is lively and insightful. -- Claire Allfree * Metro *The writing of this reportage is compact, urgent, present-tense, declarative, and addictive. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *Mason has had a ringside seat to some of the biggest news events of 2011. He has listened to the protestors in Tahrir Square. He followed Greek workers marching through Athens. He has travelled through America, watched first hand the collapse of blue-collar employment and the death of the dream of home ownership. * Guardian *He's lively, funny and engaging, trading in the energy derived from the thrill and significance of what he's witnessing. -- Phil Harrison * Time Out *A cogent, accessible analysis of the ongoing forces of global upheaval. * Kirkus Reviews *This book not only reads as an in-depth consideration of global politics today, but offers a personal memoir from a man who has had a ringside seat. We are blessed that the BBC, for all the criticisms, still employs journalists whose logic and unfailing inquisitiveness brings us such analysis. -- Dan Carrier * Camden New Journal *You will learn something new and challenging on every page of this book. -- Kenny Farquharson * Scotland on Sunday *Mason has emerged as possibly the most engaged mainstream journalist of our age. -- George Eaton * New Statesman *Concise global analysis with sympathetic news from the frontline, revealing angry and scared people staring into a bleak future amid the wreckage of shattered certainties. -- Ian Birrell * Observer *Superb overview of the global protest movements of 2011. * New Internationalist *Testament to his instincts as a veteran journalist, Mason managed to be everywhere right as things were kicking off-traversing the globe from the Middle East to Europe to America to Asia. [T]he book combines a feel for the breathlessness of events as they unfold with a historian's eye for patterns and precedents ... Mason's prose beautifully captures the almost surreal mood that often accompanies mass shifts in consciousness. -- Leela Yellesetty * Socialist Worker *An accessible insight into how the world is swiftly changing and what the implications are for women, politicians and business. * Daily Mail *These reports are good journalism. One feels as if they are present at the rallies, occupations and riots that Mason describes. The anecdotal tales he provides should remind anyone who participated in any kind of popular resistance in the past decades of the energy and hope one finds and feels at such events. These are the stuff that makes one join such movements. Worthwhile and provocative. -- Ron Jacobs * Counterpunch *Paul Mason's enthusiasm and curiosity are infectious. Adapting a rich vein of leftwing revolutionary thought for the wired generation, Mason argues passionately that the old rules have been broken. -- John Kampfner * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisBeing antiracist is not something you are. It is something we do. In his global, game-changing bestseller How To Be An Antiracist Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Centre for Antiracist Research at Boston University, showed that when it comes to racism, neutrality is not an option: until we become part of the solution, we can only be part of the problem. Crucially, it requires 'persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism and regular self-examination'. In this workbook he uses his extraordinary gifts as a teacher to provide the reader with a series of activities, exercises and reflections to help them do this vital work, to cultivate an instinctive awareness of racism in all its forms and to take the action necessary to promote racial equity in the world around them. He asks us to reflect on our thinking around race through prompts including 'Describe the most racist moment of your life,', 'Have you ever been hesitant to use the R-word? Why?' and 'What does resistance mean to you?' helping us understand that the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession. It is self-reflection. The heart of racism is denial. It is refusing to self-reflect. 'Transformative and revolutionary' Robin DiAngelo, bestselling author of White Fragility 'Gives us the tools to make changes in our own life and society' June SarpongTrade ReviewOne of the US's most respected scholars of race and history... Kendi's argument is brilliantly simple -- Afua Hirsch * Guardian (on How To Be an Antiracist) *Transformative and revolutionary ... offers us a necessary and critical way forward -- Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility (on How To Be an Antiracist)Gives us the tools to make changes in our own lives and society at large. A must-read -- June Sarpong, author of Diversify (on How To Be an Antiracist)Vital and hopeful ... Whether you're an institution ... or an individual in moral paralysis, dumbfounded by the febrile emotions now at large ... you are not alone; hope is on its way -- Colin Grant * Observer (on How To Be an Antiracist) *Makes clear how we all must engage in the essential soul-searching to understand our own racism and the personal action required to become antiracist -- Lord Herman Ouseley, former Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality and of Kick It Out (on How To Be an Antiracist)So vital. As a society, we need to start treating antiracism as action, not emotion - and Kendi is helping us do that -- Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race (on How To Be an Antiracist)No less than a road map for social change through a remarkable, personal and deeply touching journey. If you take the business of fighting oppression seriously and want to make a difference, this is something you need to read -- Leslie Thomas, QC (on How To Be an Antiracist)

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Book SynopsisThe Maldives is a small and beautiful archipelago south of India, more renowned for luxury resorts than experiments in democracy. It is a country of contradictions, where tourists sip cocktails on the beach while on nearby islands local women are flogged for extramarital sex and blackmarket vodka costs $140 a bottle. Until 2008 the Maldives also hosted Asia's longest-serving dictator, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. A former political prisoner, Mohamed Nasheed, an environmental activist, journalist, and politician, brought Gayoom's thirty-year autocracy to a sudden end, in the Maldives' first democratic elections. Young, progressive and charismatic, President Nasheed thrust the Maldives into the spotlight as a symbol of the fight against climate change and the struggle for democracy and human rights in one of the world's strictest Islamic societies. But dictatorships are hard to defeat, enduring in a country's institutions and the minds of people conditioned to autocracy over three decades. Democracy brought turmoil, protests, violence and intense political polarisation.The ousted dictatorship overthrew Nasheed's government in February 2012, supported by Islamic radicals and mutinying security forces. Amid Byzantine intrigue, the fight for democracy was just beginning.Trade Review'Little is published on the Maldives ... J.J. Robinson's new book is a rare, welcome contribution. A British-Australian who for several years edited Minivan News, easily the country's best newspaper, he reported close-up on matters to which few outsiders pay great attention.' * Economist *'It is putting it mildly to say that the real Maldives is nothing like the holiday paradise experienced by most of the beach tourists and scuba divers who visit the islands, and JJ Robinson's political history - one of very few to have been published on the Indian Ocean archipelago - tells us why.' * Financial Times *'Entertaining book, which is stuffed with heroes, villains, coups and countercoups, as well as plenty of sex, religion and corruption. It reads like a Carl Hiaasen novel.' * Literary Review *'Maldivians won't thank Robinson for this portrait, and yet it's horribly compelling...there's courage and defiance at the heart of this book...a sad and salutary tale, boldly told.' * The Spectator *'Too little attention has been paid to the Maldives as a country, rather than a luxury resort. As J.J. Robinson notes in this comprehensive, perceptive and readable account of it's recent politics, the island nation has been a bellwether of change, good and bad, across much of the Islamic World. Any one interested in south Asia, and the tensions in many other Muslim countries, should read this excellent book.' * Jason Burke, South Asia correspondent of the Guardian, and author of The New Threat From Islamic Militancy *'A compelling and frightening account of a young democracy betrayed by corruption and Islamic extremism - the Maldives may be a small country, but JJ Robinson's book has lessons that need to be learned worldwide.' * Mark Lynas, climate advisor to former President Nasheed *

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Book SynopsisThis book explores ways to address personal, social and environmental concerns in simple practical steps in our daily lives. It explains how individuals and communities can work together to achieve positive change. It discusses the current political and mainstream paradigms and where they are leading us. The thoughts and actions of people past and present have determined the current state of our planet. If we change our thinking, we can change the health of our own lives, and also the future state of our world. 7 Ways to Think Differently explores ways to address personal, social and environmental concerns in simple practical steps in our daily lives, helping us to make incremental, achievable changes. As well as addressing our internal landscapes, Looby explains how individuals and communities can work together to achieve positive change. She also explores the current political and mainstream paradigms and where they are leading us.Trade ReviewThroughout this very readable book Looby encourages us to think about thinking ... and in doing so she poses a number of fundamental questions including, for example: How do you see the world?, What might influence how you think about this?, What are your beliefs and assumptions?, What are the patterns of thinking that recreate feelings, behaviours and learning?, How can you go deeper and think more critically to challenge these? and How can you reinterpret these stories? The Introduction covers how she developed the basis for the book and briefly lists the seven different ways (and her choice of symbols to illustrate each one). She provides explanations of Permaculture and The Work That Reconnects, Thinking about Thinking, Shifting our Thinking and concludes with Landscape of Thought which pulls all seven ways together into a single graphic image. The bulk of the book has seven chapters, each covering one of the seven ways, which are: abundance thinking, solutions thinking, systems thinking, thinking like nature, co-operative thinking, thinking for the future and from thinking to doing. Each one adds structure and depth to the unfolding story. The final pages are packed with further resources, listing books, websites and films as well as 46 references used throughout the text. There is also a very useful double page Ways of Thinking Summary with multiple examples and the relevant permaculture principles applying to each one. In her closing words Looby asks us to accept that this [book] is an invitation to embark on a beautiful journey of embracing, responding and discovering. I do, I am now using the book and strongly recommend it to you as one very effective tool for being and doing in a very different way.; Alan Charlton, Permaculture magazine

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Book SynopsisAccording to Saunders Lewis the Investiture of 1969 was a turning point in Welsh history. This book tells the story through the voices of the most prominent characters: protesters, journalists and politicians. It tells of the bickering within some of Wales' most prominent institutions, such as the Urdd and Gorsedd, as well as the absurd and intense events leading up to the ceremony in Caernarfon. We read about Cymdeithas yr Iaith rallies, demonstrations by Aberystwyth and Bangor students, dramatic appearances by the FWA, the bombing campaign by Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru and the suspicious activities of the secret police. This book creates a picture of the turbulent years of the sixties and gives an idea of what it was like to be a part of the battle between Welsh nationalists and the British institution of the time.Trade ReviewReviews of the original Welsh-language version of this book: "Here we have everything: the lies and the shame, the betrayal and the wounds, the servility and the courage, the pageantry and the presumptuousness" - Lyn Ebenezer; "The glory of this volume us the way it shows the completely seismic effect of the Investiture on Wales... All I need to say is, buy it." - Vaughan Hughes, Barn magazine; "This is an essential volume which looks back and reveals the whole thing in an immediate, gripping style, but which is also a clear handbook on how to deal with similar situations in the future, if we ever see this kind of nonsense again. - Myrddin ap Dafydd, Llafar Gwlad; "...A volume which reads like a thriller, and thanks to the author for such an entertaining and comprehensive contribution to our understanding of 1969." - Tweli Griffiths, Western Mail WeekendTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. End of a royal family 2. Lloyd George's investiture 3. 'To present Wales to the world in her Sunday best' 4. No peace at the Temple 5. 'Charles Windsor Shall Not Pass' 6. Gwynfor's Dilemma 7. George and the Dragon's Tongue 8. On Manoeuvres 9.'Hymn of hate' 10. Political policing 11. Children of the revolution 12. Crushing the FWA 13. Aber under siege 14. Activists and spies 15. Generational conflict 16. Agent Provocateurs? 17. Cilmeri 18. Hostages and Martyrs 19. 'An awful lot of people watching other people' 20. 'A peculiar royal salute..' 21. Investiture's Aftermath 22. ' A national therapy' Sources Index

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Book SynopsisDefinitive account of the cultural and political impact on Wales of the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley. The failure of the nation to block the move politically led to increased Welsh national consciousness and to a period of militant activism which eventually led to the process of devolution. -- Cyngor Llyfrau CymruTrade ReviewThis substantial publication offers a detailed re-assessment of the decision by the officials of the Liverpool City Council to drown the village of Capel Celyn in Merionethshire during the early 1960s in order to provide a water supply for some of the citizens of Liverpool, a total of around a million individuals. The book's release was timed to coincide broadly with the 65th anniversary of the passing of the Tryweryn Reservoir Bill. This volume is the result of over twenty years of research, combining traditional archival research with a series of interviews with many of the individuals involved in the story. Dr Thomas has also quarried a large number of the scripts of relevant television and radio programmes. The analysis in Tryweryn is exceptionally detailed and based on exhaustive research work. It pays sympathetic attention to the story from the perspective from the standpoint of the Liverpool City Council, and charts the progress of the Tryweryn Water Bill through parliament where it completed its journey following the final reading of the highly contentious measure on 31 July 1957. These events caused much embarrassment and heart-searching for many of the inhabitants of north Wales who considered Liverpool with affection to be their capital city. They also caused, of course, personal tragedies to those individuals who lost their ancestral homes, some of whom are given full and sympathetic attention in this study. Attention is also given to the long-term effects of these events on the political and social evolution of the Welsh nation. No one escapes judgement in this fair-minded study. The author condemns the Labour members of the Liverpool City Council who were renowned for being stubborn and obdurate. Among them was the fiery and headstrong Councillor Bessie Braddock and her husband John. (Interestingly, in October 2005, on the suggestion of Lord Roberts of Llandudno, the officials of the Liverpool City Council announced their intention to make a full public apology for the events of a full half century earlier.) The incompetent, pusillanimous members of the Merioneth County Council are also much criticised here for their failure to respond positively to this course of events. Some of the inhabitants of Capel Celyn are also judged for their failure to act while losing their homes. Some of them, it would seem, actually welcomed the opportunity to acquire homes of a higher standard in the wake of these events. Dr Thomas also tends to suggest that the leaders of Plaid Cymru failed to reap the potential political advantage from these events. Dr Wyn Thomas said: 'Two aspects of the Tryweryn story have attracted particular attention and comment in Wales: what is deemed to be Liverpool’s dubious justification for flooding Cwm Tryweryn and the traditional belief, often strenuously expressed, that the threatened Welsh-speaking community was united in opposing Liverpool’s reservoir construction project.’ He challenges both these deeply-held opinions in his book. The use of extensive archival testimony convincingly demonstrates that Liverpool’s need to construct a reservoir to combat the city’s municipal water and employment problem was genuine. This seminal volume fills a gap in the historiography of Wales and is fair-minded throughout. It succeeds admirably in looking beyond the mythology and the heated emotions which accompanied the drowning of Capel Celyn in the Welsh heartland. The text is penned in clear, fluid prose, and the volume includes relevant photographs and other illustrations. The endnote references, index, full bibliography and the list of sources used are very helpful. This study will be respected and used for many years to come, and will prove of immense interest to everyone who takes an interest in Welsh history and politics during a highly formative period in the nation's development. -- J. Graham Jones @ www.gwales.com

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Book SynopsisAuthor of the Penderyn Prize-winning The Velvet Mafia Fifty years on from Britain's first Pride march, the long road to LGBT equality continues. Through protest songs and gay club nights, street theatre activism and fundraising concerts, the performing arts have played an influential role in each great stride made. With new interviews with musicians and DJs, performers and activists, including Andy Bell, Jayne County, John Grant, Horse McDonald and Peter Tachell, Pride, Pop and Politics hears from those whose art has been influenced by the campaign for LGBT rights - and helped push it forward. This informative, eye-opening book is the first to focus on the relationship between gay nightlife and political activism in Britain.Trade Review'Bullock has written a meticulously researched history which is as enjoyable as it is informative. 5/5 stars.' Classic Pop

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Book Synopsis***** 'So deeply gripping and inspiring...It will stay with me, always.' - Annie MacmanusIn 2008, 21-year-old Lady Unchained got involved in a fight in a club while trying to protect her sister.Serving 11 months of her prison sentence, her life changed completely. Inside, Lady Unchained began to write, while battling isolation, loneliness and the fear of being wrongly deported. These notes became powerful bars of poetry, capturing first-hand the broken justice system and the racism rooted within it.Wide-awake poetry, Behind Bars traces how Lady Unchained's identity was irrevocably changed during her sentencing, time in prison and release.Behind Bars proves there is life after prison.

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Book SynopsisOn his travels to wartime Ukraine, where even the feeling of relaxation is dangerous, Mitja Velikonja observed thousands of images of the culture of war in what he saw on the street and every day life, from bakeries, road signs, billboards and murals, to unsanctioned graffiti. This street iconography, invested with a patriotic vocabulary, was also informed by his conversations with people, the scenes of destruction, misery, and above all, the strong will to resist, from which everyday heroism emerges. The author went twice to the war zones of Ukraine and took more than 3,000 photographs of the street iconography of the state of war. Although all nationalists are equally foreign to him, when he talks to people, he asks himself how he would feel in their shoes, how he would react. When war creeps up to our front door, it affects everyone: leftists and right-wingers, nationalists and pacifists, patriots and those who don't care what flag they live under. Thus, while driving or waiting anywhere, I took a small test: how long does it take to come across images of war, warrior iconography, vocabulary of emphatic patriotism, the sound of a national awakening song, footage from battlefields. Mostly it was a matter of seconds.Through these pieces of the culture and a people holding themselves together against an invader through a self-defensive nationalism, Velikonja sees that nationalism hides poverty the more severe, the bigger the flags. In Ukrainian Vignettes, Velikonja compiles the images, words, impressions and voices of everyday life in war, to help us understand how clearly politics and ideology are displayed directly on the street. His philosophical approach of essays as vignettes allows him to have a critical eye even as he struggles to understand tragic events, and despite his affection for those closest to him. The author remains critical of both sides in his analysis, despite his sympathy for those closer to him.

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Book Synopsis“Posters for Change is the kind of project that the world needs right now.” – Shepard Fairey Make your voice heard with this collection of 50 tear-out posters created by designers from around the globe! This collection of posters is made for—and by—people who want to make their voices heard in a time of unprecedented political activism and resistance. Stand up for: • Animal Rights • Child Labor • Civil Rights • Climate Change and the Environment • Gun Control • Health Care Access • Immigration • LGBTQ and Gender Rights • Mass Incarceration • Public Arts • Voting Rights • Women’s Rights Proceeds will be donated to the following nonprofit organizations: Advocates for Human Rights, Border Angels, Honor the Earth, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. A foreword by Avram Finkelstein, a designer for the AIDS art activist collective Gran Fury, looks at the crucial role of graphic activism in the current political climate.Trade Review"“It all started with the election – we were like, ‘We need to do something,’” says Jennifer Lippert, editorial director at Princeton Architectural Press in New York. She spotted a blog post showing a sign in a window that said “Everyone Welcome Here” and this sparked an idea: PAP would put out a call for political posters and publish the best as a book, donating the proceeds to non-profit organisations." The Observer New Review

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA tour de force. Indispensable for all Irish studies collections. . . . Essential. * Choice *Table of ContentsPreface to the Paperback EditionChronologyForewordAcknowledgementsIntroduction1. Matt Brady and May Caffrey2. The Brady Family: Irish Republicans in the 1930s and 1940s3. Off to College and into Sinn Féin and the IRA: 1950–19544. Arms Raids, Elections, and the Border Campaign: 1955–19565. Derrylin, Mountjoy, and Teachta Dála: December 1956–March 19576. TD, Internee, Escapee, and Chief of Staff: March 1957–June 19597. Marriage and Ending the Border Campaign: June 1959–February 19628. Political and Personal Developments in the 1960s: March 1962–19659. Dream-Filled Romantics, Revolutionaries, and the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association: 1965–August 196810. The Provisionals: September 1968–October 197011. The Politics of Revolution: Éire Nua, November 1970–December 197212. International Gains and Personal Losses: January 1973–November 197413. The Responsibilities of Leadership: November 1974–February 197614. A Long War: March 1976–September 197815. A New Generation Setting the Pace: October 1978–August 198116. "Never, that's what I say to you—Never": September 1981–October 198617. "We are here and we are very much in business": October 1986–May 1998EpilogueAfterword: The Legacy of Ruarí Ó BrádaighNotes on SourcesWorks CitedIndex

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