Global Discontents

Conversations on the Rising Threats to Democracy

By: Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian

Narrated by: Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian

This program is read by the authors

In a compelling new set of interviews, Noam Chomsky's Global Discontents identifies the “dry kindling” of discontent around the world that could soon catch fire.

In wide-ranging interviews with David Barsamian, his longtime interlocutor, Noam Chomsky asks listeners to consider “the world we are leaving to our grandchildren”: one imperiled by the escalation of climate change and the growing potential for nuclear war. If the current system is incapable of dealing with these threats, he argues, it’s up to us to radically change it.

These twelve interviews, conducted from 2013 to 2016, examine the latest developments around the globe: the devastation of Syria, the reach of state surveillance, growing anger over economic inequality, the place of religion in American political culture, and the bitterly contested 2016 U.S. presidential election. In accompanying personal reflections on his Philadelphia childhood and his eighty-seventh birthday, Chomsky also describes his own intellectual journey and the development of his uncompromising stance as America’s premier dissident intellectual.

Chomsky is spot on as always

The only real gripe I have with this collection of interviews is that the last chapter is narrated by a very hokey upbeat narrator who’s tone was odd rather than Chomsky and Barsamian’s actual voices. Great read very informative, if you like political science or history you’ll be very entertained.

U.S. political system history

Norm Chomsky brilliantly explains how we arrived at the current political morass. History repeats itself.

insightful

well thought out, and articulated, discussions on a wide range of subjects. important read for anyone wish more than rhe sound bites of the evening news.