Two Cheers for Anarchism

Six Easy Pieces on Autonomy, Dignity, and Meaningful Work and Play

By: James C. Scott

Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur

James Scott taught us what's wrong with seeing like a state. Now, in his most accessible and personal book to date, the acclaimed social scientist makes the case for seeing like an anarchist. Inspired by the core anarchist faith in the possibilities of voluntary cooperation without hierarchy, Two Cheers for Anarchism is an engaging, high-spirited, and often very funny defense of an anarchist way of seeing - one that provides a unique and powerful perspective on everything from everyday social and political interactions to mass protests and revolutions.

Through a wide-ranging series of memorable anecdotes and examples, the book describes an anarchist sensibility that celebrates the local knowledge, common sense, and creativity of ordinary people. The result is a kind of handbook on constructive anarchism that challenges us to radically reconsider the value of hierarchy in public and private life, from schools and workplaces to retirement homes and government itself.

Beginning with what Scott calls "the law of anarchist calisthenics", an argument for law-breaking inspired by an East German pedestrian crossing, each chapter opens with a story that captures an essential anarchist truth. In the course of telling these stories, Scott touches on a wide variety of subjects: public disorder and riots, desertion, poaching, vernacular knowledge, assembly-line production, globalization, the petty bourgeoisie, school testing, playgrounds, and the practice of historical explanation.Far from a dogmatic manifesto, Two Cheers for Anarchism celebrates the anarchist confidence in the inventiveness and judgment of people who are free to exercise their creative and moral capacities.

©2012 Princeton University Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

James C Scott is a Treasure

Scott is great as always. Against the Grain. Seeing Like a State. He understands economics like a human when we have been socialized to think like a government.

The most unfortunate thing about Anarchism is the association with societal collapse. When it's much aligned with Self Sovereignty and Collaboration. Also unfortunately, a collection of self sovereign communities would be far targets for statist conquest.

Great book

No pauses...

I suspect it was the editor who removed every breath the reader took. It was so hard to follow, almost as if the read were reading a list of words. There was not a moment to digest anything Scott wrote.

Good

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o

Shorter than “Seeing Like a State”

Contains many of the same arguments as SLAS, yet shorter and more informal. Also includes some new observations about political order and anarchy. I find his thinking provocative.

Expected much more

Super dry with pompous tone to the book. Too high brow even for my tastes. Oh well... Next on list Conquest Of Bread.