Civil Disobedience: Words That Changes The World

by Andrew Kirk, James Peto (Editor)

From the final decades of the eighteenth century to the present day, a relatively few social and political documents have been written and circulated, then have gone on to change the course of human history. The Manifesto Series surveys some of those documents, presents an account of each manifesto�s immediate impact, then explains how and why its influence spread to a wider audience. Brief and concisely written, each title in this series makes engrossing reading and provides readers with insights into the dynamics of modern history. Each title in this series is enhanced with approximately 70 color illustrations. Lengthy excerpts from Civil Disobedience, a ground-breaking work by the nineteenth-century American social philosopher Henry David Thoreau, is presented in this book with extensive commentary and analysis. Thoreau�s book presents a compelling argument that justifies adherence to one�s conscience when facing questions of morality, even at the cost of defying the law of the land. Approximately a century later, Thoreau�s thinking became one of the major influences in America�s Civil Rights Movement.

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Abraham Lewik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this booklet can be read in one day. So that's a challenge if you want it. The essay proper is not presented in a complete form. This seems an oversight, one would assume the essay in its' entirety would be printed. What little has been prohibited this text (5-7% in my estimate) seems of no greater consequence than what was included, some more names & places are mentioned.

The booklet gives the reader awareness of the time & place of Henry David Thoreau, then the life of the text independent of the man. Excellent frame-work material for the historian, more 'snapshot booklets' should be written this way. Excepting of course when the entire source material can be included, it should. A note of nervousness should be felt, as his collected works number some 20 volumes. I wouldn't want to read all that.

Better than other 'snapshot booklets', but without what could've been included.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of fluff so after seeing that Thoreau's Civil Disobedience impacted both Gandhi and MLK at the MLK National Historic site, I decided I should read it because I don't think I did in High school. The FB HS library is attached to our public one so in order to get the essay, it came in a book with historical background and impact which I was glad to read also.
When I began the document, I thought it sounded like a bunch of idealized libertarian nonsense-good if you can live alone at a pond but not for the real world-but then he addresses his opposition to the Mexican war and slavery, things the US government supported at the time and that part was more interesting to me. And I'm not the only one to see different sides to it, everyone from anarchists (which he wasn't) to socialist (that either) have supported their causes through it.