Truths Among Us: Conversations on Building a New Culture

by Derrick Jensen (Editor)

From acclaimed author Derrick Jensen comes a prescient, thought-provoking collection of interviews with 10 leading writers, philosophers, teachers, and activists who argue against society's belief that corporations and governments know what is best for the future, instead choosing to help acknowledge the values we know in our hearts are right—and inspire within us the courage to act on them. Among those who share their wisdom here are acclaimed sociologist Stanley Aronowitz, who shows that science is but one lens for discovering knowledge; Luis Rodriguez, poet and peacemaker, who suggests embracing gang members as people instead of stereotypes; Judith Herman, who offers a deeper understanding of the psychology of abusers; Paul Stamets, who reveals the power of fungi that is often ignored; and writer Richard Drinnon, who reminds us that our spiritual paths need not be narrowed by the limiting mythologies of Western civilization. Reaching toward a common goal of harmony with the world surrounding us all, these diverse voices articulate different yet shared visions of activism.

 

Genres: Philosophy

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Derrick Jensen is an American author and environmental activist living in Crescent City, California. He has published several books questioning and critiquing contemporary society and its values, including A Language Older Than Words, The Culture of Make Believe, and Endgame. He holds a B.S. in Mineral Engineering Physics from the Colorado School of Mines and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University. He has also taught creative writing at Pelican Bay State Prison and Eastern Washington University.

Reviews

[Randall Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A mushroom is the fruitbody of the mycelium, which is the network of thin cob-web cells that infuses all soils.”10% of fungi forms mushrooms. 90% of fungi have still not been identified. “The largest organism in the world is a mycelial mat in eastern Oregon that’s 2,200 acres and more than two thousand years old. “It’s one cell wall thick.” Trees can contribute to the mycelium by contributing nutrients. Mycelium takes care of the health of the forest. As Paul Stamets says, “Nature loves a community.” A marker for human intelligence should be not destroying the planet you live on. Tell creationists that “Evolution is God’s intelligent design.” Paul says that, “Our whole culture is committing ecological suicide.”

In the 1950’s a doctor started experimenting with infecting humans with AIDS from chimpanzees. He thought he could contain his work. That sure went well. What could go wrong? We are taught to cherish science, yet “because of science, the world we are leaving our children is increasing impoverished and toxic.” Poor people are virtually absent on TV. SAG notes a falloff in calls to actresses at age 35 that goes back up again when they look like grandmothers. Those in power are over-represented by US media. TV cultivates insecurity and dependence. If we teach you to be afraid, then you are less likely to stand up for your rights. We are taught in the US to accept military solutions (organized violence) as the first solution. The Persian Gulf War was fraudulent; in real wars people shoot back. Picking off fleeing individuals trapped in their vehicles on the Highway of Death is the real face of US militarism. In Desert Storm we dropped more bombs on a single country than the Allies did together on many countries in all of WWII. Jesus would be so proud. Communal, traditional and cooperative ways of living based on abundance, are far older and more successful than Capitalism, which is based on scarcity and fear. “If you’ve been punished for showing autonomy, initiative, or independence, after a while, you are not going to show them.” A “good” beating is considered by aggressors to be when the victim realizes the aggressor could kill them. Trying to kill human connection and sense of agency. Indigenous holy men feel the grief of others; we will all have to gain this ability if we are to collectively survive. In the US, every 9 seconds, a woman is beaten by her partner. 350,000 children in the US are beaten or killed by their parents or guardians annually. It won’t be mentioned on the nightly news once. We are taught to fear outsiders first, not look at our own. As a result, you’d have to be really inept to get convicted of rape in the US: “convicted offenders represent about 1 percent of all perpetrators.” Our culture shames those who admit psychological weaknesses so much PTSD gets treated with alcohol and drugs rather than seeking help. If the victim’s story is not told, it festers. The best PTSD victims can hope for is the “survivor’s mission”, a condition where incest victims like Chellis Glendinning, Derrick Jensen, and my own mom, turn the experience around and “make it a gift to others.” In mom’s case she devoted her life to ending female circumcision in Africa, while Chellis and Derrick wrote many healing books that changed many lives and challenged directly and bravely the dominant culture. “Forty percent of all women murdered in this country are killed by their sexual partners – husbands and boyfriends.” Fear of rape is a form of terrorism.


This was a book of interviews conducted by Derrick with a bunch of cool people. Derrick has written quite a few of these interview books, all which make for great reading and learning.

[Eireann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting interviews...a much more desirable way to engage w/ Jensen in some ways.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible collection of interviews offering insight into our society, feminism, media, and the importance of our relationship with Nature. The interview are mostly 20 years old but the wisdom is timeless.

[Johanna Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truths Among Us is more than "just" a collection of interviews. What's great is the choice of interviewees. As I was reading I wondered why I hadn't heard of these people before! The interviews bring up social problems, their likely causes and possible solutions. The end result is a great diagnosis of societal ills and prescriptions to make it better.

Examples:

Luis Rodriguez, reformed gang-banger, describes how he became a gang banger and how he transformed. His view of the landscape that gives birth to the gang-banger culture. On addiction:
"The belief that things can't change is central to the logic of addiction...your brain has to change its viewpoint, change its vision, and stop holding on to that pleasure. Only then can you say, "I'm never going to do drugs or alcohol again."

Jane Caputi explains how the eroticism of violence is a direct reflection of the dominant culture's projections. Sex is a form of connection/prayer/communion, but pornography eroticizes inequality and highlights disconnection.
Obsession with a constant 24 hour news cycle that doesn't provide real news is another example of this kind of addictive, superficial connection. Mainstream news has become an empty ritual that dominates our lives and empties it of deeper meaning.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important conversations to be having. Read this and talk to your friends and family.

I knew the 2nd interview would annoy me. He was attributing cultural flaws to science itself, & assuming that the whole scientific community is as bad as its worst members. *sigh*

But the interview with Luis Rodriguez was devastating/marvelous!

I'm finding the one with Richard Drinnon interesting, too... but he keeps saying "European" when the root of the issue is more accurately "Christian." (See http://ili.nativeweb.org/sdrm_art.html)

Looking forward to the rest of the book.

[Christina Verdugo-Pazera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still go back to this one and reread from wherever...