By Steven J. Bernstein More Noise, Please ! (1st First Edition) [Paperback]

by Steven "Jesse" Bernstein

Anarchy, as the absence of government, is neither chaos nor some impossible Utopian dream. In fact it is a very common form of political organisation and one which has characterised much of the human past. People Without Government describes briefly the anarchic political structures of a number of these societies. True they are mainly small-scale hunting, gathering and horticultural groups. However, the social organisation of certain large populations with complex relations is also sometimes anarchic. Thus anarchy applies to a broad spectrum of different kinds of societies. This book seeks to show what anarchy has been like in practice. Special attention is paid to the techniques of leadership, maintaining order and decision-making. The dynamic interplay between freedom and authority is considered, particularly the apparent tendency of anarchic polities to degenerate into states with government and for organisations to become oligarchies, and it is concluded that liberty and individuality are at best very tenuous and fleeting entities. There can be no relenting in the struggle for freedom.

Genres: Poetry

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what can i say. Jesse was amazing. People talk about Bukowski, but honestly, Jesse blows him away for sheer stripped down honesty - without being a total asshole (offensive at times, yes). I only got to see him live a few times, and died tragically as the Seattle music scene was starting to really get big. What i can say is that he affected me. I read his words and they affected me. Deeply. There was something i wish i could pinpoint, but i can't. A friend of mine's father was a friend of Jesse's and i wish, in a selfish way i had exploited that to get to know him better.

Jesse was a poet, a story-teller, an artist, a friend (not mine - I can only wish), a performer, a joker, a jerk, and called many other things behind his back and to his face. My grandest memory of him was opening for Jello Biafra's (of the Dead Kennedy's) spoken word tour at the OK Hotel (now gone). I was enraptured, spell bound listening to him read his word... war, pain, how the streets of Seattle could be the same as the streets of some place in the middle east. The smoke filled room, a drink in one hand, bare feet, that angry grin he had.

Read this book, read the story of his life, see the movie, and get to know his words. He was a true human, a real person, and worth the price of the book ten times over. Such a sad, sad ending to his life, but his work should endure and you the reader should spread his tale.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure why the synopsis of "More Noise" confuses it with a more straightforward book about anarchism-- it is rumored that SJB was an anarchist, and he often performed at an anarchist book collective in Seattle, but "More Noise, Please!" is full of poetry and prose that anyone would be stupid to not spend a day dwelling on. This book is full of beautiful photos of his life in Seattle and biographic tidbits wedged between his own pieces.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The work of Stephen Jesse Bernstein is completely underrated. The man was a genius, from my town too.
his poetry is even better in audio

[Mantas Balakauskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

How come the hole in the roof
isn't big enough so I can fly out
but big enough so the rain can get in ?

[Keiron · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great introductory book to this man's wall of work. It would be easy to liken him to Bukowski, but SJB's work is more so confrontational and dark at times, often rambling, but never not entertaining. I recently discovered SJB after finding out he performed with Big Black and decided to dive into his work. at this time it is becoming harder to find so this book i was glad to find at a cheaper price. From his album "Prison" many of the poems from that album are featured here, such as the wonderful More Noise Please, the sleazy and decadent "No No Man", the worryingly dark "Face" and many more. (hearing him recite on the album gives them more so life) There are also lots of great pictures of the man throughout his life featured in this book.

so in short, if you can find this book not going for triple buy it, then buy "I am Secretly an important man" next.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Jesse Bernstein is the voice of my darkest hours. His words are difficult to stomach and have no filter, but connect with the heart of the sleepless night.