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A Liveable Future is Possible: Inspiring insights into the most pressing issues of our time
A series of interviews with Noam Chomsky, the world's greatest living public intellectual, about the pressing issues of our time
'One of the greatest, most radical public thinkers of our time’ Arundhati Roy
In this illuminating collection of interviews, Noam Chomsky shares his insights on the pressing challenges facing humanity. A Liveable Future is Possible addresses artificial intelligence and the potential for such programs to surpass humans in cognitive awareness; what lies ahead for a world engulfed in a deadly climate crisis; the rise of neo-fascism internationally, and why we should organize across borders to confront it and the striking similarities between Trump and Biden's foreign policies.
Noam Chomsky has been an incomparable model of moral clarity and intellectual courage during his many decades as a scholar, political activist and social critic. A Liveable Future Is Possible is not only an urgent and informative book, it is a call-to-action for those hoping to help carry the torch of one of history’s greatest minds.
‘Chomsky is a global phenomenon . . . he may be the most widely read American voice on foreign policy on the planet’ The New York Times Book Review
'One of the greatest, most radical public thinkers of our time’ Arundhati Roy
In this illuminating collection of interviews, Noam Chomsky shares his insights on the pressing challenges facing humanity. A Liveable Future is Possible addresses artificial intelligence and the potential for such programs to surpass humans in cognitive awareness; what lies ahead for a world engulfed in a deadly climate crisis; the rise of neo-fascism internationally, and why we should organize across borders to confront it and the striking similarities between Trump and Biden's foreign policies.
Noam Chomsky has been an incomparable model of moral clarity and intellectual courage during his many decades as a scholar, political activist and social critic. A Liveable Future Is Possible is not only an urgent and informative book, it is a call-to-action for those hoping to help carry the torch of one of history’s greatest minds.
‘Chomsky is a global phenomenon . . . he may be the most widely read American voice on foreign policy on the planet’ The New York Times Book Review
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
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About the author
Noam Chomsky
975 books17.3k followersAvram Noam Chomsky is an American professor and public intellectual known for his work in linguistics, political activism, and social criticism. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is a laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and an institute professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Among the most cited living authors, Chomsky has written more than 150 books on topics such as linguistics, war, and politics. In addition to his work in linguistics, since the 1960s Chomsky has been an influential voice on the American left as a consistent critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, and corporate influence on political institutions and the media.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants (his father was William Chomsky) in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants (his father was William Chomsky) in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
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November 19, 2024
Chomsky is an incredible intellectual, and his ideas and opinions are always supported by a deep understanding of history. This collection of interviews proves no different, as he shares his thoughts on various contemporary issues. What is most compelling is that his strong opinions have a basis in a broad knowledge, and all of his positions feel grounded in a context much bigger than what we are usually given by the media. In that regard I enjoyed all of these interviews and think there is value in them.
With that said, other than as maintaining an archive of his work and thought, I do question who exactly this is for. This is the fourth such collection of interviews that Haymarket Books have published, so I suppose there is an audience for them. As much as I really appreciate Chomsky’s thought, I don’t think I may be that audience. These interviews range from July 2022 through June 2023, and they all cover contemporary events. They are all relatively short and aren’t presenting any larger or cohesive thesis or argument; they are responses to specific events as they happen. As such the collection feels like a time capsule, but not, more than a year after the final interview took place, while the history and deep understanding that birthed Chomsky’s position hasn’t changed, the circumstances certainly have. Everything feels so topical that it is hard to grasp onto to one thing as a core idea or take away, other than the refrains Chomsky has been singing for decades (which boil down to how neoliberalism is a “savage class warfare,” and greed and wealth inequality, from which grow militarism and so forth, will basically doom us all). It is not that his responses aren’t still relevant, but, given how fast the world is moving they sometimes feel like they are out of step with the scale of issues happening at the moment.
Plus, there is the curious decision to structure the interviews in reverse chronological order, so the newest is first in the collection, and the oldest is last. Especially with the number of essays on the war in Ukraine this just feels odd, because instead of seeing the growth and development and commitment to his position we see almost a regression. Maybe there is a useful reason for reverse chronological order, but it didn’t feel useful to me, it felt like it stripped away context even more. Additionally, the format led to a lot of overlap, not just in ideas but in turns of phrase, and that level of repetition didn’t reinforce his thought as much as made it expected, by the end. In a similar vein, it is hard to feel like the interviews live up to the title. In the introduction we are reminded that Chomsky always insists on “optimism over despair,” that he believes in humanity. But to suggest that he offers viable solutions to any of the issues would be wildly avoiding reality. Does he propose what would be, if they were ever implemented, actually effective at combatting the issues he addresses? Yes, certainly. But none of those solutions are pragmatic, insofar as they would require billionaires and oppressive governments and those most empowered and strengthened by their greed and lack of human decency to entirely reverse course and choose to work for humanity instead of for themselves. It is almost the opposite of hope, because it shows that things don’t have to be the way they are but the mechanisms for actually changing things seem to lie far outside of the hands of ordinary people. Basically, if those with all the power chose to give up their power than we could fix things, but otherwise… ?
In short, Chomsky’s thought is always engaging, and even at 95 he is a deep well of expansive insight. This book serves as a great archive of his engagement with contemporary issues, to which he brings an incredibly detailed understanding of the history of power. It that it succeeds and can be a valuable resource in that way.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Haymarket Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With that said, other than as maintaining an archive of his work and thought, I do question who exactly this is for. This is the fourth such collection of interviews that Haymarket Books have published, so I suppose there is an audience for them. As much as I really appreciate Chomsky’s thought, I don’t think I may be that audience. These interviews range from July 2022 through June 2023, and they all cover contemporary events. They are all relatively short and aren’t presenting any larger or cohesive thesis or argument; they are responses to specific events as they happen. As such the collection feels like a time capsule, but not, more than a year after the final interview took place, while the history and deep understanding that birthed Chomsky’s position hasn’t changed, the circumstances certainly have. Everything feels so topical that it is hard to grasp onto to one thing as a core idea or take away, other than the refrains Chomsky has been singing for decades (which boil down to how neoliberalism is a “savage class warfare,” and greed and wealth inequality, from which grow militarism and so forth, will basically doom us all). It is not that his responses aren’t still relevant, but, given how fast the world is moving they sometimes feel like they are out of step with the scale of issues happening at the moment.
Plus, there is the curious decision to structure the interviews in reverse chronological order, so the newest is first in the collection, and the oldest is last. Especially with the number of essays on the war in Ukraine this just feels odd, because instead of seeing the growth and development and commitment to his position we see almost a regression. Maybe there is a useful reason for reverse chronological order, but it didn’t feel useful to me, it felt like it stripped away context even more. Additionally, the format led to a lot of overlap, not just in ideas but in turns of phrase, and that level of repetition didn’t reinforce his thought as much as made it expected, by the end. In a similar vein, it is hard to feel like the interviews live up to the title. In the introduction we are reminded that Chomsky always insists on “optimism over despair,” that he believes in humanity. But to suggest that he offers viable solutions to any of the issues would be wildly avoiding reality. Does he propose what would be, if they were ever implemented, actually effective at combatting the issues he addresses? Yes, certainly. But none of those solutions are pragmatic, insofar as they would require billionaires and oppressive governments and those most empowered and strengthened by their greed and lack of human decency to entirely reverse course and choose to work for humanity instead of for themselves. It is almost the opposite of hope, because it shows that things don’t have to be the way they are but the mechanisms for actually changing things seem to lie far outside of the hands of ordinary people. Basically, if those with all the power chose to give up their power than we could fix things, but otherwise… ?
In short, Chomsky’s thought is always engaging, and even at 95 he is a deep well of expansive insight. This book serves as a great archive of his engagement with contemporary issues, to which he brings an incredibly detailed understanding of the history of power. It that it succeeds and can be a valuable resource in that way.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Haymarket Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 1, 2025
First off, I read the paperback version of this (not Kindle) and it had a white cover.
Our Climate Change Future: “The human species is advancing toward a precipice. Soon irreversible tipping points will be reached, and we will be falling over the precipice to a ‘hothouse Earth’ in which life will be intolerable for those remnants that survive.” “All else pales into insignificance.” We either mobilize to stop that or “we will bring the human experiment to an inglorious end. It’s as simple as that.”
Bipartisan neoliberalism is a “savage capitalism” – think of it as a “class war disguised in grossly misleading terminology of ‘free markets’, as practice reveals with brilliant clarity.” The motto of bipartisan neoliberalism is: We have to maximize profit and power even though we know we are racing to suicide by destroying the environment that sustains life, not sparing ourselves and our families.” Of the present bipartisan neoliberal onslaught, Noam says, “anyone with eyes open can see that nature is saying ‘enough’.” “It would be hard to find a US postwar president who has not violated the US Constitution, a topic of little interest, the record shows.” Daniel Ellsberg wrote, “nuclear weapons are constantly used, just as a gun is used in a robbery even if not fired.”
Fun Facts: Jimmy Carter said with a straight face that we didn’t owe the Vietnamese people any debt because “the destruction was mutual”. In contrast, Noam said, “the worst crime since WWII was the long US war against Indochina.” Only 1% of Iraqis said they thought the goal of the US invasion was to bring democracy to Iraq. “Most of the rest assumed the goal was to take control of Iraqi resources.” In 1962, “JFK shifted the role of the Latin American military from ‘hemispheric defense’ to ‘internal security’, meaning war against the population.” “The JFK administration helped prepare the ground for a 1964 military coup that overthrew the flourishing Brazilian democracy shortly after Kennedy’s assassination.” The big worry now in Brazil is that increased deforestation (esp. under Bolsonaro) will cause the Amazon will turn from a major carbon sink into a major carbon producer sending us all even faster “toward catastrophe.” Brazilian elites hate their new leader Lula because “he is a mere industrial worker lacking formal education.” Even his white face doesn’t give Lula a pass because it’s a class war in Brazil, and his coalition includes the “wrong kind of people” a.k.a. regular people. The actual present war in Yemen is “between Saudi-based radical Islam and Egypt-based secular nationalism.”
Russia: Note that Republican Bush Sr. never broke his promise to Gorbachev to not expand NATO one inch to the East, but Democrat “Clinton almost immediately rescinded them, initiating the expansion of NATO to Russia’s borders in violation of firm and unambiguous promises.” Then in 2008, in part-deux, Bush Junior invited Ukraine to join NATO (vetoed by France and Germany).
Putin’s invasion: Graham Fuller (former CIA) sees the Ukraine proxy war as “an American-Russian war fought by proxy to the last Ukrainian.” The US is fine if Ukraine, Germany and Europe are deprived of cheap Russian energy if it further punishes Russia. Who cares if it also punishes our allies. All this also of course simply pushes Russia closer to China with their clear mutual interest of blocking “unfettered US freedom of unilateral military and economic intervention around the world.” This US obsession is as smart as Batman paying the Joker and the Penguin to work WITH each other. “What Russia is doing in Ukraine is no different from what the United States did in Iraq or Vietnam.” “The 2003 Iraq invasion was as criminal an act as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” But, “when the US-UK invade a country, they go for the jugular, destroying communications, transportation, energy systems, anything needed to keep the country going. To the surprise of the US-UK planners, Putin didn’t do that. The press reports in ‘in Kyiv and much of the western part of the country, prewar life has largely returned for civilians. People eat in restaurants, drink in bars, dance and enjoy lazy summer days in parks. Far from the US-UK style of war.” There’s an article entitled “Putin’s Bombers Could Devastate Ukraine, but He’s Holding Back”. Imagine US media telling you any of this. “US aggression in Iraq and Vietnam is an incomparably graver crime than Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.” After Russia’s invasion, the official Russian stance in 3/2022 was that war would end if Ukraine would “cease military action, change its constitution to enshrine neutrality, acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory, and recognize the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as separate states.” But Ukraine couldn’t do that because the US and NATO were obsessed with weakening Russia “in fact to weaken it more severely than the Versailles Treaty weakened Germany.” Don’t forget that historically just the Versailles Treaty by itself was so onerous as to lead to the rise of Hitler.
Republicans & Trump: They can’t say their ACTUAL plans to their rank and file and say “I’m going to rob you blind and destroy all your support systems so vote for me.” Instead, Trump has to pose with a sign in one hand saying “I love you” while the “other hand stabs you in the back with actual legislative programs.” Republican strategy is to use culture wars to distract from their odious policies. And so, they offer: “white supremacy, Christian nationalism, no abortion, lots of guns, no more public schools that disturb white children by teaching history or basic biology.” Strangely, Noam positions Tucker Carlson in this book as only “on the far right” when a lot of his recent stuff is anything but.
Israel: “The US refuses to officially acknowledge Israel’s nuclear weapons facilities, presumably because to do so would call into question the legality of all US aid to Israel, under US law.” Both parties are committed to never publicly acknowledge Israel obviously has nuclear weapons.
Language: When the US says “defense” about its actions, it is smokescreen for “imperial domination”.
Rules-Based International Order: Is the term the US uses to define its actions whenever it boldly violates international law. Thus, the US will say that “Chinese internal development violates the rules-based international order.” Not said is that China is only doing what the US and England did only “China is rejecting the US-UK policy of ‘kicking away the ladder’: first climb the ladder of development by any means possible, including robbery of higher technology and ample violence and deceit, then impose a ‘rules-based order’ that bars others from doing the SAME thing.” This is all masked under the “cynical pretense” of “free trade.” In contrast, “the UN-based order is dismissed except when it can be invoked to punish enemies.” US Media for example intentionally “ignores the fact that Erdogan’s regime (in Turkey) is as blatantly authoritarian and oppressive as that of Putin.” The “rules-based international order” in short is where “the US sets the rules (just like my ex-wives) and others (must) obey.” The US sits at the apex of this system with the UK acting as it’s lieutenant and (according to the book “Sub-Imperial Power” Australia and Israel act as “sub imperial powers”. Noam says to think of “rules-based international order” as a euphemism the US media uses instead of “Empire”.
The UN-based International Order: This is enshrined in the UN Charter, but the US and Israel live to violate it repeatedly, because it is the foundation of modern international law. The US and Israel ignores it because if they followed it, they would not be able to continue selfishly being rogue states. The UN-based International Order basically “bans US foreign policy” and every aggressive action that gives Netanyahu an erection. For example, according to this order, the US would actually have to object to Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara, and Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights in Syria and Greater Jerusalem. The US hates being told what to do by ANYONE, especially by the UN, ICC and any country victimized by US aggression.
This was yet another great book by Noam (published in 2024), although I would far more recommend you read Noam’s 2024 book “The Myth of American Idealism”, which is just outstanding and a must read for all Americans with intact morals.
Our Climate Change Future: “The human species is advancing toward a precipice. Soon irreversible tipping points will be reached, and we will be falling over the precipice to a ‘hothouse Earth’ in which life will be intolerable for those remnants that survive.” “All else pales into insignificance.” We either mobilize to stop that or “we will bring the human experiment to an inglorious end. It’s as simple as that.”
Bipartisan neoliberalism is a “savage capitalism” – think of it as a “class war disguised in grossly misleading terminology of ‘free markets’, as practice reveals with brilliant clarity.” The motto of bipartisan neoliberalism is: We have to maximize profit and power even though we know we are racing to suicide by destroying the environment that sustains life, not sparing ourselves and our families.” Of the present bipartisan neoliberal onslaught, Noam says, “anyone with eyes open can see that nature is saying ‘enough’.” “It would be hard to find a US postwar president who has not violated the US Constitution, a topic of little interest, the record shows.” Daniel Ellsberg wrote, “nuclear weapons are constantly used, just as a gun is used in a robbery even if not fired.”
Fun Facts: Jimmy Carter said with a straight face that we didn’t owe the Vietnamese people any debt because “the destruction was mutual”. In contrast, Noam said, “the worst crime since WWII was the long US war against Indochina.” Only 1% of Iraqis said they thought the goal of the US invasion was to bring democracy to Iraq. “Most of the rest assumed the goal was to take control of Iraqi resources.” In 1962, “JFK shifted the role of the Latin American military from ‘hemispheric defense’ to ‘internal security’, meaning war against the population.” “The JFK administration helped prepare the ground for a 1964 military coup that overthrew the flourishing Brazilian democracy shortly after Kennedy’s assassination.” The big worry now in Brazil is that increased deforestation (esp. under Bolsonaro) will cause the Amazon will turn from a major carbon sink into a major carbon producer sending us all even faster “toward catastrophe.” Brazilian elites hate their new leader Lula because “he is a mere industrial worker lacking formal education.” Even his white face doesn’t give Lula a pass because it’s a class war in Brazil, and his coalition includes the “wrong kind of people” a.k.a. regular people. The actual present war in Yemen is “between Saudi-based radical Islam and Egypt-based secular nationalism.”
Russia: Note that Republican Bush Sr. never broke his promise to Gorbachev to not expand NATO one inch to the East, but Democrat “Clinton almost immediately rescinded them, initiating the expansion of NATO to Russia’s borders in violation of firm and unambiguous promises.” Then in 2008, in part-deux, Bush Junior invited Ukraine to join NATO (vetoed by France and Germany).
Putin’s invasion: Graham Fuller (former CIA) sees the Ukraine proxy war as “an American-Russian war fought by proxy to the last Ukrainian.” The US is fine if Ukraine, Germany and Europe are deprived of cheap Russian energy if it further punishes Russia. Who cares if it also punishes our allies. All this also of course simply pushes Russia closer to China with their clear mutual interest of blocking “unfettered US freedom of unilateral military and economic intervention around the world.” This US obsession is as smart as Batman paying the Joker and the Penguin to work WITH each other. “What Russia is doing in Ukraine is no different from what the United States did in Iraq or Vietnam.” “The 2003 Iraq invasion was as criminal an act as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” But, “when the US-UK invade a country, they go for the jugular, destroying communications, transportation, energy systems, anything needed to keep the country going. To the surprise of the US-UK planners, Putin didn’t do that. The press reports in ‘in Kyiv and much of the western part of the country, prewar life has largely returned for civilians. People eat in restaurants, drink in bars, dance and enjoy lazy summer days in parks. Far from the US-UK style of war.” There’s an article entitled “Putin’s Bombers Could Devastate Ukraine, but He’s Holding Back”. Imagine US media telling you any of this. “US aggression in Iraq and Vietnam is an incomparably graver crime than Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.” After Russia’s invasion, the official Russian stance in 3/2022 was that war would end if Ukraine would “cease military action, change its constitution to enshrine neutrality, acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory, and recognize the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as separate states.” But Ukraine couldn’t do that because the US and NATO were obsessed with weakening Russia “in fact to weaken it more severely than the Versailles Treaty weakened Germany.” Don’t forget that historically just the Versailles Treaty by itself was so onerous as to lead to the rise of Hitler.
Republicans & Trump: They can’t say their ACTUAL plans to their rank and file and say “I’m going to rob you blind and destroy all your support systems so vote for me.” Instead, Trump has to pose with a sign in one hand saying “I love you” while the “other hand stabs you in the back with actual legislative programs.” Republican strategy is to use culture wars to distract from their odious policies. And so, they offer: “white supremacy, Christian nationalism, no abortion, lots of guns, no more public schools that disturb white children by teaching history or basic biology.” Strangely, Noam positions Tucker Carlson in this book as only “on the far right” when a lot of his recent stuff is anything but.
Israel: “The US refuses to officially acknowledge Israel’s nuclear weapons facilities, presumably because to do so would call into question the legality of all US aid to Israel, under US law.” Both parties are committed to never publicly acknowledge Israel obviously has nuclear weapons.
Language: When the US says “defense” about its actions, it is smokescreen for “imperial domination”.
Rules-Based International Order: Is the term the US uses to define its actions whenever it boldly violates international law. Thus, the US will say that “Chinese internal development violates the rules-based international order.” Not said is that China is only doing what the US and England did only “China is rejecting the US-UK policy of ‘kicking away the ladder’: first climb the ladder of development by any means possible, including robbery of higher technology and ample violence and deceit, then impose a ‘rules-based order’ that bars others from doing the SAME thing.” This is all masked under the “cynical pretense” of “free trade.” In contrast, “the UN-based order is dismissed except when it can be invoked to punish enemies.” US Media for example intentionally “ignores the fact that Erdogan’s regime (in Turkey) is as blatantly authoritarian and oppressive as that of Putin.” The “rules-based international order” in short is where “the US sets the rules (just like my ex-wives) and others (must) obey.” The US sits at the apex of this system with the UK acting as it’s lieutenant and (according to the book “Sub-Imperial Power” Australia and Israel act as “sub imperial powers”. Noam says to think of “rules-based international order” as a euphemism the US media uses instead of “Empire”.
The UN-based International Order: This is enshrined in the UN Charter, but the US and Israel live to violate it repeatedly, because it is the foundation of modern international law. The US and Israel ignores it because if they followed it, they would not be able to continue selfishly being rogue states. The UN-based International Order basically “bans US foreign policy” and every aggressive action that gives Netanyahu an erection. For example, according to this order, the US would actually have to object to Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara, and Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights in Syria and Greater Jerusalem. The US hates being told what to do by ANYONE, especially by the UN, ICC and any country victimized by US aggression.
This was yet another great book by Noam (published in 2024), although I would far more recommend you read Noam’s 2024 book “The Myth of American Idealism”, which is just outstanding and a must read for all Americans with intact morals.
December 15, 2024
I received the copy of A Livable Future is Possible for free and I leave this review voluntarily. I do not generally read nonfiction but since I am interested in climate change I decided to read this one. I am happy that I decided to do so. Of course, name of Noam Chomsky lured me into reading.
In this interview structured book, Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin answer a series of questions that are related to climate change, artificial intelligence, current wars and rise of right extremism. Although I am not sharing their views on various subjects, reading about their decisions led me to see current situations from a different view. I mostly liked the parts on climate change, especially on how to conduct a just transition and how advanced countries are missing the points on just transition. Also, the book gives introductory level information on climate change so if you have no information on the subject, it allows for easy learning with the interview structure.
All in all, I thank the authors, the publisher and NetGalley for offering me a chance to read this title. It is thought provoking and gives insights of how a livable future could be ruined by the ones who promises for a livable future.
In this interview structured book, Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin answer a series of questions that are related to climate change, artificial intelligence, current wars and rise of right extremism. Although I am not sharing their views on various subjects, reading about their decisions led me to see current situations from a different view. I mostly liked the parts on climate change, especially on how to conduct a just transition and how advanced countries are missing the points on just transition. Also, the book gives introductory level information on climate change so if you have no information on the subject, it allows for easy learning with the interview structure.
All in all, I thank the authors, the publisher and NetGalley for offering me a chance to read this title. It is thought provoking and gives insights of how a livable future could be ruined by the ones who promises for a livable future.
January 10, 2025
Chomsky's interviews are as good as ever, but this is poorly edited and arranged. The interviews are virtually in reverse chronological order which means each interview is made obsolete or redundant by the ones you have previously read. Why not present them in chronological order so at least you can see Chomsky's thoughts develop with events? The interviews here are also often redundant, and I don't understand the interviewer's and editor's choices. This is the kind of book that should be rushed out so the content is as recent as possible and arranged in such a way that one reads the commentary in chronology so as to understand the development of events.
December 10, 2024
Seeing the world through Chomsky's eyes is truly enriching, but it is also dramatic and frightening.
Vedere il mondo con gli occhi di Chomsky é veramente un'arricchimento, ma é anche drammatico e spaventoso.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Vedere il mondo con gli occhi di Chomsky é veramente un'arricchimento, ma é anche drammatico e spaventoso.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
December 1, 2024
3.5 stars
While this collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky deftly maneuvers between differing topics and dives into each, I found this collection to be a bit repetitive. Since it is a collection of questions and answers from different interviews, some of the answers overlap and discuss the same points as a former passage. This was still incredibly educational and full of the personal touch and style that Noam Chomsky brings to discussions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title is set to publish December 10, 2024.
While this collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky deftly maneuvers between differing topics and dives into each, I found this collection to be a bit repetitive. Since it is a collection of questions and answers from different interviews, some of the answers overlap and discuss the same points as a former passage. This was still incredibly educational and full of the personal touch and style that Noam Chomsky brings to discussions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title is set to publish December 10, 2024.
September 30, 2024
Based on conversations before his stroke in 2023. I realized when I saw this was getting published that the "radical" publishers like Haymarket will be releasing "new" Chomsky books for years after his eventual death like he is Tupac.
July 29, 2025
It's an eye-opening book that discusses many disastrous aspects of the environmental and geopolitical realities of our time. The fact that it highlights recent crises like global warming, the Russian-Ukrainian war, Iran's nuclear program, and Covid-19 is truly interesting. However, the main issue and the most frustrating part of reading this book are the numerous repetitions and paraphrasing of the same ideas in every chapter. As an experiment, I asked GPT to analyze the literal and rephrased repetitions in this book, and not surprisingly, 60-70% is just repetition. (literal repetition 15-20%, rephrased repetition 40-50%). Although this quick analysis might not be accurate, while reading, you just feel it. On the other hand, I found some parts a bit difficult to follow.
March 20, 2025
Heel goed boek! Zet je aan het denken en legt de complexe wereld samenhangend uit! De reden dat ik op de grote markt in Groningen ben gaan liggen!
Had echter wel gehoopt op meer hoopvols vooral naar het einde toe
Had echter wel gehoopt op meer hoopvols vooral naar het einde toe
March 9, 2025
… but barely. A very sobering review of current global issues.
June 26, 2025
More about America destroying everything
January 25, 2025
“A Livable Future is Possible: Confronting the Threats to Our Survival” is a collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky infused with urgency. He discussed the climate crisis, ongoing war in Ukraine, rising nuclear risk, fascist threat in the United States (something we have since seen plenty of in only a few days), and Biden’s foreign policy.
Chomsky at 95 years has the same vigor, intellect, and passion that you’ll find in older clips and writings. As noted in the preface, he maintains optimism over despair. This collection explains what we have to be worried about and some solutions we should consider.
Fossil fuels and climate change have been kept in the arena of up-for-debate thanks to lobbying and deep pockets. The current solution: hope that a technological breakthrough will ride to the rescue. It won’t. The second solution is for industries driving this crisis to help, which they will so long as solutions are tax-payer funded and de-risked.
Tied to the climate crisis is the American need to ensure China doesn’t develop and innovate. They would become an even bigger threat to the American Empire. America could step aside and see if they’ll be able to produce advanced technology that could help. Simple solution tied to the false dream above, but unlikely.
Chomsky reflects on AI and language models. If you’re into that kind of thing. His ideas on Trump as the biggest threat have not only been realized recently but have changed the way I viewed that topic. I was always of the mind that figureheads are figureheads, but the truth is a lot more scary than such a naive or safe approach. I fear we’ll see more and more evidence of Chomsky’s observations and concerns as we continue.
We haven’t even touched on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, nuclear weapons, and the doomsday clock. But those are all in the collection and I recommend folks pick it up. Especially for the parts about NATO which Chomsky gets criticized for even though he’s right.
I don’t know how optimistic I am, but his optimism is inspiring. If you don’t think a livable future is possible you’ll never step up and do something to make it better.
Chomsky at 95 years has the same vigor, intellect, and passion that you’ll find in older clips and writings. As noted in the preface, he maintains optimism over despair. This collection explains what we have to be worried about and some solutions we should consider.
Fossil fuels and climate change have been kept in the arena of up-for-debate thanks to lobbying and deep pockets. The current solution: hope that a technological breakthrough will ride to the rescue. It won’t. The second solution is for industries driving this crisis to help, which they will so long as solutions are tax-payer funded and de-risked.
Tied to the climate crisis is the American need to ensure China doesn’t develop and innovate. They would become an even bigger threat to the American Empire. America could step aside and see if they’ll be able to produce advanced technology that could help. Simple solution tied to the false dream above, but unlikely.
Chomsky reflects on AI and language models. If you’re into that kind of thing. His ideas on Trump as the biggest threat have not only been realized recently but have changed the way I viewed that topic. I was always of the mind that figureheads are figureheads, but the truth is a lot more scary than such a naive or safe approach. I fear we’ll see more and more evidence of Chomsky’s observations and concerns as we continue.
We haven’t even touched on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, nuclear weapons, and the doomsday clock. But those are all in the collection and I recommend folks pick it up. Especially for the parts about NATO which Chomsky gets criticized for even though he’s right.
I don’t know how optimistic I am, but his optimism is inspiring. If you don’t think a livable future is possible you’ll never step up and do something to make it better.
January 31, 2025
A Livable Future is Possible, a collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky, shows Chomsky analyzing several contemporary issues we are facing.
Like pretty much all of Chomsky's work this is descriptive and not prescriptive. Like Foucault, Chomsky presents historical and analytical information in his works and saves his activism for the places and movements he lends his voice to. He assumes his readers know their immediate environment and have the intelligence to apply the insight he is offering to whatever forms of activism they engage in. If you're looking for a "how-to" perhaps you should check the pop nonfiction titles, there are plenty.
Because these are separate interviews from different points in time, there will be some repetition. Rather than lament that, maybe we should see that the same systemic issues underlie many seemingly separate crises. Additionally, in a collection that covers different topics, it would be foolish to eliminate the explanations, the historical foundations, from the interviews just because they are mentioned in another interview. Some readers will pick and choose which interviews to read based on the area that matters most to them. Leaving the core of the explanation out would make some of the interviews seem incoherent.
Like many interviews there isn't a lot of new ideas here, it is about applying ideas to what has recently happened. If you're more concerned for understanding Chomsky in the abstract, I would suggest some of his work that presents big picture ideas with the events that support them. If you're familiar with Chomsky and want his take on these current situations, this book will reward you.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Like pretty much all of Chomsky's work this is descriptive and not prescriptive. Like Foucault, Chomsky presents historical and analytical information in his works and saves his activism for the places and movements he lends his voice to. He assumes his readers know their immediate environment and have the intelligence to apply the insight he is offering to whatever forms of activism they engage in. If you're looking for a "how-to" perhaps you should check the pop nonfiction titles, there are plenty.
Because these are separate interviews from different points in time, there will be some repetition. Rather than lament that, maybe we should see that the same systemic issues underlie many seemingly separate crises. Additionally, in a collection that covers different topics, it would be foolish to eliminate the explanations, the historical foundations, from the interviews just because they are mentioned in another interview. Some readers will pick and choose which interviews to read based on the area that matters most to them. Leaving the core of the explanation out would make some of the interviews seem incoherent.
Like many interviews there isn't a lot of new ideas here, it is about applying ideas to what has recently happened. If you're more concerned for understanding Chomsky in the abstract, I would suggest some of his work that presents big picture ideas with the events that support them. If you're familiar with Chomsky and want his take on these current situations, this book will reward you.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 16, 2025
Many of the Chomsky interviews here, dated in 2022 and 2023, feel worlds away from our current geopolitical climate, as I read this in July 2025. But the broader ideas presented are evergreen— we must address climate change as a global society, we must move away from US militarism, etc. Chomsky is always at his best when reflecting on the historical record and providing deep context for the crises we face today. A brighter world is possible so we all say, but unfortunately, the political and business masters who have their hands on the levers of power will likely never read these words 😭
September 16, 2025
I picked up this book because it sounded like one of the greatest thinkers of our time had good reason for hope, and I wanted to be inspired by that. I can’t say that is what I got out of reading this book – instead, the hope feels fragile and difficult – possible, but laden with uncertainty and pressed cold and tight against the very real risk of extinction. The hope I did take away was in the peeling back of the layers of our most significant challenges and grim current events. Chomsky and Polychroniov show plainly how the elite have been the architects of our own supposedly intractable problems, and that through this thoughtful confrontation of the realities of politics and power rather than the surface level spin, there is still a way towards a better – liveable future. I appreciated the digestible format of this book, and came away feeling more aware, more somber, more focused, and a little wiser.
July 18, 2025
A conversational collection of work often drawn from interviews and sometimes essays of Chomsky's.
Not always dramatically engaging for someone who keeps up with both world geopolitcs as well as Chomsky's thoughts. I had to whittle it down with an audiobook and even then it was a struggle.
I'm not sure I agree with Chomsky's soft on Putin's aggression stance. Which apparently were most of chapters. The pieces on climate change, transition and hope were the the most valuable.
Not always dramatically engaging for someone who keeps up with both world geopolitcs as well as Chomsky's thoughts. I had to whittle it down with an audiobook and even then it was a struggle.
I'm not sure I agree with Chomsky's soft on Putin's aggression stance. Which apparently were most of chapters. The pieces on climate change, transition and hope were the the most valuable.
February 10, 2025
Reading Noam Chomsky is always fascinating. His predications are always scary and factual. Very few world leaders understand the serious gravity the climate crisis we are in. According to Chomsky we will definitely end up in a crisis and it may be too late to do anything. Until I read the book, little did I understand how the Russian-Ukraine war has such a bad impact on our climate crisis.
January 16, 2025
Naom Chomsky's books are a little dense. You find yourself reading things a few times. Don't try to read it in one chunk. These are interviews, not papers, so there are no references. Thought-provoking.
July 8, 2025
These discussions are of interest to everyone although students of American politics would be, typically, the best readers. For me, too repetitive and without solid conclusion - as they must now be since it’s three years on. My favourite chapter was the one about AI.
Read
July 30, 2025read about half. somewhat confused about chomsky's ideas about what solutions are available diplomatically to the russia-ukraine conflict (I can't tell that he has any that are likely to occur with the current situation.
December 23, 2024
Wow I really wish I could’ve edited this bc it had great potential but why was it in reverse chronological order and missing a bibliography?
Still a good read regardless.
Still a good read regardless.
April 15, 2025
Interesting, insightful, but rather dated.
June 16, 2025
we need to read this work alongside many others: Lyla June's work, and her ted talk, "3000 year old solutions to modern problems"---there are systems that we need to get rid of, not us humans
July 4, 2025
[Happy] 4th of July.
October 9, 2025
Terrifying but hopeful.
July 13, 2025
This is my first time reading a political-related non-fiction book. Honestly, I’m not someone who gets into topics like politics, international relations, or geopolitics. But while reading A Liveable Future is Possible, I realised it’s not just about politics, it’s about our lives, our future, and what’s happening around us in ways we often ignore.
Noam Chomsky writes about global crises, the environment, power struggles, and wars, but in a way that even someone with near to zero knowledge about these topics can understand. Still, I have to admit, I felt overwhelmed while reading some sections because they were beyond my comprehension. There were so many historical details, names, and geopolitical strategies that I had never heard of before. But despite that, I was able to get the main idea and reflect on how deeply everything is connected. Climate change, powerful countries’ decisions, media manipulation, and human survival
At times, it felt heavy reading about the harsh truths and the mess the world is in. But there was also hope sprinkled between these pages, a hope that change is possible, that a liveable future is possible, if we choose to act, question, and stay aware✨
This book is like a wake-up call. If you’re someone who usually reads self-help or fiction and avoids politics thinking it’s boring or too complicated, I think you should give this book a try. Because knowing what’s happening in the world and understanding its impact on us is a part of personal growth too 🌷
Even if we feel powerless as individuals, staying silent is a choice too – and not always the right one. Awareness is the first step towards change.
If you want to understand the bigger picture of today’s world in simple, thought-provoking words, pick this book.
Noam Chomsky writes about global crises, the environment, power struggles, and wars, but in a way that even someone with near to zero knowledge about these topics can understand. Still, I have to admit, I felt overwhelmed while reading some sections because they were beyond my comprehension. There were so many historical details, names, and geopolitical strategies that I had never heard of before. But despite that, I was able to get the main idea and reflect on how deeply everything is connected. Climate change, powerful countries’ decisions, media manipulation, and human survival
At times, it felt heavy reading about the harsh truths and the mess the world is in. But there was also hope sprinkled between these pages, a hope that change is possible, that a liveable future is possible, if we choose to act, question, and stay aware✨
This book is like a wake-up call. If you’re someone who usually reads self-help or fiction and avoids politics thinking it’s boring or too complicated, I think you should give this book a try. Because knowing what’s happening in the world and understanding its impact on us is a part of personal growth too 🌷
Even if we feel powerless as individuals, staying silent is a choice too – and not always the right one. Awareness is the first step towards change.
If you want to understand the bigger picture of today’s world in simple, thought-provoking words, pick this book.
July 7, 2025
At 95, Noam Chomsky continues to speak with remarkable clarity and urgency about the most pressing threats to humanity. A Livable Future is Possible gathers recent interviews in which he tackles the climate emergency, the war in Ukraine, rising authoritarianism in the U.S., and the failures of Biden’s foreign policy.
Chomsky doesn't just warn — he explains the systems behind our crises: corporate lobbying that stalls climate action, geopolitical strategies that prioritize dominance over cooperation, and a dangerous reliance on techno-fixes. His critiques of American antagonism toward China, NATO’s role in global conflicts, and the myth of benign empire are as sharp as ever.
What sets this collection apart is not just Chomsky’s insight, but his enduring belief that despair is a luxury. His optimism is cautious, but vital — an insistence that action is still possible, and necessary. Whether discussing Trump, AI, or nuclear escalation, Chomsky compels us to confront reality without flinching. A sobering, essential read.
Chomsky doesn't just warn — he explains the systems behind our crises: corporate lobbying that stalls climate action, geopolitical strategies that prioritize dominance over cooperation, and a dangerous reliance on techno-fixes. His critiques of American antagonism toward China, NATO’s role in global conflicts, and the myth of benign empire are as sharp as ever.
What sets this collection apart is not just Chomsky’s insight, but his enduring belief that despair is a luxury. His optimism is cautious, but vital — an insistence that action is still possible, and necessary. Whether discussing Trump, AI, or nuclear escalation, Chomsky compels us to confront reality without flinching. A sobering, essential read.
January 17, 2025
Full review and summary.
This is a sequel to Illegitimate Authority, featuring a collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky on pressing issues like AI, environmental sustainability, political struggles, and human rights. If you are familiar with Chomsky’s style then you will get as your expectation that his insights are both critical and hopeful in today’s challenges and a vision for a more sustainable future.
The book mostly focuses on U.S. politics, but I believe his ideas resonate globally. Chomsky’s ideas on women education as a tool for addressing overpopulation and his vision for “just transition” policies for displaced workers are especially compelling for me and most people does not acknowledge it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.
This is a sequel to Illegitimate Authority, featuring a collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky on pressing issues like AI, environmental sustainability, political struggles, and human rights. If you are familiar with Chomsky’s style then you will get as your expectation that his insights are both critical and hopeful in today’s challenges and a vision for a more sustainable future.
The book mostly focuses on U.S. politics, but I believe his ideas resonate globally. Chomsky’s ideas on women education as a tool for addressing overpopulation and his vision for “just transition” policies for displaced workers are especially compelling for me and most people does not acknowledge it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.
February 12, 2025
Certain portions about US History and imperialism were super interesting, but they felt sparse inbetween the relentless doom that a livable future is NOT possible. Lots could be done, but Chomsky makes it clear that nothing will be done. Makes me want to read more of his, but not in regards to climate change. I don’t need to read a book to know nothing happens.
December 17, 2024
This is a compilation of interviews with the author (mainly from two years back), consisting of the author's political views. Even in the interviews about the environment, war, etc., all of that is more on the side of political.
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