We Are Free to Change the World: Hannah Arendt’s Lessons in Love and Disobedience

by Lyndsey Stonebridge

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2025

Reviews

[Cristina Camprubí · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I would fear the mob less if my neighbour would not stay silent were I to be pilloried.”

“Racism may indeed carry out the doom of the Western world and for that matter of the whole of human civilization. For no matter what learned scientists may say, race is, politically speaking, not the beginning of humanity, but its end, not the origin of peoples, but their decay, not the natural birth of man but his unnatural death.”

“Now pay attention and get on with the work of resisting the sorry reality that you find yourselves in. And for goodness’ sake - a puff of a smoke, raising a glass of Campari - have some fun!”

[Magnus Grundstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les og bli mer inspirert enn du noen gang har vært. Gi litt motstand og ikke aksepter verden for det verden er. La oss skape nye begynnelser sammen, mer demokratisk og mindre kapitalistisk, med mer håp og kjærlighet, vennskap og glede, og mindre vold, hat og kynisme. Politikk er mer enn hva det i dag er. Politikk er handling i et uenighetsfellesskap der det eneste vi har felles er at vi skal opprettholde hverandres frihet. Politikk er våre handlinger, og skal bestemmes mer av oss individer i den felles offentligheten, ikke noen få i sine private stuer og møterom. Vær mer som Arendt: vær glad i livet, i mangfoldet av mennesker, som hver og en rommer nye begynnelser.

[Anthony Steadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Arendt fanboy, I really enjoyed it. The context about her life, especially after studying her work on 'freedom' at university, was fascinating.

If you haven’t read Origins of Totalitarianism, On Revolution, or The Human Condition, I wouldn’t recommend it as you might feel a bit lost.

One part I particularly loved was the anecdotes about her and her mother around Rosa Luxemburg. Had I known that story and Rosa’s influence on her earlier, it would definitely have changed how I engaged with her work. 🌹

[Ivana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody has the right to obey!

Enjoyable book with just a bit of pathos addressed at the present times. Serves as a 3D map of Arendt´s life&work, intertwined, meandering.

I like the personal voice of the author - admitting where her interpretation of Arendt digresses from others, or when she admits that it would be much easier if there was no letter exchange with Heidegger after war.

[Kai Prideaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

positively phenomenal. hello 2025