Listen!: Knowing the World and Fighting to Change It

by Scott Neigh

Listen! expands our understanding of "listening" as not an individual, passive act but as fundamental to constructing the social world — and to making it more just. As an activist, journalist, and host of Talking Radical Radio, Scott Neigh shares what he's learned from decades of conversing with other activists and scholars.



What does it mean to find oneself overwhelmed by a world in turmoil, as the relentless news of genocide, climate change, and police violence drives home the urgent need for radical change but doesn't tell us how to make it happen? Listen! reflects deeply on the role of listening — from the moment of injustice to how we respond as individuals, to struggles by collective social movements. The book explores what these movements are, how they work, and what they do in the world, as well as the knowledge generated in and by them and the importance of listening to and within them. By sharpening our critical insight into listening, we can explicitly centre sensory pathways to understanding and strengthen our strategies for collective liberation as embodied and situated knowers.

186 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[Katie Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen!: Knowing the World and Fighting to Change It is a thoughtful and timely exploration of listening as a transformative social practice rather than a passive individual skill. Drawing on decades of experience as an activist, journalist, and host of Talking Radical Radio, Scott Neigh demonstrates that genuine listening is essential not only for understanding the world but also for building the relationships, knowledge, and collective action necessary to create meaningful social change.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to reframe listening as an active and deeply political process. Rather than presenting listening as simple empathy or communication, Neigh explores how it shapes movements, strengthens communities, and allows diverse voices and lived experiences to inform strategies for justice. The book encourages readers to see listening as a foundation for collaboration, critical thinking, and democratic participation.

What makes this work especially compelling is its balance between philosophical reflection and practical insight. Neigh examines how social movements generate knowledge through shared experience and collective struggle, showing that meaningful change depends not only on speaking out but also on learning to hear perspectives that challenge assumptions and expand understanding. His reflections offer valuable guidance for activists, educators, organizers, scholars, and anyone seeking to engage more thoughtfully with today's complex social realities.

The book is also remarkably relevant to the present moment. In a world shaped by polarization, misinformation, climate crises, systemic injustice, and rapid social change, Listen! argues that careful, intentional listening is not a luxury but a necessary practice for building stronger communities and more effective movements. Rather than offering simplistic solutions, Neigh invites readers into a deeper conversation about how knowledge, solidarity, and collective action are created.

At its heart, Listen!: Knowing the World and Fighting to Change It is an insightful and deeply engaging work that challenges readers to rethink the relationship between listening, knowledge, and social transformation. Scott Neigh has crafted an important contribution that will resonate with readers interested in social justice, political thought, community organizing, communication, and civic engagement.