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Unspeakable: Chris Hedges Talks with David Talbot about the Most Forbidden Topics in America
Chris Hedges on the most taboo topics in America, with David Talbot.
Chris Hedges has been telling truth to (and against) power since his earliest days as a radical journalist. He is an intellectual bomb thrower, who continues to confront American empire in the most incisive, challenging ways. The kinds of insights he provides into the deeply troubled state of our democracy cannot be found anywhere else. Like many of our most important thinkers, he has been relegated to the margins because of ideas deemed too radical—or true—for public consumption. Whether it is covering the dissolution of former Soviet states or embedding in the Middle East to understand the post-9/11 world, he has been a singular voice pushing against mainstream media disinformation and the amnesia of establishment received wisdom. He is an intellectual heir to American radical heroes such as Thomas Paine and Noam Chomsky, and is dedicated to reigniting a shared commitment to radical equality and honesty.
Hedges here speaks up about the most pressing issues that currently face our nation. He tackles the rise of a fascist right in support of Donald Trump, which advocates xenophobia and violence in a push for American totalitarianism. He rails against the posturing of inclusivity from establishment elites on both sides of the aisle, who post-Occupy-Wall-Street continue to advocate for policies that make America uninhabitable for all but the ultra-rich and, as lackeys for corporate interests, continue to expand income inequality in all directions. He tears into the contemporary glamorization of the military and the unchecked, unchallenged hawkishness that defines contemporary American foreign policy. Moreover, he shows his support for contemporary revolts against this twisted order—such as Black Lives Matter—that represent Americans refusing to take the destruction of their country lying down. And that’s just the start.
He possesses a clear understanding of the challenges that lie before us, and has proven to be ahead of the curve time and again. All of which is to say, Chris Hedges is unafraid to say what is necessary and true—and has always been. If we are to combat the intellectual and moral decay that have come to grip American life, we must listen to him and the urgent message he brings in this book.
Chris Hedges has been telling truth to (and against) power since his earliest days as a radical journalist. He is an intellectual bomb thrower, who continues to confront American empire in the most incisive, challenging ways. The kinds of insights he provides into the deeply troubled state of our democracy cannot be found anywhere else. Like many of our most important thinkers, he has been relegated to the margins because of ideas deemed too radical—or true—for public consumption. Whether it is covering the dissolution of former Soviet states or embedding in the Middle East to understand the post-9/11 world, he has been a singular voice pushing against mainstream media disinformation and the amnesia of establishment received wisdom. He is an intellectual heir to American radical heroes such as Thomas Paine and Noam Chomsky, and is dedicated to reigniting a shared commitment to radical equality and honesty.
Hedges here speaks up about the most pressing issues that currently face our nation. He tackles the rise of a fascist right in support of Donald Trump, which advocates xenophobia and violence in a push for American totalitarianism. He rails against the posturing of inclusivity from establishment elites on both sides of the aisle, who post-Occupy-Wall-Street continue to advocate for policies that make America uninhabitable for all but the ultra-rich and, as lackeys for corporate interests, continue to expand income inequality in all directions. He tears into the contemporary glamorization of the military and the unchecked, unchallenged hawkishness that defines contemporary American foreign policy. Moreover, he shows his support for contemporary revolts against this twisted order—such as Black Lives Matter—that represent Americans refusing to take the destruction of their country lying down. And that’s just the start.
He possesses a clear understanding of the challenges that lie before us, and has proven to be ahead of the curve time and again. All of which is to say, Chris Hedges is unafraid to say what is necessary and true—and has always been. If we are to combat the intellectual and moral decay that have come to grip American life, we must listen to him and the urgent message he brings in this book.
149 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
159 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
Chris Hedges
59 books1,927 followersChristopher Lynn Hedges is an American journalist, author, and war correspondent, specializing in American and Middle Eastern politics and societies.
Hedges is known as the best-selling author of War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2002), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction.
Chris Hedges is currently a senior fellow at The Nation Institute in New York City.
Hedges is known as the best-selling author of War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2002), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction.
Chris Hedges is currently a senior fellow at The Nation Institute in New York City.
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November 24, 2020
This book is somewhat unique in claiming, sometimes rightly so, that it talks about the topics that modern political discourse completely disregards.
It's not that the subject material (the growing disparity between the rich and the disenfranchised, the total consumption of wealth by military spending, the complete lack of regard for those who don't already have power) isn't real. It's freaking obvious. So obvious it's pervasive and stifling.
No. The point of this book is to say the quiet part loud.
Chris Hedges was a war correspondent -- and not just a normal one that sat in safe hotels waiting for safe tidbits to drop into his lap. He was out in the field and broke news about war atrocities. In other words, he made enemies by following his standard of morals and his sense of right. Throughout his career, and making mistakes that sometimes might not be considered mistakes, but simply the revolutionary idea of standing up for the ideal of truth, he soldiered on.
Whether it was speaking the truth about Iraq's involvement in 9/11, atrocities in Kosovo, prison riots in the States that were more about heating elements to keep the inmates fed, rather than the idea of anarchy, or whether it was about the real tragedy of the Occupy Movement or even Nelson Mandella, the tragedy of the anti-war movement of the '70s or the wry legitimization of war in the '80s under a guise, truth always seemed to die.
Hedges, like Chomsky, has a razor-sharp focus. He refuses to let the standard line get in the way of good reporting. You know, the reporting that we have now. The kind that comes out of money, that relies on big money, that bows before war efforts, corporations, banks, and the blindness of ideals.
He doesn't care what side of a line anyone is on. He has plenty to say about the Right and the Left, and much more to say about the underlying problems of the class divide, institutional racism, and the rise of the current fascism.
Make no mistake. It may seem like old hat now, but he was writing about this long before it became a common household theme.
For this, I can thank him for bringing up all this long before it became a thing on a lot of people's radars.
Suffice to say, we need more of this unflinching honesty and devotion to truth.
Everywhere.
It's not that the subject material (the growing disparity between the rich and the disenfranchised, the total consumption of wealth by military spending, the complete lack of regard for those who don't already have power) isn't real. It's freaking obvious. So obvious it's pervasive and stifling.
No. The point of this book is to say the quiet part loud.
Chris Hedges was a war correspondent -- and not just a normal one that sat in safe hotels waiting for safe tidbits to drop into his lap. He was out in the field and broke news about war atrocities. In other words, he made enemies by following his standard of morals and his sense of right. Throughout his career, and making mistakes that sometimes might not be considered mistakes, but simply the revolutionary idea of standing up for the ideal of truth, he soldiered on.
Whether it was speaking the truth about Iraq's involvement in 9/11, atrocities in Kosovo, prison riots in the States that were more about heating elements to keep the inmates fed, rather than the idea of anarchy, or whether it was about the real tragedy of the Occupy Movement or even Nelson Mandella, the tragedy of the anti-war movement of the '70s or the wry legitimization of war in the '80s under a guise, truth always seemed to die.
Hedges, like Chomsky, has a razor-sharp focus. He refuses to let the standard line get in the way of good reporting. You know, the reporting that we have now. The kind that comes out of money, that relies on big money, that bows before war efforts, corporations, banks, and the blindness of ideals.
He doesn't care what side of a line anyone is on. He has plenty to say about the Right and the Left, and much more to say about the underlying problems of the class divide, institutional racism, and the rise of the current fascism.
Make no mistake. It may seem like old hat now, but he was writing about this long before it became a common household theme.
For this, I can thank him for bringing up all this long before it became a thing on a lot of people's radars.
Suffice to say, we need more of this unflinching honesty and devotion to truth.
Everywhere.
December 16, 2016
You can read all of my reviews at Lit.Wit.Wine.Dine
Unspeakable by Chris Hedges is the first book in the “Unspeakable” series by Hot Books/Skyhorse Publishing. The series will provide a platform for writers, thinkers, and activists who have been marginalized, criticized, and otherwise silenced by the powerful mainstream media.
Hedges has an extensive, impressive, and credible resumé as a journalist. He’s the son of a Presbyterian minister, educated at some of the finest institutions in the county, from Loomis Chafee to Harvard. He is clearly a very, very intelligent man. He is also a very opinionated man with very strong convictions. In reading this book, it became easy to understand how someone like Chris Hedges could upset apple carts. What is less easy to understand is how and why any journalist, living and working within an institution that exists to promote the transparency and dissemination of information, can be so easily cast aside. (Remember, we are talking about a well-respected intellectual; one of a group of 8 to win a Pulitzer prize at the New York Times.) The answer, of course, becomes clear in this book.
There didn’t seem to be any subjects off limits. From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to 9/11, from Trump to pornography, and racism to the Occupy Movement, it’s all there. And while I didn’t necessarily agree with all of his opinions, I came to respect and admire him as a principled person, unwilling to cave or conform in order to retain the favor of those operating within a system he holds in contempt.
This book was formatted as a dialog between Mr. Hedges and fellow journalist David Talbot. While that made for a little bit of jumping from subject to subject, I felt it worked very well in terms of conveying the candor of the conversation. It also made for great pacing. The only issue I had, and it may be one specific to me, is that I was unfamiliar with several of the names mentioned throughout the book; mostly journalists. I don’t feel that that impacted my overall experience in reading the book, however. I simply had to do a little Googling.
This is a very timely read given our post-election political climate. I love the idea of this series. I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t be too secure in your opinions if you haven’t taken the time to listen to those who differ.
4.5/5 stars
Many thanks to Hot Books/Skyhorse Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unspeakable by Chris Hedges is the first book in the “Unspeakable” series by Hot Books/Skyhorse Publishing. The series will provide a platform for writers, thinkers, and activists who have been marginalized, criticized, and otherwise silenced by the powerful mainstream media.
Hedges has an extensive, impressive, and credible resumé as a journalist. He’s the son of a Presbyterian minister, educated at some of the finest institutions in the county, from Loomis Chafee to Harvard. He is clearly a very, very intelligent man. He is also a very opinionated man with very strong convictions. In reading this book, it became easy to understand how someone like Chris Hedges could upset apple carts. What is less easy to understand is how and why any journalist, living and working within an institution that exists to promote the transparency and dissemination of information, can be so easily cast aside. (Remember, we are talking about a well-respected intellectual; one of a group of 8 to win a Pulitzer prize at the New York Times.) The answer, of course, becomes clear in this book.
There didn’t seem to be any subjects off limits. From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to 9/11, from Trump to pornography, and racism to the Occupy Movement, it’s all there. And while I didn’t necessarily agree with all of his opinions, I came to respect and admire him as a principled person, unwilling to cave or conform in order to retain the favor of those operating within a system he holds in contempt.
This book was formatted as a dialog between Mr. Hedges and fellow journalist David Talbot. While that made for a little bit of jumping from subject to subject, I felt it worked very well in terms of conveying the candor of the conversation. It also made for great pacing. The only issue I had, and it may be one specific to me, is that I was unfamiliar with several of the names mentioned throughout the book; mostly journalists. I don’t feel that that impacted my overall experience in reading the book, however. I simply had to do a little Googling.
This is a very timely read given our post-election political climate. I love the idea of this series. I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t be too secure in your opinions if you haven’t taken the time to listen to those who differ.
4.5/5 stars
Many thanks to Hot Books/Skyhorse Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2018
Hedges and Chomsky were some of the first anti-imperialists I was introduced to. Having followed Hedges' work since, this book provides a concise overview of his views in an autobiographical, Q&A format (where David Talbot was the interviewee).
The Good:
--Always interested in Hedges' perspectives on American foreign policy and violence in general, given his extensive experience as a war correspondent (who actually went on the grounds of what he covered), as well as his work teaching prisoners.
--Of course, his coverage of fascism: the dispossessed from liberal market failures who are riled up and diverted by hatred, the liberal (capitalist) elites who set up and nurture this process, how a cultural transformation solution is not enough without an economic transformation and re-integration into a social economy...
--Also unique is his religious background, his critiques of institutionalized religion as well as the New Atheists... His takes on faith and morality are reflected in his various views.
--In the audiobook format, Hedges narrates his parts. An interview that serves a similar purpose: https://youtu.be/L6unS2JF8TA
The Missing:
--In his discussions around vertical vs. horizontal decision-making, and particularly critiquing vanguardism, Talbot was (barely) able to get Hedges to extend this to touch on context and results. This is the major contention between anarchists (like Hedges and Chomsky) and someone like Michael Parenti (Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism). We really need to take this topic point by point, because (from what I've read) both sides talk over each other (and often end up making each other's points). I've found Vijay Prashad a refreshing intermediary on this topic, providing a much-needed global south perspective. We are not debating post-911 Hitchens here!
Prashad is also a fantastic lecturer; the 2nd half of this lecture he tackles the pressing debate on vanguardism: https://youtu.be/SS4YoxoswFQ
The Good:
--Always interested in Hedges' perspectives on American foreign policy and violence in general, given his extensive experience as a war correspondent (who actually went on the grounds of what he covered), as well as his work teaching prisoners.
--Of course, his coverage of fascism: the dispossessed from liberal market failures who are riled up and diverted by hatred, the liberal (capitalist) elites who set up and nurture this process, how a cultural transformation solution is not enough without an economic transformation and re-integration into a social economy...
--Also unique is his religious background, his critiques of institutionalized religion as well as the New Atheists... His takes on faith and morality are reflected in his various views.
--In the audiobook format, Hedges narrates his parts. An interview that serves a similar purpose: https://youtu.be/L6unS2JF8TA
The Missing:
--In his discussions around vertical vs. horizontal decision-making, and particularly critiquing vanguardism, Talbot was (barely) able to get Hedges to extend this to touch on context and results. This is the major contention between anarchists (like Hedges and Chomsky) and someone like Michael Parenti (Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism). We really need to take this topic point by point, because (from what I've read) both sides talk over each other (and often end up making each other's points). I've found Vijay Prashad a refreshing intermediary on this topic, providing a much-needed global south perspective. We are not debating post-911 Hitchens here!
Prashad is also a fantastic lecturer; the 2nd half of this lecture he tackles the pressing debate on vanguardism: https://youtu.be/SS4YoxoswFQ
November 13, 2017
This book came to me via Bookbub (a blurb and a bargain I couldn’t resist). It’s formatted as an interview/ conversation between Chris Hedges and David Talbot, with David Talbot asking the initial questions. Prior to reading this, I was not familiar with Chris Hedges, and this book provided a good introduction to his history, resume, and thoughts. His views are radical left-wing and his politics are grounded by firm moral convictions (his father was a Presbyterian minister) and experience lived as an award-winning journalist determined to embed himself in war-torn and dangerous situations to get at the truth. He is truly an advocate for the poor and disenfranchised. Given the current political situation in the US and world at large, this is a chilling read. I found his thinking intelligent, nuanced, way outside the conventional, and (though truly frightening) very convincing. I will read more books by Chris Hedges.
October 25, 2022
Picked this up randomly but have been really wanting a really good book in conversation and this was a slam dunk for me. I can’t say I agree with all the points, but found it fascinating and well done. Definitely a great audiobook to check out.
June 10, 2023
I definitely differ ideologically from a lot of Chris Hedges’ work but I have to give credit to a person who is wholly committed to justice, whose entire life reflects that attitude
February 5, 2017
This is basically a transcribed talk, from what I understand, with David Talbot interviewing Chris Hedges. It's quite good. My only complaint is that the introductory questions asked regarding Hedges' background copy largely the first chapter of a book I read by Hedges. That is, if you've read a book by Chris Hedges before, you already know a lot about his upbringing, boarding school, and theology degree, and may find yourself thinking (like me), "Get on with it already."
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in a career in journalism, or who follows political news reporting. There is a lot in this book that had me going, "Oh...so that's how that works!" I enjoy Hedges not because I necessarily agree with everything he says, but because he doesn't put anyone on a pedestal. While so many progressives bemoan Bernie Sanders not succeeding to the presidency, Hedges has no qualms about pointing out that Sanders never posed any threat to the military-industrial complex (which would have been political suicide).
Talbot's questions run the breadth of Hedges' career, so you get anecdotes about Central America in the 1980s, the collapse of Yugoslavia, and the Gulf War. It's an interesting reminder (or wake-up call) that the problems we see with the media today are not new.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in a career in journalism, or who follows political news reporting. There is a lot in this book that had me going, "Oh...so that's how that works!" I enjoy Hedges not because I necessarily agree with everything he says, but because he doesn't put anyone on a pedestal. While so many progressives bemoan Bernie Sanders not succeeding to the presidency, Hedges has no qualms about pointing out that Sanders never posed any threat to the military-industrial complex (which would have been political suicide).
Talbot's questions run the breadth of Hedges' career, so you get anecdotes about Central America in the 1980s, the collapse of Yugoslavia, and the Gulf War. It's an interesting reminder (or wake-up call) that the problems we see with the media today are not new.
September 2, 2018
A broad discussing of journalism and American politics, the book is Hedges presenting his views. Its written as a chance to get to know Hedges worldview through conversation. I have to admit Hedges lost me as soon as he referred to Chomsky as "one of our greatest intellectuals." Hedges (like Chomsky, and Naomi Klein) are the type of authors who will be of interest to activists who don't know much about politics and would like to know more, but its really hard to imagine any political scientists or economist taking what he has to say very seriously. He is essentially a contrarian at heart, and although he is able to point out many of the problems in the American system, that is not unique or interesting in of itself. He rejects the american political system as a whole; rejecting any attempts to navigate it, and the desire for a broad revolution, without really ever being clear about how that might actually work.
February 4, 2018
This book is a great picture inside the mind of Chris Hedges, a great modern leader of dissenting thought in America. He is his usual fearless, unyielding, principled self, unwilling to cave or conform.
From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to 9/11, from Trump to pornography, and racism to the Occupy Movement, it’s all there. The formatting as a dialog between Hedges and fellow journalist David Talbot works very well in conveying the candor of the conversation. The man should be heeded more today than anytime.
From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to 9/11, from Trump to pornography, and racism to the Occupy Movement, it’s all there. The formatting as a dialog between Hedges and fellow journalist David Talbot works very well in conveying the candor of the conversation. The man should be heeded more today than anytime.
December 29, 2016
“If we don’t get control of the military spending we’re finished. Sanders didn’t touch the military-industrial-complex. That would have been political suicide.” “There will be no socialism until we dismantle imperialism and dramatically slash military spending power. Martin Luther King understood that.” “Populist movements were destroyed by the liberal state, in service to corporate interests.” “90% of the electorate did not vote in the primaries.” “In American Fascists, I conclude that the only way to stop the rise of fascism here is to re-integrate these people economically into the life of the country. Otherwise, we are doomed.” Many in the Christian Right have never read the Bible and exist on spoon-fed clichés. “When capitalism is challenged, the liberals line up with the Brownshirts. Who shut down Occupy? It was Barack Obama in a coordinated federal effort.” “It takes 1,000 gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk.” Another great book by Chris, this one is in interview format and it’s fun to be eavesdropping on this riveting conversation, however, Chris’s regular books are a lot more densely packed with hardcore facts and ideas because he had the time to fact check, fine tune, and put the best facts in the right order for months until right. This book is refreshing for Hedges fans because the interview format makes Chris more of a real person thinking like the rest of us in real time. I know Chris personally, and went to school with him at Eaglebrook, and can vouch that this book reveals the man and his personality accurately.
November 21, 2019
I have never read anything written by Chris Hedges but this book where Mr. Hedges speaks of his life feels in many places almost disturbing. Yes , initially I felt like this man has a very strong moral standing and it seems he never backed away from any of his believes and sacrificed even his career so that he could fight for some type of socialist righteousness and the oppressed welfare recipients.. The one big problem I see with people like Chris Hodges is their ultimate faith in utopian theories of Karl Marx . I think we have seen how sadistic and bloodthirsty Marxist societies eventually become when Communism sooner or later annihilates its own children just like the French Revolution did or Mao's China.I see demagogues like Chris Hedges as an intellectual menace that only breeds future conflict. Young people especially are easily swayed and propagandized by the promises of socialist paradise. Mr. Hedges sounds very convincing but he can fool only the utopian naive dreamers . Mr. Hodges will tell you how he is saving the planet by being a strict vegetarian yet he is jetting frequently around the country preaching Communist propaganda.
October 29, 2016
Hedges and Talbot's conversation provides an accurate picture of our current situation. Decades of neoliberal policies advancing ruthless global capitalism, free trade and the off-shoring of jobs, have caused a very legitimate rage among the white poor and dispossessed across the country. Trumps will continue to rise up as a symptom of these policies and in response to this rage, ready to harness it into a fascist movement. Meanwhile the structure of our society pouring all it's resources into militarization and empire building, ignores the structure of the country causing it to disintegrate from the inside out. We have reached a place where the promises of capitalism no longer ring true for so many, and the only alternative presented is fascism from the right, that other marginal groups caused their pain. Unless a radical left movement is built to counteract and stand in opposition the faceless corporate totalitarianism, we shall be doomed. I found this to be a really important - an essential read in studying our current situation.
June 30, 2019
Very readable, easy to grasp conversation with Chris Hedges.
I like Hedges a great deal in spite of the fact that sometimes he comes across so moralistic that I wonder how he could ever influence anyone. Yet he speaks clearly and authoritatively about this country and the powerful who own it and the toady politicians and media types who suck up to power.
Hedges is very valuable exposing the swamp of liberalism, how the Democrats are part of the problem and there is no hope for change that comes through the Democratic Party. This is especially important to discuss in the age of Trump.
Naturally, Hedges thinks standing for truth and justice is its own reward, in spite of the fact that those types of people get crushed along with the poor and working people by those in power.
Both exhilarating to read and depressing.
I like Hedges a great deal in spite of the fact that sometimes he comes across so moralistic that I wonder how he could ever influence anyone. Yet he speaks clearly and authoritatively about this country and the powerful who own it and the toady politicians and media types who suck up to power.
Hedges is very valuable exposing the swamp of liberalism, how the Democrats are part of the problem and there is no hope for change that comes through the Democratic Party. This is especially important to discuss in the age of Trump.
Naturally, Hedges thinks standing for truth and justice is its own reward, in spite of the fact that those types of people get crushed along with the poor and working people by those in power.
Both exhilarating to read and depressing.
January 16, 2018
This is my second Chris Hedges book. I finished it in less than 24 hours, beginning on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I also read "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning" several years ago. My other exposure to Hedges is a youtube video of his somewhat unsatisfying debate with Christopher Hitchens (which he actually references in this book). Although he blows my mind a little bit with his purported knowledge of the workings of the powerful and his distressing clairvoyance, I resonated with much of the book and with Hedges's faith-informed worldview. The book, which is based on a lengthy interview conducted by author and Salon founder David Talbot, begins with some biographical reflection (the first chapter is called "The Making of a Radical") and examines what Hedges has learned from his years as a war correspondent and journalist. Chapters have titles like "The Seductions of Power," and "The Bankruptcy of the Liberal Elites," and elucidate Hedges' views on topics such as capitalism, climate change, pornography and meat--which is also the title of one of the chapters. Despite his long career in journalism and credentials as a respected author, Hedges is marginalized in the mainstream world of journalism and political commentary, viewed as a rebel and a difficult person (a characterization he fully owns). As we move along through his life and the causes to which he has devoted himself and for which he has sacrificed, one gets a sense for the unique purposefulness of this person. Towards the end, the interviewer begins to push him with questions about how he measures success, and whether or not it is important to have an impact, and to be "effective" in one's pursuits. Hedges resists this line of questioning. He references "integrity" and "how finite and insignificant life is" and tells stories of rebels who seemed to be forgotten but whose impact was actually felt long after they had disappeared from the map or the public eye. Though a self-defined Christian agnostic, he seems to function like a person of profound faith. Hedges' ultimate answer for why he does what he does was empathy. With particular reference to his war reporting, he says, "When you are around that kind of suffering, you feel a commitment to those who are being persecuted." Amen.
January 20, 2018
This book interested me, but if you are not a political junkie, it may not have general appeal. Chris Hedges is kind of a man unto himself, with firmly held opinions. I find his ideas interesting, but I admit he is not for everyone. He is kind of an iconoclast who does not cozy up to any political party, but calls the shots as he sees 'em. This book is actually an extended interview with David Talbott and consists of Hedges answering a series of questions posed by Talbott. The questions probe Hedges' childhood as the son of a Presbyterian pastor, his time spent in an elite boarding school on a scholarship and in Ivy League universities, his twenty years as a journalist covering war zones (many of them as as reporter for the New York Times), and his current independent quest to speak the truth as he sees it, no matter what. I loved the exchange of ideas, which made me think. It was kind of like being a fly on the fall, hearing an intelligent conversation between two peers. Once again, the magic of books...
November 27, 2023
One of the finest and most succinct statements of the personal philosophy of the great Chris Hedges. In this series of interviews by David Talbot, Hedges lays out his views on such wide ranging issues as the state of modern journalism, the seduction of power, electoral politics, crime and punishment, the evils of capitalism, animal agriculture, and pornography, the satanic nature of institutions of the state and religion.
This book is more a series of sermons where Hedges thunders like an Old Testament prophet. And the best sermons are the ones that do not please the congregation. They do not entertain,they do not make you happy. They disturb the listener. They resonate only with the minority. Sermons, as Hedges demonstrates, force the hearer to be self critical.
This book is a kind of guide for those seeking to live a truly moral life. As Stephan Kinser once told Hedges: "You're not a journalist. You're a minister pretending to be a journalist."
This book is more a series of sermons where Hedges thunders like an Old Testament prophet. And the best sermons are the ones that do not please the congregation. They do not entertain,they do not make you happy. They disturb the listener. They resonate only with the minority. Sermons, as Hedges demonstrates, force the hearer to be self critical.
This book is a kind of guide for those seeking to live a truly moral life. As Stephan Kinser once told Hedges: "You're not a journalist. You're a minister pretending to be a journalist."
June 7, 2022
Chris Hedges deserves an enormous amount of respect, and his thoughts and words are important to consider in whatever form they are offered. Having said that, this book is essentially just a quick digest of Hedges's opinions on a wide variety of issues rather than a deep consideration of any of them. This makes it interesting as a quick intro to him, but leaves the book as a shallow experience in general. I have read, and will continue to read, other books by Hedges, but don't particularly recommend this one.
Read
May 20, 2022This is the good shit
May 12, 2018
Kind of a Hedges greatest hits, plus a dash of biography, all in the form of an interview. Which is actually a good thing.
Hedges sees things so clearly. Unfortunately, what he sees is what a bad fix we’re in.
Hedges sees things so clearly. Unfortunately, what he sees is what a bad fix we’re in.
August 14, 2018
I have not read a book that has engaged me so fully in a long time. Chris Hedges cares about the less fortunate and he has actively pursued a more egalitarian society wherever he has reported from. He has worked for some mighty institutions and has been committed to what is authentic of himself and of his employers and his government. He has helped to illuminate how our institutions, politicians, reporters, religions and civilians have gone astray.
October 13, 2017
a hefty dollop of self-praise with a helping of self-justification on the side, a bit of slamming of adversaries (old and new)... oh, look, there was some time left for "these fat cat bastards!" rhetoric too, how cute!
repeated ad-hominem attacks somewhat detract from the points he's trying to make. one would think that the opinions a person holds are more interesting and relevant than whether that person's mother ran off with a lover and committed suicide or not...
somewhat grating format:
"but isn't so-and-so?"
"why thank you, Oprah, that is an excellent planted question! let me give you a piece of my mind on this subject! [...]"
ugh! and the holier-than-thou attitude doesn't help things either...
in an nutshell - see one of the author's other books for a more serviceable treatment of the topics in question.
oh, and the author dismissing the Pulitzer prize as being thoroughly rigged, and yet doggedly placing prominent mentions of himself winning it on the covers of his books is... a little ironic. he must have been the only one who won one fair and square, it's all the other Pulitzers that were rigged.
repeated ad-hominem attacks somewhat detract from the points he's trying to make. one would think that the opinions a person holds are more interesting and relevant than whether that person's mother ran off with a lover and committed suicide or not...
somewhat grating format:
"but isn't so-and-so?"
"why thank you, Oprah, that is an excellent planted question! let me give you a piece of my mind on this subject! [...]"
ugh! and the holier-than-thou attitude doesn't help things either...
in an nutshell - see one of the author's other books for a more serviceable treatment of the topics in question.
oh, and the author dismissing the Pulitzer prize as being thoroughly rigged, and yet doggedly placing prominent mentions of himself winning it on the covers of his books is... a little ironic. he must have been the only one who won one fair and square, it's all the other Pulitzers that were rigged.
November 18, 2020
I have found my new journalistic icon thanks to this book. Unspeakable is a written conversation between David Talbot and Chris Hedges – an award-winning journalist and speaker. This interview covers everything from war reporting to issues with large newspapers to rising Oligarchy within America to “Muslim Rage”. Hedges also covers in his answers proliferating violence against women’s health as a war, corporate media dictation, electoral circuses, police violence, porn exploitation, crushing social discontent and speaking truth about power and power to truth. Though this book, we have an impossibly insightful voice from a speaker out for genuine structural change and certainly challenged even my liberal beliefs and even some of sources. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and their views.
Thanks,
Luke A. Rigby
(Excerpt from the 'Luke's In The Know' Newsletter)
Thanks,
Luke A. Rigby
(Excerpt from the 'Luke's In The Know' Newsletter)
October 7, 2016
The insufferable braggart who corners you at a party who you can't wait to get away from. Now in book form! I've always admired Hedges but this book is mostly just him whining about elites who he clearly is both contemptuous and jealous of. The early chapters where he bitterly complains about rich people™ being assholes were really cringe-making. Seriously, the psychopathology is strong with this one. I respect academic Marxism as much as the next leftist but Hedge's issues with bogeyman figures plotting world domination in corporate suites is pretty teenage and not insightful.
February 24, 2023
I was leaning towards giving this book 3 stars and then Hedges talked about pornography. In doing so, he unapologetically defended Dworkin, critiqued the pseudo-sex-positivity that exists on the left, and was very critical of porn by calling out the rampant misogyny therein. Hearing someone say what he said explicitly and without repentance earned him an extra star given this is one area in which I've seen otherwise progressive people turn a blind eye.
January 1, 2017
Hedges is a unique voice. I don't always agree with him, but he forces thought provoking thought, particularly about our need as humans to conform. Even Hedges does it, but the desire to conform is something he fights against.
January 15, 2017
An interview with Chris Hedges, journalist, that ranges over the fundamental issues confronting us. A man who always tries to speak truth to power, I found this to be a powerful evaluation of our modern society, the existential perils we face, and the glimmers of hope that may remain.
November 9, 2025
Note: This is NOT the Unspeakable, the best book of the JFK assassination.
This is, however, a good discussion of important ideas between two intellectuals who deserve an audience. My only criticism would be that they don’t go deep enough.
This is, however, a good discussion of important ideas between two intellectuals who deserve an audience. My only criticism would be that they don’t go deep enough.
January 16, 2021
I liked Hedges, but not Talbot.
November 19, 2018
"Telling the truth is always a revolutionary act."
"Obama was worse than Bush."
"If one can remove poor, we can achieve a more classical [Christianized] fascism."
Etc.
"Obama was worse than Bush."
"If one can remove poor, we can achieve a more classical [Christianized] fascism."
Etc.
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