Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care

by Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba, Harsha Walia (Postface)

What fuels and sustains activism and organizing when it feels like our worlds are collapsing? Let This Radicalize You is a practical and imaginative resource for activists and organizers building power in an era of destabilization and catastrophe.

Longtime organizers and movement educators Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes examine some of the political lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the convergence of mass protest and mass formations of mutual aid, and consider what this confluence of power can teach us about a future that will require mass acts of care, rescue and defense, in the face of both state violence and environmental disaster.

The book is an assemblage of co-authored reflections, interviews and questions that are intended to aid and empower activists and organizers as they attempt to map their own journeys through the work of justice-making. It includes insights from a spectrum of experienced organizers, including Sharon Lungo, Carlos Saavedra, Ejeris Dixon, Barbara Ransby, and Ruth Wilson Gilmore about some of the difficult and joyous lessons they have learned in their work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Social Justice, Activism, Audiobook, Feminism, History

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book was intended for people who are new to being activists or looking to move from mere activism to organizing I think it's a must read for people who joined movements at times of high intensity who feel kind of lost about the where to next when the protests die down or who have felt burnt out by social movements. Its bracing and cleareyed approach is also useful in embracing the space you want/can occupy as an activist/organizer.

[Sarah Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not unbiased: I'm honored to call Mariame and Kelly friends. I'm also an old nerd when it comes to reading about organizing, and yet I found this book invigorating and surprisingly emotional. I cried when it came to the conclusion. I expected this to be a book targeted at young organizers, but I also think it contained an awful lot of advice for more experienced people, and for journalists as well as organizers, as the skill sets of both have an awful lot of overlap.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for our moment. It’s not only a love letter to what historians of the left will come to understand as the new Chicago way of organizing, it’s a distillation of the 2020-and-after moment and its lessons. It’s a book about collective self-reliance rather than deference to saviors. This is the kind of book that will be a guidepost for decades.

There is definitely a focus on the small here: small actions, small groups. And although it does not take up larger social movement organizations and unions like the CTU, its focus on relationships and movement culture are a core part of what makes this book such an effective broadside against cynicism.

No book can be everything to everyone, and I don’t take this one as a comprehensive guide to all organizing or a definitive manual for building global power. Instead, I’m confident this book will be a solid and sober contribution to a movement becoming conscious of itself and its history. I’ll certainly be coming back to this many times in the coming years.

[Viral · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, in my opinion, mandatory reading for all folks new and old to activism. If I was leading a poli-ed group again as I have in the past, I would start with this book. Why? Because here, Kaba and Hayes cover crucial ground that I haven't usually seen talked about movement circles. Things like:

-Navigating hope, resilience, and burnout
-Focusing on what we're building instead of a hypothetical perfect solution
-Accepting differences when it brings us towards a goal

And so much more. Lots of other books teach you about what is wrong and what needs to be done. This book shows you how things can (and sometimes can't) be done. The everyday existence of moving through movement spaces. I'm so glad to have a physical copy of this book. It's one I will keep coming back to for years to come. One of my favorite books ever. Thank you, Kelly and Mariame.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I went into Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba’s Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care almost not wanting to like it, since it’s been praised to the skies and I get concerned about people just reading whatever they want into things. On the other hand, this particular type of burnout–suspicious, reading everything through a filter of “how resistant is this to co-optation by the most self-absorbed people in the world” (even though bad actors can co-opt anything), generally dour about my fellow leftists–is exactly the sort of thing I need some way to heal from, so I figured it was worth a shot to see what they had to say.

Hayes and Kaba go to great lengths to ensure this book is not just a litany of “how not to be” advice but let’s face it, there are a lot of potential pitfalls in organizing and a lot of ways that good organizers should not be. Advice on taking care of ourselves and each other, constructive (and not constructive) ways to onboard newbies, how to think strategically (and why it’s so important), the limitations of both traditional and social media, navigating hot-button rhetoric around “violence” and other buzzwords, the importance of political education and emotional processing… it’s a wide-ranging category of topics but it all comes down to being solid advice on how to safely and sustainably do organizing. Hayes and Kaba gently and compassionately insist that “organizing” means organizing, and not just any old shit you do to tell yourself that you are Making The World A Better Place. Honestly, one of the main strengths of this book is that Hayes and Kaba clearly have a lot of experience gently and compassionately telling people stuff they might not always want to hear, like “sometimes one thing really is more effective than another thing” or “here is some information you may not have previously considered” or even “the behavior you engaged in harmed someone else and you are not the sole wronged party in this situation.”

The timing of this read was interesting for me personally because I read it as an immediate precursor to Vincent Bevins’ If We Burn, which covers mass protests from 2010 to 2020, and I think it’s useful to see how the advice in the two books compare. I think they dovetail fairly nicely, even though the Bevins book is focused mainly on one type of action and Let This Radicalize You is careful to survey a wide range of types of actions (lesson: you gotta have more than one tool in your toolbox).

It is very likely I won’t end up rereading this because I’m not nearly as good at rereading things as I ought to be, but I am nonetheless glad that I bought a copy of this instead of getting it from the library because I ought to reread it and I ought to be able to lend it out to other people. We’ll see how that goes.

Originally posted at Doing stuff with other people.

[Jamie Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was inspiring and broadly educational about the work of organizers and activists while also giving clear and concrete advice on how to do this work. I didn’t realize it was such a guidebook for organizers, and as I do not yet see myself taking on that explicit role in my communities, I didn’t find it exactly what I was looking for at the moment, but rather something I hope to continue returning to. Helped me understand the differences and overlap between activism and community organizing. I also loved that so many of the examples and lessons shared were about organizing efforts in Chicago <3 I think anyone who considers themselves or aspires to be an activist or organizer should read this !

[Hope Brasfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one's a must read! It's also covid safe, meaning, there's no covid denialism in here -- which I totally appreciated.

If you're newer to organizing, or working with people who are newer to organizing, put this on your list!

[andrevv · Rating 5 out of 5]

very tiny summary:
Would recommend this book to anyone looking to make change, learn about strategic ways for making change and building power, and be in just relationships and community. this book is by two very seasoned, transformative, and radical organizers on how to be strategic to make impact and change. Lots of lessons, interview bits, and histories related to many many parts of organizing. key is to take action, and take action with others. we write the meaning of life as we live it, it is up to us to write a story worth living.

notes:
critique is good and fine, but focus on building things up, especially with other people. “transformative change happens when we are willing to build the things that we know must exist.” p12 we are transformed by working on issues. the most important thing to do to transform the world is to act. taking action is a practice of hope.

a big theme of the book is refusing to abandon others and being supportive of people’s transformation. For example, it is life saving work to support and work to free a criminalized person - letters etc are lifelines for those trapped behind bars. capitalism relies on the idea that there are people who must be or merit abandonment or elimination.

facts are often not enough to mobilize people into action. what works when facts fail? relationships, community, and storytelling are stronger drivers for action. relationships to create sustained capacity for organized political action. strategic storytelling centers support and inspiration, not just fear. we have to strive to receive people on the terms that many are doing the best they can and making sense of the world as best they can, even if they are believing or behaving in ways that we do not support. many people do not act on a problem despite familiarity with the problem. it’s easy to dismiss people who act against the collective good as “selfish” or “bad”, but would such characterizations help us alter the terrain? -chp 1 goes into this sort of stuff

role of organizers is not to dismiss but to invite. when correcting someone’s ignorance, do not shame etc., but invite/direct them forward. history lessons should be leveraged as calls to action in the present. seize flashes of outrage as opportunities to draw people in movements rather than reply with cynicism to their shock.

grief work, healing work, and conflict resolution extra important in this age of catastrophe. navigating crisis and even missteps are more difficult with unchecked trauma responses. as difficult and slow as it may be, it is helpful to try to work through traumas that impede organizing work.

attempting to rank atrocities is of little strategic value. much more effective to make connections between issues than compare the importance or severity of the issue. goal is to pull people into an active formation and build something, not just create a quick reaction or a witnessing.

criticism is often overflowing towards organizers, but good-faith critique is important for movement building. however criticism often comes from people with no connection to the work and may have no idea what they’re talking about. check-in with self and, if necessary, our co-strugglers to decide if this criticism merits consideration. organizers should be committed to self reflection that is self questioning and challenging.

Organizers should want co-strugglers, not fans. fans are waiting to tell the organizer they’re right and, potentially, reinforce worst and least strategic impulses.

A main goal of organizing is to try to get as many people as possible at the table having conversations about “example” system or issues and how to change it

projects and groups can be broken easily if cannot maintain relationships while navigating harm. gives importance to conflict resolution and accountability mechanisms within groups. people also need room to grow.

do not want to inspire a culture of martyrdom or self destruction. important to tend to maintenance of health and well-being. important to envision self as part of future looking to create. important to take seriously the daily, personal practices that can nurture our well-being.

Quotes:

“We all have a role to play in building those new worlds. Determine what the next right step is for you. There is always something that is worth doing. Find your lane and push ahead. Make connections with others. Refuse to acquiesce to despair. Imagine your way forward. There are many ways that things can be different in the world, and we don't know how things will turn out, so we might as well fight like hell for the world we want to inhabit.” p231

“we all have a role in imagining and building the world we want to live in”

“you are an appendage of the work, the work stems from / hangs from the heaven you create” - rant by diane di prima p2

“in order for the oppressed to be able to wage the struggle for their liberation, they must perceive the reality of oppression not as a closed world from which there is no exit, but as a limiting situation which they can transform.” - paulo freire, pedagogy of the oppressed p16

organizers offer vision of possible better world and ways to bring this vision into fruition. “Effective organizing, therefore, does not begin with having the most compelling argument or the most dazzling direct action, but with developing the capacity to bring people into relationship with one another, such that they might begin to overcome alienation and fear.” important to find intersection between someone’s interests and the work at hand, not just place people into roles envisioned for them. “'What do you want? What do you need? How can I help? Heres what we're working on. How does that sound to you? What are we missing? What else is needed»" Not Do (you want to get involved?' or 'You should get involved." “"This idea that we know better than a community (about what they need, without asking and being in conversation, isn't relationship building. It's more like political imposition," she said. "And so l think when you start with a politic of asking people what they need. or if what you're working on resonates for them, or what is missing. then you build stronger relationships than when you just say Come to the rally or Come to the meeting or Come to the event. An organizer can also ask, «What would make this more interesting and appealing for you? What would make this more interesting for the people that you know? Are there other people that you know chat want to get involved?"" We build better relationships, Dixon said, "when we build projects where people honestly have a stake in the project, not because we told them they have to, but because we've asked them what they need and we are responsive to the needs of multiple people. Taken from p38, p48-49

“As you strategize in the face of cynicism, ask yourself these questions:
What is the outcome you want?
Do your words and actions lend themselves to the creation of that outcome?
If not, how can you change them?
What is the impact you would like to have?
Do you believe you are capable of making that impact?
if so, how will you go about making it?
What power do you possess, and how are you leveraging that power in relation to the issue at hand?
We ask these questions not to prescribe answers but to provoke them.
Our aim is to be effective and invite people into a process of making change. Many, many people will decline the invitation, but even fewer will accept an invitation that is never offered. If we are determined and committed to improving our practice of organizing, some people will accept the invitation, and we will build power.” p101-102

“violence is an elastic term often deployed to vilify people who threaten the status quo” p111

“The repression of Palestinian resistance offers a profound example of the elasticity of violence as a concept and shows how, while the powerful can wage war on particular communities with impunity and claim innocence, the oppressed can be deemed a violent threat simply for attempting to assert their rights or defend their humanity.” p127

“If you choose to disrupt these systems, passively, destructively or by way of extending mutual aid, the concept of violence may be stretched and manipulated by the powerful to encompass your work. That is why we must not allow the frameworks of the power. ful co define the bounds of morality in our politics and our action.
The elastic concepts of criminality and violence, as controlled by the powerful, will always be bent against us.” p128

“The idealization of individual leaders can also encourage us to embrace ideas that are harmful or excuse behavior that should be challenged. If we become too invested in someone's leadership, or even fetishize that leadership, we can abandon our own strategic analysis or fail to develop that analysis. Good organizers do not want "fans." They want committed and thoughtful co-strugglers. An organizer who wants your allegiance rather than your solidarity and co-investment in struggle is not someone whose leadership you should trust.” p131

active hope:

“Active Hope is a practice. Like tai chi or gardening, it is something we do rather than have. It is a process we can apply to any situation, and it involves three key steps. First, we take a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for in terms of the direction we'd like things to move in or the values we'd like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direc-tion. Since Active Hope doesn't require our optimism, we can apply it even in areas where we feel hopeless. The guiding impetus is intention; we choose what we aim to bring about, act for, or express. Rather than weighing our chances and proceeding only when we feel hopeful, we focus on our intention and let it be our guide.” p176

“This practice of hope allows us to remain creative and strategic. It does not require us to deny the severity of our situation or detract from our practice of grief. To practice active hope, we do not need to believe that everything will work out in the end. We need only decide who we are choosing to be and how we are choosing to function in relation to the outcome we desire and abide by what those decisions demand of us. This practice of hope does not guarantee any victories against long odds, but it does make those victories more possible. Hope, therefore, is not only a source of comfort to the afflicted but also a strategic imperative.” p176-177

“broader movements are struggles, not sanctuaries. they are full of contradiction and challenges we may feel unprepared for.” p183

“Organizing is not a process of political matchmaking. Most people's politics will not mirror our own, and even people who identify with us strongly on some points will often differ sharply on others. When organizers do not fully understand each other's beliefs or identities, people will often stumble and offend one another, even if they earnestly wish to build from a place of solidarity. Efforts to build diverse, intergenerational movements will always generate conflict and discomfort. But the desire to shrink groups down to spaces of easy agreement is not conducive to movement building.
The forces that oppress us may compete and make war with one another, but when it comes to maintaining the order of capitalism, and the hierarchy of white supremacy, they collaborate and work together based on their death-making and eliminationist shared interests. Oppressed people, on the other hand, often demand ideological alignment or even affinity when seeking to interrupt or upend structural violence. This tendency lends an advantage to the powerful that is not easily overcome.
Put simply, we need more people. What do we mean by this?
We are not talking about launching search parties to find an undiscovered army of people with already-perfected politics with whom it will easily and naturally align. Instead, organizing on the scale that our struggles demand means finding common ground with a broad spectrum of people,
many of whom we would never otherwise interact with, and building a shared practice of politics in the pursuit of more just outcomes. Its a process that can bring us into the company of people who share our beliefs quite explicitly, but to create movements,, rather than clubhouses we need to engage with people with whom we do not fully identify and may even dislike. We can build upon our expectations of such people and negotiate protocols around matters of respect, but the truth is, we will sometimes be uncomfortable or even offended. We will, at times, have to constructively critique people's behavior or simply allow them room to grow.
There will be other times, of course, when we have to draw hard lines, but if we cannot organize beyond the bounds of our comfort zones, we will never build movements large enough to combat the forces that would destroy us.” p181 - 182

embrace seasonality, whether literally or metaphorically. “The metaphorical spring is a time of growth: the capacity to educate and organize new people is ramped up, relationships are expanded, and new coalitions are built. Summer, in this metaphor, is a time of consistent action, when energy is high and victories are potentially claimed. Fall is a time of harvest, when movements have achieved victories or endured losses. In fall, projects and coalitions may break down or sunset as the pace of work slows, allowing organizers time to reflect, share stories, and uplift the labor of the Previous season. The metaphorical winter is the most difficult season for many organizers because we have been conditioned to view less energetic periods of organizing as times of failure.” p211

[Kiki Tapiero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring book that gave many concrete examples of ways organizers fight against systemic oppression. There were several ideas I loved: the idea that no one person has the solution for an abolitionist future, it's a collective vision (pg xii / pg 181); the importance of building a community of care (pg 39); hope and grief as coexisting, and using grief as a radicalizing agent (pg 148), the idea of organizing poetry circles (pg 191); hope as an action (pg 232) and the way the book gives steps to take action (pg 230) and strategies in the face of cynicism (pg 101). This book reminded me that I am not alone - that there are many out there fighting to make a better world. It definitely made me feel energized afterwards.

[Ioana Hreninciuc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book has such a high rating. I couldn’t actually get through it because it’s pretty much a bunch of extremely basic common sense advice demonstrated with fairly lengthy stories of community organising which are meant to be inspiring. There’s very little in the way of methodology or concrete processes, unless you count advice such as “Build relationships” as that. It reads in the typical self-help style that has a chapter title and then twenty pages of over explaining that concept with loosely written anecdotes. This book could have been a single Substack article.

[Amanda at Bookish Brews · Rating 5 out of 5]

my new comfort book, i cried 3x

[bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fantastic book and most definitely a new favorite! highly recommend to all. so grateful for this book and the experiences and perspectives shared. this book has given me many ideas to carry forward in my community organizing. incredibly reinvigorating and grounding, especially as we go into a new year, as well as posing excellent questions to reflect on in my work. thank you. i will no doubt be returning to this one countless times!

[Emilia Majersik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for our social work bookclub. Started off kinda long winded and not super groundbreaking but by the end I felt very inspired and book spurred good book club convo! Some nuggets: good organizing fosters sense of belonging and expands peoples sense of what is possible through communal care, let suffering radicalize you rather than bring you to despair, sometimes the answer to burnout is rejuvenation not rest!

[Heather Madera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so informative and really put things in perspective. In the times we live in right now, the hope this book brings is so necessary. So thankful for my friend’s book club that chose this book!

[Erin Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I’m not good at updating my goodreads. Read this spring 2024
100% a book I would suggest anyone new to organizing to read
In my case it was very engaging bc of the reading group I was apart of. Using the book to discuss actions we have been involve with or ones we know are upcoming

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wisdom & open-hearted encouragements regarding organizing in this catastrophic political context. Many, many specific campaign examples, primarily out of Chicago, which is affirming to have a written history of, and illustrative of the multiplicity of the movement. Highly recommend for any folks trying to organize their way out of despair.

[Jeffrey Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and hopeful! Let this Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba is a call to action for all peoples across the globe. As someone who has only participated minimally in activism, this book helped guide me through what activism is, how organizing differs from activism, and the importance of collective action against an unjust society.

Some topics covered:
• abolition and how toppling the prison industrial complex can lead to a more just and safe society
• Kinship and Indigeneity
• Recognizing oppressive forces in the context of the occupation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank by the State of Israel (settler colonialism)
• art and poetry as a form of resistance and how essential they are for liberation
• the fight against Cop City in Atlanta
• how all forms of struggle and resistance are interconnected
• our normalization of death and killing, and how that is jeopardizing our humanity
• a reflection on the struggles faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
• disability justice
• how to avoid/ recognize the co-opting of organizations and grassroots movements
• tactics to combat police brutality and riot control agents (RCAs)
• self-care practices among organizers and activists
• how to work with others who don’t share all the same values and views - patience being key!
• & the importance of emergent strategy and avoiding the pitfalls associated with perpetuating a system that was never designed to bring about justice for all


“We are living in and through calamitous times. We are bombarded twenty-four seven, it seems, by terrible political, public health, economic, and ecological news. We aren’t offered space to process collectively or to grieve all that has been lost. We’re living through the perpetual front lash of white supremacy and heteropatriarchy. So we can all be forgiven for not showing up as our best selves. We all need more grace. Many of us are just trying to keep our heads above water.” - Mariame Kaba

Let this book guide you through our sick and unjust world.
Let this anger you
Let this sadden you
Let this transform hope into action so you can create the world you envision for yourself and others

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative and a quick easy listen. I really appreciated the way it explained the different topics and used examples from todays and recent events. It really lent to the overall understanding and relevance of the message.

I really learned a lot about activism. Especially in relation to dealing with people around you. I found the tips about dealing with people who are unwilling to be involved or who outright disagree. I feel this will help me even just in everyday life.

[Nadav David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of gems, especially quotes and insights I’ll come back to again and again. Kaba and Hayes (and the other organizers and writers who contributed) provide a much needed balm in a time of relentless crisis. This text achieves a beautiful balance of being honest about what we’re up against and offers us a sense and practice of grounded hope. I highly recommend this book for people who are new to organizing and movements, to experienced organizers looking for rejuvenation, and anyone in between.

“As organizers, we are builders in an era of collapse. Our work is set against all probability---and it is in that space of cherished improbability where our art will be made, where our joy will be found, and where our ingenuity will fashion ways of living and caring for each other, even as the ground shifts beneath our feet. Life will be a scramble, but we will not scramble alone. Together, we will fight for this world, to keep it.”

“I have learned to take the construction work of organizing as it comes, creating things that I believe have to exist, and work with others to build containers, organizations and projects that I believe the world needs. I am always dreaming up new ideas and making things, because the world is not transformed primarily by what we think of it. Transformative change happens when we are willing to the build the things that we know must exist.”

[L C · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not radical to celebrate goals and methods that those in power are perfectly fine with the people getting behind. Doing something is certainly better than doing nothing. But it could also be argued that actions that are ineffective but inspiring let off steam from the pressure cooker that would be far more powerful if that pressure was allowed to steadily build. The billionaire class and their cronies *want* us to think that voting, boycotts, and peaceful protests will achieve something. They'll keep robbing us all blind and destroying the planet while we cheer ourselves on for having shown up at a peaceful rally.

Also, an effective response to police brutality, to mention one example in the book, is NOT to force them to pay reparations. Because that means that those with all the money in the world can do whatever they want and then write a check. Just as they already do, every single day.

[Angela Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must must must inspiring read for activists, organizers, or anyone who thinks our world can be better and wants to do something about it! Will maybe write a longer review later but really brings me hope in change and belief that small actions are important and do make a difference! Hope and collective care are the most important things, and you don’t need to know a lot or agree with someone to work with them

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more concrete advice and less repetition. I liked the real-life stories of their colleagues though.

[Morgan]

Let This Radicalize You is a great place to start learning more about mutual aid, activism, and becoming an integral part of your community. It has high ratings for a good reason; it's a solid mix of advice, anecdotes, and personal beliefs, but also includes well-researched statistics and information.

If you read this, I do not recommend the audio route as I could hear the narrator breathing between each sentence, and hear the spit in their mouth (I don't know how else to say that nicely).

This book was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, a rather transformative time in the world, and especially America. Like, there was an obvious shift in our political climate and daily life in general during this time period, right? Family members getting red pilled while holed up in their homes, Biden coming in at an already tumultuous time, people who didn't pass science class worried about how scientists are creating vaccines, etc. - you get it. So because of that, this book included a lot of... that. It included many lessons that we learned as a nation because of COVID-19. It kinda just made me feel... really sad? Because we are right back where we started, if not further back, than when this book was written. This book is written in such an optimistic tone for us not to go backward any more than we have with electing Tr*mp the first time. And here we are, in 2025... I don't know. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from reading this, because if you're interested in learning more about reciprocal care, it's a great read. There is also a really great portion of the novel about the occupation in Palestine; very informative!


I will leave this with a few favorite quotes of mine:

“The creative power of the oppressed will always exceed that of the oppressor, because it is the oppressed who must exercise creativity to navigate and survive a world that is set against them.”

“And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

And of course, “Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair.”

[Larry Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person who considers himself to be a community organizer over a very long period of time, I wanted to give this book 5 stars. But I struggled with it enough that I thought I could only it four stars. It is a book that suggest that it is written For people who are new to community organizing, maybe even just beginning. But I felt this book was more than a worthwhile experience for even the most seasoned community organizer.

One of the main things that I gained from this book was the commitment to the authors of mutual assistance efforts as a most significant way of community organizing. Working along side of people in the community to meet a significant need that has been identified by the community. A community organizer in my opinion is best if they are a part of that community rather than an outsider coming in. But the critical fact is that they are working with other people in the community to Remedy a problem that the community is facing. Mutual aid may be as obvious as helping people to provide basic human needs of food and shelter and income/employment. The reason for the lack may be as obvious as weather event or an economic downturn. Or it may be as a result of one of the many isms That we face in the world such as racism or sexism or homophobism.

The language of the authors is impressive and clearly radical as they do not shy from blaming capitalism and politics, and the well off as often being at the root of the problem. They do not apologize for people who damage or destroy property. They are ardent abolitionists whether it is prison or police that they are confronting. The language is strong and they understand the difference between liberalism, wanting to improve the system and radicalism, wanting to revolt and overthrow the system.

I experienced this book in the audible format. That is often an easy way to get through a difficult book. Because the words just keep on coming, even if you are not catching them or if you have even drifted away at times. You can get to the end of the book, having missed quite a lot without necessarily intending to. I often fall into that trap with difficult books.

I ended this book with a little more appreciation for a way of being a community organizer that was not necessarily on the top of my list, even though I would like to classify myself among that crowd of activists. They worked too reclassify people who might be a part of a mob in more positive ways than many of us might consider accurate. They talked about community, organizing being something that can be done among people who are imprisoned, which is something that I and probably most of us never think much about. I have to say that I felt an openness to most of the ideas and thoughts that were presented even when they were, relatively novel or new to me. At the age of 77 I am not quite sure how recently I have ever done any community organizing. Part of organizing is getting to know people, especially people with whom you might not agree, but who are a part of the community, experiencing the problems that you have identified and that all of the others may or may not also see as problems. The authors mentioned the phrase that you often hear in a community organizing situation: “meeting the people where they are at.“ The authors note that, figuring out where the people are at requires a lot of listening when a lot of us are better at talking!

I have fallen into the habit of trying to get some feedback from Copilot AI about the books. I have been listening to recently. So let’s see what I can find for this one.

Mutual aid and collective action are concepts deeply rooted in community and social solidarity. Here’s a brief overview:
Mutual Aid:
Definition: Mutual aid is a voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit1.
Philosophy: It’s based on the principle of “solidarity, not charity,” emphasizing support through cooperation rather than top-down aid.
History: The concept was popularized by Peter Kropotkin, who saw it as a natural and ethical response to societal needs, countering the Darwinian emphasis on competition1.
Practice: It involves community members directly participating in addressing survival needs and building an understanding of the root causes of inequity1.
Collective Action:
Definition: Collective action refers to actions taken together by a group of people to achieve a common objective.
Purpose: It’s often used as a mobilization tactic for building solidarity around movements for political and social transformation.
Implementation: Projects are organized through direct participation, where everyone has a role in contributing to the group’s goals.
In essence, mutual aid and collective action work hand-in-hand to foster community engagement, support, and resilience. They encourage communities to work together to meet their needs and address systemic issues, creating a more interconnected and supportive society. Given your interest in history and societal structures, you might find the dynamics of these concepts particularly relevant to the themes of war, history, and mystery that you enjoy exploring in literature and other media.

Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba are the authors of “Let This Radicalize You: Organizing the Revolution of Reciprocal Care.” Here’s a brief introduction to both authors:
Kelly Hayes:
Background: Kelly Hayes is a Menominee author, organizer, movement educator, and photographer.
Work: She is the host of Truthout’s podcast “Movement Memos” and has co-founded the Lifted Voices collective and the Chicago Light Brigade.
Contributions: Hayes is known for her work in social justice movements and has been involved in various organizing and educational initiatives.
Mariame Kaba:
Background: Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator, and prison industrial complex (PIC) abolitionist with a focus on ending violence, dismantling the prison industrial complex, and supporting youth leadership development.
Experience: She has co-founded multiple organizations and projects, including Project NIA, the Chicago Freedom School, and Survived and Punished.
Publications: Kaba is the author of “We Do This 'Til We Free Us,” which was a New York Times Bestseller, and has written and co-authored various reports, articles, essays, and books.

Both authors bring a wealth of experience in activism and community organizing to their writing, which likely informs the content and perspective of “Let This Radicalize You.” Their combined expertise offers practical insights into the power of mutual aid and collective action, aiming to empower activists and organizers in their pursuit of justice and systemic change. The book is a reflection of their dedication to these causes and serves as a resource for those looking to make a difference in their communities.

[sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'They're trying to kill us. We want us living. That's the battle. And so we're going to wage care and resistance on those terms, against these forces that would destroy us.'"
Juliana Pino

lots of specific advice to new and and seasoned organizers. pretty much perfect for the times, and extremely inspiring. for a more personal and specific reaction to this book, continue reading:

this book did not just move, but pushed me to examine the emotions (fear, anger, grief, hopelessness) I had in response to the current political administration and the subsequent postings and conversations regarding it I experienced online and in person. after my initial month or so of grieving the election, I did acknowledge myself that supporting organizations in my community is the only way to make change.

then, my friend sent me this book being read for a book club in our city, and I figured I would start there. this is how I will manage my emotions. the authors of Let This Radicalize You said it so much better than I ever could, and so I urge anyone, especially my dear friends and family, to read this, and please join me in serving the marginalized people in the community as best we can. I loved not only the specific stories featured in this book, but the direct advice regarding the concerns I've been having for the past three months in preparing to live for the next four years. I think this can give a lot of people the hope that they need right now. read this!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Leveraging fear gets great results for people who want to bring out the worst in others, but it garners lessers returns for those who want to bring out the best.”

This is the book I needed as someone who doesn’t have any activism or organizing experience. For the past two months things have felt insurmountable, so this was the book I needed to read.

I love the way the information in this book is presented. While dense and full of information, it’s written in a way that doesn’t feel so overwhelming. I was interested and engaged versus feeling confused or unable to follow. The authors share their experiences in an effort to connect, which I thought worked really well to convey information.

There is a big focus on building relationships within this space and how important connecting is. I think we don’t always know how to speak to those who don’t think the same, and this book does an excellent job of breaking that down. The thought of activism or organizing can be scary, but it feels less so after finishing this book. The end of the book shares a lot of resources and tips for protest protection, which I thought was a valuable and necessary inclusion.

“How much discomfort is the whole world worth?”

I realize that this book isn’t a catch-all, but it felt like such a great place to start. It felt like a spark. It’s a perfecting starting point and I can’t recommend it enough.

[Seema Snitkovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This book is your invitation to act in the best way that you know and to survive together."

A terrific collection of lessons and principles from organizers across a wide and global breadth of social justice causes. I found this both informative and inspiring, and I'll definitely be carrying many of these ideas with me (activism vs organization, active hope, thinking 7 gen ahead, respecting your seasonality). The book was organized really well and was pretty readable for how dense it was, but I did find it a little bit unclear on audience. Some sections felt geared towards someone dipping their very first toe into organizing, while others felt relevant to extremely seasoned organizers. I did feel full of hope while reading it, I'd love to get a hard copy to refer to in times of disillusionment.

"we were all bound together in that moment by something sacred. That communion against injustice, that defiant love, that refusal to abandon, our willingness to stand in the cold together, and the ability to find joy in that togetherness, despite our discomfort."

[Andrew Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected, I think I was thinking that this was going to be about radicalization and organizing more generally and it ended up being a guide for organizers. Still interesting, but not what I thought I was gonna get. I’d recommend not doing the audiobook, because I felt like the narration was a little clinical and robotic

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly moving, hopeful, and informative. This is a book everyone should read.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful and also good company as a relatively new organizer trying to learn!