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Noam Chomsky dissects the multiple crises facing humankind and the planet; and provides a road map for resistance.
In this completely original set of interviews between the legendary duo of Noam Chomsky and David Barsamian, the two confront topics such as the pandemic, the wealth gap (made worse because of the pandemic), climate destruction, the increasing power of the corporate owned media, systematic racism, Big Tech, and more.
Noam Chomsky is one of the most cited scholars in human history. He ranks right up there with Aristotle and Marx, and this book reaffirms his esteemed reputation. Notes on Resistance will inspire all those struggling for human liberation.
In this completely original set of interviews between the legendary duo of Noam Chomsky and David Barsamian, the two confront topics such as the pandemic, the wealth gap (made worse because of the pandemic), climate destruction, the increasing power of the corporate owned media, systematic racism, Big Tech, and more.
Noam Chomsky is one of the most cited scholars in human history. He ranks right up there with Aristotle and Marx, and this book reaffirms his esteemed reputation. Notes on Resistance will inspire all those struggling for human liberation.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2022
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752 people want to read
About the author
Noam Chomsky
977 books17.4k followersAvram Noam Chomsky is an American professor and public intellectual known for his work in linguistics, political activism, and social criticism. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is a laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and an institute professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Among the most cited living authors, Chomsky has written more than 150 books on topics such as linguistics, war, and politics. In addition to his work in linguistics, since the 1960s Chomsky has been an influential voice on the American left as a consistent critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, and corporate influence on political institutions and the media.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants (his father was William Chomsky) in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
Born to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants (his father was William Chomsky) in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from alternative bookstores in New York City. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. During his postgraduate work in the Harvard Society of Fellows, Chomsky developed the theory of transformational grammar for which he earned his doctorate in 1955. That year he began teaching at MIT, and in 1957 emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with his landmark work Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language. From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He created or co-created the universal grammar theory, the generative grammar theory, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the minimalist program. Chomsky also played a pivotal role in the decline of linguistic behaviorism, and was particularly critical of the work of B.F. Skinner.
An outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he saw as an act of American imperialism, in 1967 Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals". Becoming associated with the New Left, he was arrested multiple times for his activism and placed on President Richard M. Nixon's list of political opponents. While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades, he also became involved in the linguistics wars. In collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky later articulated the propaganda model of media criticism in Manufacturing Consent, and worked to expose the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. His defense of unconditional freedom of speech, including that of Holocaust denial, generated significant controversy in the Faurisson affair of the 1980s. Chomsky's commentary on the Cambodian genocide and the Bosnian genocide also generated controversy. Since retiring from active teaching at MIT, he has continued his vocal political activism, including opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and supporting the Occupy movement. An anti-Zionist, Chomsky considers Israel's treatment of Palestinians to be worse than South African–style apartheid, and criticizes U.S. support for Israel.
Chomsky is widely recognized as having helped to spark the cognitive revolution in the human sciences, contributing to the development of a new cognitivistic framework for the study of language and the mind. Chomsky remains a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, contemporary capitalism, U.S. involvement and Israel's role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and mass media. Chomsky and his ideas are highly influential in the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Since 2017, he has been Agnese Helms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.
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October 7, 2022
Iraq (and especially Iran) is largely Shiite, so the act of the US invading Iraq with its Sunni dictatorship minority, was a gift to Iran. The US military pours money into the high-tech sector but allows these companies and not the US people to be the first beneficiaries. The US warned of a ‘new nationalism” in Latin America. The problem was obvious; nationalism helps the people of each country before helping US investors and “that’s totally intolerable.” Of course, it’s fine when the US does economic nationalism, but not other countries. “US corporations own about 50 percent of world wealth.” George Kennan said police repression abroad may be necessary to maintain control over “our resources.” The punch line is that Kennan was replaced because he was considered too dovish.
In 2015, Obama blocked a nuclear weapons-free zone. If Israel had to disclose its nuclear weapons then US aid to Israel would have to terminate under US law. Article 14 in a UN resolution says the US has to work towards a nuclear weapons-free zone, so Obama had to pretend he and his advisors never read Article 14 while mainstream media conveniently refuses to mention it. Obama bailed out the perpetrators instead of the victims of the collapsed housing bubble to the utter silence of US liberals. “The increase in the military budget under Trump – the increase – is larger than the entire Russian military budget.” The US infrastructure is rated D, the lowest ranking possible from the American Society of Civil Engineers. If they ranked it any lower, they’d run the risk of being called uncivil engineers. After Carter, the working class was handed over to the Republicans. Before the mid-1970’s, “the Republican Party had been almost completely pro-choice.” Reagan, Bush Senior and Goldwater were all pro-choice. Fat chance any Republican today would tell you that. Abortion became a wedge issue not for moral reasons but to get votes.
Those who talk about Russian interference in US elections won’t mention the US not only controlling elections in other countries (including Russia) but also the US overthrowing governments we disagree with, or punishing those which voted the wrong way. US hypocrisy souffle, is still a delicacy in DC. The US threw so much money behind Yeltsin that he won the election; it’s not even secret and the US is proud of doing that. In the 1920’s, Germany was the height of Western Civilization, yet ten years later it was the nadir. The United States has “been the most secure country in the world since the War of 1812, but it’s probably one of the most frightened countries in the world. It’s very easy to arouse the population to extreme fear. We’ve got to stop Saddam before he kills us.”
Saddam ally Reagan blocked Congress from looking critically after Saddam gassed Kurds in Northern Iraq. Magicians don’t want Muggles looking too closely at how tricks are done. Later on, the US feigned outrage at these same attacks, in order to attack Iraq. What the right calls socialism today is New Deal liberalism; perhaps hotels today should have dictionaries instead of Bibles. Beat down valid major voting issues with scare tactics; works like a charm. In Reagan’s day, a Gallup poll showed that 70 percent of the US favored an amendment that guaranteed health care. “You can travel around the West Bank (Israel) on superhighways and not even know that there is a Palestinian in existence. Farmers are separated from their fields and so on. A very systematic policy.” A one state solution in Israel means Israel goes out of existence, as it would be a Palestinian majority state.
The Republican problem with the US Post Office is clear; it helps the majority; you can’t have that. “We don’t want people to believe that a government institution can do something for them.” Deregulation is a no-brainer, who lives near the most polluting industries? The poor and people of color of course. Why should Republicans care about the poor and people of color? Republican leaders throw evangelicals crumbs because they know evangelicals are a whopping 25% of the US population, and they dress up nicely on Easter. Britain drew Iraq’s borders after WWI so that Britain, not Turkey (the former Ottoman Empire), could control the oil. Kuwait was carved so that Britain had easy access to the Gulf. “Syria, Lebanon, Palestine – all have borders drawn French and British imperialists for their interests. All over Africa, you see straight lines. Why? The imperial powers were destroying Africa in their interests. Hideous atrocities.”
Note: in the US Senate, Wyoming (population 500,000) has the same number of Senators as California (population 39,000,000). This is why Republicans focus on controlling small states. “No country is capitalist. A capitalist society would self-destruct so quickly it couldn’t exist. What’s called capitalism is actually a kind of state capitalism.” It’s not about defunding the police but removing certain services from them like “domestic disputes, mental health problems, lost dogs or drug overdoses” What do you do on immigration? “Eliminate the conditions from which they are fleeing.” Read the long history of US assault on Latin and Central America.
Obama and Hillary Clinton supported the illegal ouster of “the mildly reformist government of Manuel Zelaya” and installation of a military dictatorship. How many US liberals calling Putin a dictator EVER complained about the US approved dictatorship that replaced Zelaya? Of course, Obama, and Hillary didn’t call it a military coup because if they did, they have to stop funding the dictatorship. In fairness, Europe also has a heartless policy of stopping immigration (from Africa and the Middle East). Whites fearing contamination. It’s okay when it’s about laundry but Jeez Louise… Obama upgraded the stolen island of Diego Garcia to a nuclear military base which “prevents the implementation of the African nuclear weapons-free zone.” And you can’t have a Pacific nuclear weapons-free zone because the US enjoys storing them also on Guam and in Japanese harbors.
Two Noam comments no liberal will post on Facebook: First, The US is so afraid of the power of the International Criminal Court that the GW Bush administration passed an act that “grants the US president the right to use military force to rescue any US citizen who is brought to the Hague for trial by any international tribunal. Gee, I wonder why Noam keeps calling the US the world’s biggest rogue state? Second, The US took forty years to sign the Genocide Convention, and when it did, it demanded the reservation that the Convention excluded the United States. You heard that right, “the United States formally claims that it has the right to commit genocide. And on those grounds, it was exempted from the World Court hearings on the bombing of Serbia.” Give me a progressive any day over a liberal. Famed author Jack London was a liberal; he wrote in “The Unparalleled Invasion” that “the United States should carry out bacteriological warfare and wipe out the Chinese to prevent them from attacking us.” Hold on, Jack; wait until the US gets exempted from genocide claims legally before you too get shamefully war crime-y on us!
Yes, China is violating international law in the South China Sea, but the US can’t complain when it “has not even accepted the rule of international law.” The Chinese remember what US liberals never learned, that Hong Kong was stolen by Britain and China was humiliated for 100 years by British “savagery and violence” and imposed narcotrafficking (opium anyone?). FDR’s grandfather “made a killing in the China trade by narcotrafficking.” Note that when liberals complain about China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, they never mention that there are 2,000,000 in Gaza treated much worse. Ed Herman used to say there are “worthy and unworthy victims”. Scumbags focus on the worthy victims and ignore the unworthy ones.
China is more developed than India now because China implemented rural development programs in the Maoist years. Noam says, even if you included the China Famine, China still saved 100 million people. Noam concludes, “We should be condemning their crimes. They should be condemning our crimes. We should be condemning our own crimes and doing something about them – not just condemning.” Noam thinks the “empirical basis” the Black Book of Communism is “pretty weak” and completely ignores that China saved 100 million. Noam says, after 1979, China moved into state capitalist mode (from exactly what, he doesn’t say).
Mao tried to work with the US in the late 40’s, but the US preferred (and personally enriched) the “quasi-fascist Chiang Kai-Shek regime which didn’t want to fight the Japanese.” Mao tried to cooperate with Chiang because Mao’s forces were in the northwest, but “Chiang wouldn’t do it.” Chiang wanted all the money flooding in to be used against Mao, once the war ended. “You can take a high-speed train from Beijing to Kazakhstan, but you can’t take one from New York to Washington. The United States is in some respects a third-world country.” The Chinese are funding the port at Gwadar in Pakistan to “give China access to Africa and Europe.”
The US supports Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara to better secure access to its phosphates. Noam’s favorite philosopher is David Hume because he tells you clearly that the few control the many only as long as “the people consent and subordinate themselves.” John Stuart Mill was a nasty piece of work – fine with conquering and subduing – and yet he was still no right-winger. Rumsfeld and Cheney invaded Afghanistan with zero strategic objective. “In Afghanistan, nothing was achieved. What we are actually doing is holding on to their funds, which happen to be in the New York banks, and not giving them back.” A million Afghanis facing starvation today and the US keeps their own money away – ah, US vaunted Freedom and Liberty – to take yours.
When 6,000 US soldiers invaded Grenada to take on 40 Cuban construction workers, did you know the US was already permitted to enter, but they invaded anyway for the PR value? Or that 2,000 more medals were handed out than soldiers deployed? A few hundred Marines had just been killed in Lebanon and Reagan needed a scary distraction, and 40 Cubans armed with packed sandwiches and hammers was the obvious choice. It is so thoughtful that the US finally pulled out of Afghanistan so that China can now intelligently switch it from opium production to mineral export where the real money is.
What we are facing now is the end of US Democracy - the US turning into a proto-fascist state when Republicans return to power. Noam says Tucker Carlson was right when he said whatever you think of Putin, he is not trying to conquer Europe or even all of Ukraine – he’s trying to protect his borders from an obvious threat. The China threat is that China doesn’t act subordinate to, or act intimidated by the US - and that is unacceptable. Every year the entire UN votes (184 to 2) against the Cuba sanctions and blockade, and only two countries dare to disagree with the world, and both are rogue states, the US and its boytoy Israel. Yet another great book by Noam.
In 2015, Obama blocked a nuclear weapons-free zone. If Israel had to disclose its nuclear weapons then US aid to Israel would have to terminate under US law. Article 14 in a UN resolution says the US has to work towards a nuclear weapons-free zone, so Obama had to pretend he and his advisors never read Article 14 while mainstream media conveniently refuses to mention it. Obama bailed out the perpetrators instead of the victims of the collapsed housing bubble to the utter silence of US liberals. “The increase in the military budget under Trump – the increase – is larger than the entire Russian military budget.” The US infrastructure is rated D, the lowest ranking possible from the American Society of Civil Engineers. If they ranked it any lower, they’d run the risk of being called uncivil engineers. After Carter, the working class was handed over to the Republicans. Before the mid-1970’s, “the Republican Party had been almost completely pro-choice.” Reagan, Bush Senior and Goldwater were all pro-choice. Fat chance any Republican today would tell you that. Abortion became a wedge issue not for moral reasons but to get votes.
Those who talk about Russian interference in US elections won’t mention the US not only controlling elections in other countries (including Russia) but also the US overthrowing governments we disagree with, or punishing those which voted the wrong way. US hypocrisy souffle, is still a delicacy in DC. The US threw so much money behind Yeltsin that he won the election; it’s not even secret and the US is proud of doing that. In the 1920’s, Germany was the height of Western Civilization, yet ten years later it was the nadir. The United States has “been the most secure country in the world since the War of 1812, but it’s probably one of the most frightened countries in the world. It’s very easy to arouse the population to extreme fear. We’ve got to stop Saddam before he kills us.”
Saddam ally Reagan blocked Congress from looking critically after Saddam gassed Kurds in Northern Iraq. Magicians don’t want Muggles looking too closely at how tricks are done. Later on, the US feigned outrage at these same attacks, in order to attack Iraq. What the right calls socialism today is New Deal liberalism; perhaps hotels today should have dictionaries instead of Bibles. Beat down valid major voting issues with scare tactics; works like a charm. In Reagan’s day, a Gallup poll showed that 70 percent of the US favored an amendment that guaranteed health care. “You can travel around the West Bank (Israel) on superhighways and not even know that there is a Palestinian in existence. Farmers are separated from their fields and so on. A very systematic policy.” A one state solution in Israel means Israel goes out of existence, as it would be a Palestinian majority state.
The Republican problem with the US Post Office is clear; it helps the majority; you can’t have that. “We don’t want people to believe that a government institution can do something for them.” Deregulation is a no-brainer, who lives near the most polluting industries? The poor and people of color of course. Why should Republicans care about the poor and people of color? Republican leaders throw evangelicals crumbs because they know evangelicals are a whopping 25% of the US population, and they dress up nicely on Easter. Britain drew Iraq’s borders after WWI so that Britain, not Turkey (the former Ottoman Empire), could control the oil. Kuwait was carved so that Britain had easy access to the Gulf. “Syria, Lebanon, Palestine – all have borders drawn French and British imperialists for their interests. All over Africa, you see straight lines. Why? The imperial powers were destroying Africa in their interests. Hideous atrocities.”
Note: in the US Senate, Wyoming (population 500,000) has the same number of Senators as California (population 39,000,000). This is why Republicans focus on controlling small states. “No country is capitalist. A capitalist society would self-destruct so quickly it couldn’t exist. What’s called capitalism is actually a kind of state capitalism.” It’s not about defunding the police but removing certain services from them like “domestic disputes, mental health problems, lost dogs or drug overdoses” What do you do on immigration? “Eliminate the conditions from which they are fleeing.” Read the long history of US assault on Latin and Central America.
Obama and Hillary Clinton supported the illegal ouster of “the mildly reformist government of Manuel Zelaya” and installation of a military dictatorship. How many US liberals calling Putin a dictator EVER complained about the US approved dictatorship that replaced Zelaya? Of course, Obama, and Hillary didn’t call it a military coup because if they did, they have to stop funding the dictatorship. In fairness, Europe also has a heartless policy of stopping immigration (from Africa and the Middle East). Whites fearing contamination. It’s okay when it’s about laundry but Jeez Louise… Obama upgraded the stolen island of Diego Garcia to a nuclear military base which “prevents the implementation of the African nuclear weapons-free zone.” And you can’t have a Pacific nuclear weapons-free zone because the US enjoys storing them also on Guam and in Japanese harbors.
Two Noam comments no liberal will post on Facebook: First, The US is so afraid of the power of the International Criminal Court that the GW Bush administration passed an act that “grants the US president the right to use military force to rescue any US citizen who is brought to the Hague for trial by any international tribunal. Gee, I wonder why Noam keeps calling the US the world’s biggest rogue state? Second, The US took forty years to sign the Genocide Convention, and when it did, it demanded the reservation that the Convention excluded the United States. You heard that right, “the United States formally claims that it has the right to commit genocide. And on those grounds, it was exempted from the World Court hearings on the bombing of Serbia.” Give me a progressive any day over a liberal. Famed author Jack London was a liberal; he wrote in “The Unparalleled Invasion” that “the United States should carry out bacteriological warfare and wipe out the Chinese to prevent them from attacking us.” Hold on, Jack; wait until the US gets exempted from genocide claims legally before you too get shamefully war crime-y on us!
Yes, China is violating international law in the South China Sea, but the US can’t complain when it “has not even accepted the rule of international law.” The Chinese remember what US liberals never learned, that Hong Kong was stolen by Britain and China was humiliated for 100 years by British “savagery and violence” and imposed narcotrafficking (opium anyone?). FDR’s grandfather “made a killing in the China trade by narcotrafficking.” Note that when liberals complain about China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, they never mention that there are 2,000,000 in Gaza treated much worse. Ed Herman used to say there are “worthy and unworthy victims”. Scumbags focus on the worthy victims and ignore the unworthy ones.
China is more developed than India now because China implemented rural development programs in the Maoist years. Noam says, even if you included the China Famine, China still saved 100 million people. Noam concludes, “We should be condemning their crimes. They should be condemning our crimes. We should be condemning our own crimes and doing something about them – not just condemning.” Noam thinks the “empirical basis” the Black Book of Communism is “pretty weak” and completely ignores that China saved 100 million. Noam says, after 1979, China moved into state capitalist mode (from exactly what, he doesn’t say).
Mao tried to work with the US in the late 40’s, but the US preferred (and personally enriched) the “quasi-fascist Chiang Kai-Shek regime which didn’t want to fight the Japanese.” Mao tried to cooperate with Chiang because Mao’s forces were in the northwest, but “Chiang wouldn’t do it.” Chiang wanted all the money flooding in to be used against Mao, once the war ended. “You can take a high-speed train from Beijing to Kazakhstan, but you can’t take one from New York to Washington. The United States is in some respects a third-world country.” The Chinese are funding the port at Gwadar in Pakistan to “give China access to Africa and Europe.”
The US supports Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara to better secure access to its phosphates. Noam’s favorite philosopher is David Hume because he tells you clearly that the few control the many only as long as “the people consent and subordinate themselves.” John Stuart Mill was a nasty piece of work – fine with conquering and subduing – and yet he was still no right-winger. Rumsfeld and Cheney invaded Afghanistan with zero strategic objective. “In Afghanistan, nothing was achieved. What we are actually doing is holding on to their funds, which happen to be in the New York banks, and not giving them back.” A million Afghanis facing starvation today and the US keeps their own money away – ah, US vaunted Freedom and Liberty – to take yours.
When 6,000 US soldiers invaded Grenada to take on 40 Cuban construction workers, did you know the US was already permitted to enter, but they invaded anyway for the PR value? Or that 2,000 more medals were handed out than soldiers deployed? A few hundred Marines had just been killed in Lebanon and Reagan needed a scary distraction, and 40 Cubans armed with packed sandwiches and hammers was the obvious choice. It is so thoughtful that the US finally pulled out of Afghanistan so that China can now intelligently switch it from opium production to mineral export where the real money is.
What we are facing now is the end of US Democracy - the US turning into a proto-fascist state when Republicans return to power. Noam says Tucker Carlson was right when he said whatever you think of Putin, he is not trying to conquer Europe or even all of Ukraine – he’s trying to protect his borders from an obvious threat. The China threat is that China doesn’t act subordinate to, or act intimidated by the US - and that is unacceptable. Every year the entire UN votes (184 to 2) against the Cuba sanctions and blockade, and only two countries dare to disagree with the world, and both are rogue states, the US and its boytoy Israel. Yet another great book by Noam.
December 25, 2022
This should be required reading. Noam is always spot on and spares NO ONE.
September 17, 2023
The crisis consist precisely in the fact of the old is dying and the new can not be born.
Airy of problems, moral problems.
Pessimism of the intellect,
Optimism of the will.
Notes on the resistance.
The republicans think democrats are elite paedophile rings and homosexual sympathizers.
That is how the republicans lit opposition but the left and right is not against each other it is a one party government system both work as one. That anybody saying other wise is feeble minded.
That society is measure by post secondary, that’s how everything gets even on the pendulum in society.
Some would appreciate an over elite class of educated people. More educated the better society is run.
But reading levels are dangerously low in America.
So much that people get there news for lip-synchronicity of politics stuttering. And they make so realistic that often people can’t tell that it’s a lie that propaganda usual trait is it does not usually tell a lie.
I think many could conclude it’s hard to afford having children. That people have to be paid less or people have to stop spending.
No one talks of the 250 times a ceo makes compare to a worker. The 5-7 seconds what a ceo makes to a workers full 8-12 hours. Does any one think that a ceo does 5-7 seconds of work what an 8-12 hour worker does?!?!?
A CEO makes $2000-$3000 in about 5-7 seconds in his work that’s what a worker makes in a 8-12 hour shift for the month
Airy of problems, moral problems.
Pessimism of the intellect,
Optimism of the will.
Notes on the resistance.
The republicans think democrats are elite paedophile rings and homosexual sympathizers.
That is how the republicans lit opposition but the left and right is not against each other it is a one party government system both work as one. That anybody saying other wise is feeble minded.
That society is measure by post secondary, that’s how everything gets even on the pendulum in society.
Some would appreciate an over elite class of educated people. More educated the better society is run.
But reading levels are dangerously low in America.
So much that people get there news for lip-synchronicity of politics stuttering. And they make so realistic that often people can’t tell that it’s a lie that propaganda usual trait is it does not usually tell a lie.
I think many could conclude it’s hard to afford having children. That people have to be paid less or people have to stop spending.
No one talks of the 250 times a ceo makes compare to a worker. The 5-7 seconds what a ceo makes to a workers full 8-12 hours. Does any one think that a ceo does 5-7 seconds of work what an 8-12 hour worker does?!?!?
A CEO makes $2000-$3000 in about 5-7 seconds in his work that’s what a worker makes in a 8-12 hour shift for the month
September 23, 2022
Firstly, I was blessed with a slightly early copy by ordering from my local bookstore, and for that I am extremely appreciative.
Secondly, the book itself. I’ve read quite a bit of Noam in recent years, and he seemingly has two kinds of books, one being a collection of transcribed interviews, such as this one and The Precipice with C. J. Polychroniou, and books collected from his and others lessons or organized thoughts such as Consequences of Capitalism with Marv Waterstone and Manufacturing Consent with Edward Herman. The latter to me are the solid, straight-and-narrow Chomsky and the like, and should be your first introductions to him and his thoughts. The former, like this book, are seemingly further reading, and largely depend on the questions from the interviewer. If anything, Noam can come off as a broken record in these ‘further reading’ books, which can be good to cement an event in your mind, but can sometimes make the book drag.
Unfortunately, I would say the title is slightly misleading. In this book is no recommendation on resistance other than organized education towards the later chapters to combat ignorance and propaganda, but that seems more like bolstering our own rather than actively resisting corporate power and other opponents mentioned like ALEC at the state level. This was slightly disappointing, as I was looking forward to hearing something that may have been left out of Consequences of Capitalism, something that I even emailed Noam himself about. In general, I asked him what would you do? What would you do at my age, to resist the opponents of humanity, the masters of mankind? The reason I gave this book 5 stars is because it was a broader explanation of what his short reply said, to quote “Try to find the kinds of issues and projects that are within my competence and and my reach, and that are of significance, and then plow ahead as best I can. In cooperation with others as much as possible. The only way thats ever been found to help make a better world.”
I look forward to many more works by Author/Activist Chomsky.
Secondly, the book itself. I’ve read quite a bit of Noam in recent years, and he seemingly has two kinds of books, one being a collection of transcribed interviews, such as this one and The Precipice with C. J. Polychroniou, and books collected from his and others lessons or organized thoughts such as Consequences of Capitalism with Marv Waterstone and Manufacturing Consent with Edward Herman. The latter to me are the solid, straight-and-narrow Chomsky and the like, and should be your first introductions to him and his thoughts. The former, like this book, are seemingly further reading, and largely depend on the questions from the interviewer. If anything, Noam can come off as a broken record in these ‘further reading’ books, which can be good to cement an event in your mind, but can sometimes make the book drag.
Unfortunately, I would say the title is slightly misleading. In this book is no recommendation on resistance other than organized education towards the later chapters to combat ignorance and propaganda, but that seems more like bolstering our own rather than actively resisting corporate power and other opponents mentioned like ALEC at the state level. This was slightly disappointing, as I was looking forward to hearing something that may have been left out of Consequences of Capitalism, something that I even emailed Noam himself about. In general, I asked him what would you do? What would you do at my age, to resist the opponents of humanity, the masters of mankind? The reason I gave this book 5 stars is because it was a broader explanation of what his short reply said, to quote “Try to find the kinds of issues and projects that are within my competence and and my reach, and that are of significance, and then plow ahead as best I can. In cooperation with others as much as possible. The only way thats ever been found to help make a better world.”
I look forward to many more works by Author/Activist Chomsky.
April 23, 2025
Rage inducing if you’re up for that sort of thing.
July 5, 2025
A very approachable reading of global politics, especially US politics, and still very relevant to what’s happening across the world even if the book is 3 years old — which probably doesn’t say a lot about the state of the world. What I love about Chomsky is his ability to make calls to action and to reinforce (my) optimism of the will while still grounding it in critical social theory.
I believe another review mentioned this, but this was a very powerful reminding of the level of destruction going on across the world, how urgent the climate crisis has become and the importance of education as part of resistance movements. A few ideas have stuck with me:
1. When discussing the climate crisis, Barsamaian asks Chomsky whether it is so urgent that we should ally with folks who believe in climate change, but for example, do not support (e.g.) women’s rights labor movements (etc). Chomsky says yes - that’s how urgent the climate crisis is. But how do we do this when we, many of us, do not have the skills to engage in dialogue across what divides us to find what we have in common to work towards that? And would it be very privileged to champion this when people’s beliefs may deny my own existence?
2. Organization as a powerful means of activism, but must come coupled with education, otherwise it can be perceived as making statements and can be alienating for the ones we are hoping to reach with our activism. Likewise, the importance of a free, independent or alternative media that ensures that activists, and their ideas, are not silenced.
3. Published in 2022, COVID-19 and vaccines are widely discussed across the interviews - but also the selfishness of Global Minority/North countries in stockpiling vaccines, patenting vaccines, and prevent Global Majority/South countries from accessing them. I already knew this but the reminder feels unforgivable.
Ultimately, this was a very powerful read with many reminders that there are always opportunities, always ways out of crises and many more ways for dealing with the crises that we’re facing than what we may imagine.
I believe another review mentioned this, but this was a very powerful reminding of the level of destruction going on across the world, how urgent the climate crisis has become and the importance of education as part of resistance movements. A few ideas have stuck with me:
1. When discussing the climate crisis, Barsamaian asks Chomsky whether it is so urgent that we should ally with folks who believe in climate change, but for example, do not support (e.g.) women’s rights labor movements (etc). Chomsky says yes - that’s how urgent the climate crisis is. But how do we do this when we, many of us, do not have the skills to engage in dialogue across what divides us to find what we have in common to work towards that? And would it be very privileged to champion this when people’s beliefs may deny my own existence?
2. Organization as a powerful means of activism, but must come coupled with education, otherwise it can be perceived as making statements and can be alienating for the ones we are hoping to reach with our activism. Likewise, the importance of a free, independent or alternative media that ensures that activists, and their ideas, are not silenced.
3. Published in 2022, COVID-19 and vaccines are widely discussed across the interviews - but also the selfishness of Global Minority/North countries in stockpiling vaccines, patenting vaccines, and prevent Global Majority/South countries from accessing them. I already knew this but the reminder feels unforgivable.
Ultimately, this was a very powerful read with many reminders that there are always opportunities, always ways out of crises and many more ways for dealing with the crises that we’re facing than what we may imagine.
February 6, 2024
4
A much more digestible Chomsky, as it covers recent events of the past few years. I found it very insightful and enjoyed the range of topics covered. He really dived into the shifts of the political parties in the last few decades and where these changes have stemmed from. It really outlines the ways in which both parties have turned their backs on the working-class people. He also gives insight on the topics of crumbling infrastructure of the U.S., the environmental crisis, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, etc. I also found it very interesting the ways in which the U.S. interacts with foreign countries by having our hands in foreign elections, squashing governments that don’t align with our ideals, and turning a blind eye to infringements of International Law to further our alliances. The hypocrisy is real. He also talks about how the American people are slipping into a state of complacency on so many of these issues, which could ultimately be our downfall. Dismal stuff but definitely an interesting read!
A much more digestible Chomsky, as it covers recent events of the past few years. I found it very insightful and enjoyed the range of topics covered. He really dived into the shifts of the political parties in the last few decades and where these changes have stemmed from. It really outlines the ways in which both parties have turned their backs on the working-class people. He also gives insight on the topics of crumbling infrastructure of the U.S., the environmental crisis, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, etc. I also found it very interesting the ways in which the U.S. interacts with foreign countries by having our hands in foreign elections, squashing governments that don’t align with our ideals, and turning a blind eye to infringements of International Law to further our alliances. The hypocrisy is real. He also talks about how the American people are slipping into a state of complacency on so many of these issues, which could ultimately be our downfall. Dismal stuff but definitely an interesting read!
July 21, 2023
I first heard about Noam Chomsky when reading through anarchist literature, so I know getting a book of his would be interesting.
This book has been a powerful reminder of the mass destruction going on in the world, and its been successful in making me feel indignant.What I appreciate most is that Chomsky is not making statements and calls to action from theory alone, but grounded in some of the biggest real threats to humanity such as nuclear war and the climate crisis.
But with these reminders he also maintains optimism. Hope that action can still be done in the little time we have left. I wish more was expanded on concrete actions on how we can get there but this does remind us why action must be taken in the first place.
This book has been a powerful reminder of the mass destruction going on in the world, and its been successful in making me feel indignant.What I appreciate most is that Chomsky is not making statements and calls to action from theory alone, but grounded in some of the biggest real threats to humanity such as nuclear war and the climate crisis.
But with these reminders he also maintains optimism. Hope that action can still be done in the little time we have left. I wish more was expanded on concrete actions on how we can get there but this does remind us why action must be taken in the first place.
February 5, 2023
"...Power is based on consent, but beneath that consent there is a current of people saying -I don't really want this, I don't wanna be ruled by a master- and it doesn't take much for that to break through. And when it does, you have the kinds of changes that really make the society move forward. So that 'Old Mole' is burrowing in there."
"We're in a period when internationalism is in the forefront. The pandemic, global warming, these are international issues. Addressing them has to be done together."
Noam Chomsky
"We're in a period when internationalism is in the forefront. The pandemic, global warming, these are international issues. Addressing them has to be done together."
Noam Chomsky
May 6, 2025
You might disagree with him but you gotta admire the man. Fearlessly exposing what he thought to be the stupidity and tyranny of right wing politics. His command of the facts is amazing, especially that he is already 90+, to think that this old man used to debate Foucault and Foucault died in 1984. Here he is in early 2020s and still sharp. Although sometimes he tends to exaggerate and sees the world as clusters of conspiracies, so you have to take it with a grain of salt.
November 13, 2025
borderline deprimerende å høre hvor spot on han er på sine predictions år senere 🥲
October 11, 2022
As always, Barsanian’s interviews with Chomsky are the best way to keep up with what’s happening with we humans… (who are still in nuclear, environmental, and neoliberal economic edge-of-a-cliff peril.) Also, I was worried about Noam after his first wife died but he has remarried and moved to Arizona and seems rather peppy at 93 so hopefully he will stick around a bit longer.
November 6, 2024
If I could give this 4.5 stars I could, he has such awesome wise takes which will hold for many years.
This is a series of interviews with Noam Chomsky from 2020, so a bit outdated, but also telling about the state of the present. I hope to be like this man one day — he’s 94 and still pushing the boundaries of the American future.
This is a series of interviews with Noam Chomsky from 2020, so a bit outdated, but also telling about the state of the present. I hope to be like this man one day — he’s 94 and still pushing the boundaries of the American future.
February 17, 2023
A Wake Up call
The Sad reality of our times. Political
corruption and Corporate Greed. This book is a call to Wake Up ! They are destroying our only planet.
The Sad reality of our times. Political
corruption and Corporate Greed. This book is a call to Wake Up ! They are destroying our only planet.
April 3, 2023
You may not always agree with him, but Chomsky calls it as he sees it without pulling punches which is always refreshing.
December 20, 2023
العنوان خادع ولا جديد في الكتاب بالذات اذا قرأت ل تشومسكي من قبل او سمعت لقاءاته
February 20, 2025
This book is a collection of transcripts from lectures and talks from 2019-2021. I read this book in 2024-2025.
My favourite pages are 129-132. Amazing articulation of political science and the founding players.
His Covid and vaccine opinions I don’t care for as much. Some of his Covid opinions aged like cheese, because mRNA vaccines are not the holy grail after all, and were actually quite destructive.
His opinions on the Middle East, Israel, Europe, Russia and Ukraine aged like fine wine. He was very spot on with his analysis of political tensions, and the predictions he made on both Russias and Israels war situations were almost too spot on.
This was my first Noam Chomsky book. He is a master of language, has an incredible memory, and his opinions are mostly based in truth and science.
Some of his Trump opinions are very politically and emotionally charged. But I can’t blame him for that
My favourite pages are 129-132. Amazing articulation of political science and the founding players.
His Covid and vaccine opinions I don’t care for as much. Some of his Covid opinions aged like cheese, because mRNA vaccines are not the holy grail after all, and were actually quite destructive.
His opinions on the Middle East, Israel, Europe, Russia and Ukraine aged like fine wine. He was very spot on with his analysis of political tensions, and the predictions he made on both Russias and Israels war situations were almost too spot on.
This was my first Noam Chomsky book. He is a master of language, has an incredible memory, and his opinions are mostly based in truth and science.
Some of his Trump opinions are very politically and emotionally charged. But I can’t blame him for that
July 3, 2025
As with most of Chomsky, this book is an interview put into book form with Noam answering questions .... except no one seems to have told him that. His prophetic, analytical and deeply intellectual answers blew my mind. But then again, ever since a group of us sat huddled around him in Harvard Square, with our coffee getting cold, listening to Chomsky pontificate after Manufacturing Consent was on fire worldwide, I've always respected the man. Regardless of politics or opinion, he's one of the smartest intellectuals of the last 100 years. Along with prolific interviews, documentaries and his writings, the philosophical musings of Noam Chomsky shall be with us in perpetuity. For that I am grateful.
November 8, 2025
"الديمقراطية الليبرالية وحقوق الإنسان وحرية التعبير، أدوات سياسية للتعمية على السياسات الغربية. "
"المعرفة وحدها لا تكفي. ميزة المعرفة موجودة والفهم موجود ولكن ليس بالكامل، ولكن ينبغي البناء على ما نعرف. ينبغي على أحد ما أن يتصرف ليهدي الآخرين."
ملاحظات حول المقاومة
يتكلم الكتاب عن الوجه الآخر للغرب المدافع عن الحريات ( كما يدعي) وعن سياسة احزاب اليمين بالعالم وسياسة امريكا في التعمل مع الدول وفق مصلحتها الخاصة
الكتاب مكتوب بطريقة سهلة للفهم
استمتعت بالكتاب رغم الأخطاء الإملائية الكثيرة
"إذن ماذا عن الموضوعية؟ إنها فكرة مضحكة. بادئ ذي بدء، نحن لا ينبغي أن نتظاهر بأننا مجرد مراقبين محايدين. كل إنسان لديه وجهة نظر. إذا لم تكن لديك وجهة نظر عما يجري حولك، فأنت لست إنسانا وليس لدماغك وظيفة ."
"المعرفة وحدها لا تكفي. ميزة المعرفة موجودة والفهم موجود ولكن ليس بالكامل، ولكن ينبغي البناء على ما نعرف. ينبغي على أحد ما أن يتصرف ليهدي الآخرين."
ملاحظات حول المقاومة
يتكلم الكتاب عن الوجه الآخر للغرب المدافع عن الحريات ( كما يدعي) وعن سياسة احزاب اليمين بالعالم وسياسة امريكا في التعمل مع الدول وفق مصلحتها الخاصة
الكتاب مكتوب بطريقة سهلة للفهم
استمتعت بالكتاب رغم الأخطاء الإملائية الكثيرة
"إذن ماذا عن الموضوعية؟ إنها فكرة مضحكة. بادئ ذي بدء، نحن لا ينبغي أن نتظاهر بأننا مجرد مراقبين محايدين. كل إنسان لديه وجهة نظر. إذا لم تكن لديك وجهة نظر عما يجري حولك، فأنت لست إنسانا وليس لدماغك وظيفة ."
January 13, 2024
Love Chomsky, the first half of the book was extremely engaging — started to get repetitive towards the end, but still took away so much from this book. Written in conversation format (Q&A) which makes it easily digestible.
One tidbit: Chomsky’s language is really sharp, firm, and non-negotiable. You get the sense that the only way of seeing things is the way he sees things. He frequently uses phrases like “Of course,” “obviously,” etc. which shuts down many opportunities for discourse. Luckily, I happen to agree with most of his views, but I can see how someone who strongly disagreed with Chomsky would hurl lol
One tidbit: Chomsky’s language is really sharp, firm, and non-negotiable. You get the sense that the only way of seeing things is the way he sees things. He frequently uses phrases like “Of course,” “obviously,” etc. which shuts down many opportunities for discourse. Luckily, I happen to agree with most of his views, but I can see how someone who strongly disagreed with Chomsky would hurl lol
February 7, 2024
I prefer the books that Chomsky writes on his own (ie Hopes and Prospects, Failed States) but the periodic publication of books such as this one, which are collections of interviews with the man, conducted over time, are an acceptable substitute.
This book is comprised of interviews conducted from May of 2019 to December of 2021. A vast number of issues are covered and Chomsky is as illuminating and provocative as always. He makes particularly trenchant observations regarding Gaza and the Trump administration that are quite prescient given what would happen on January 6, 2021 and what currently goes on in Gaza.
This book is comprised of interviews conducted from May of 2019 to December of 2021. A vast number of issues are covered and Chomsky is as illuminating and provocative as always. He makes particularly trenchant observations regarding Gaza and the Trump administration that are quite prescient given what would happen on January 6, 2021 and what currently goes on in Gaza.
June 4, 2023
In this day where they are removing books off the shelves this is one or any of Chomsky books should be front and steady. More people need to read this book to open their minds and have them become aware as to what is really going on. A lot of people really don't give a good look to their country, laws and Washington, DC. At times I want to scream and say wake up America...become aware of the lies, tricks and kissing up to Corporate America and not serve the people!! A great book just like the others.
February 14, 2025
Chomsky is interesting. Sometimes I feel like he's way far left and I can't keep up. Other times, I feel like he's not left enough. There was a bit of both for me in this particular book. It definitely wasn't a case of me listening and hearing my thoughts being echoed back to me though. Chomsky had me really thinking deep about some critical issues in here which is his goal of course.
I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about recent history/politics and who might be looking to build a greater understanding of the major issues of our time.
I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about recent history/politics and who might be looking to build a greater understanding of the major issues of our time.
July 30, 2025
While there are some excellent facts and insights in this and Chomsky always impresses with his values, intellect, and ability to articulate his views, I didn’t get as much out of this as I hoped and it was fairly repetitive. There are several points he makes more than once across these collected interviews. If you are unfamiliar with the topics covered, you may find this book to be mind-expanding; if you already share his concerns and politics, you won’t learn much from this (though it may be comforting to hear him say better what you’d like to say yourself).
July 13, 2025
fair criticisms. I picked this up expecting a full barrage of attacks on Trump (even though this was published in early 2022 and it's currently July 2025) and there were plenty of harsh words about the direction trump had already proven his administration was going. However, there were plenty of judgments and frank critiques of Biden, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, Bush, etc. This is definitely worth a read.
September 9, 2025
Nothing particularly earth-shattering here. A lot of Chomsky’s predictions were correct but also very obvious, given the state of affairs in America at the time of writing. Certainly required reading for the uninitiated and otherwise uninformed, but blisteringly obvious and repetitive for anyone reasonably educated in politics. Also, expected a bit more on the resistance side of things. Overall, just expected a bit more to chew on.
October 30, 2025
Wealth has become extremely highly concentrated. Right now, according to the latest figures, 0.1 percent of the population holds 20 percent of the country's wealth. The top 1 percent holds roughly 40 percent. Half the population has negative net worth, meaning debts outweigh assets. There has been stagnation for much of the workforce over the whole neoliberal period.
— Noam Chomsky & David Barsamian / Notes on Resistance
— Noam Chomsky & David Barsamian / Notes on Resistance
October 24, 2022
Some prescient interviews. As always, documented insights into how the world works and the woeful drift towards authoritarianism and environmental apocalypse. But also some words on hope, perseverance, and tactics based on education, outreach and communality towards a common good.
May 8, 2023
Lots of topics covered relating to US politics and the government's place as an actor in the world, and what might be the best paths forward to make some changes. Predictions relating to Trump's actions surrounding Covid and the 2020 election were accurate.
September 5, 2023
Quite fascinating and very easily accessible. Due to its nature (a series of interviews) it does get to be a bit repetitive but as an intro and something to start you thinking, it’s really an interesting read.
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