Tag Archives: social criticism

Weapons of Satire

Posted on June 16, 2010 by smellincoffee

Weapons of Satire: Anti-Imperialist Writings on the American-Phillipine War© 1992 Mark Twain; edited by Jim Zwick.256 pages Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword; He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger’s wealth is … Continue reading →

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The Iron Heel

Posted on May 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Iron Heel© 1907 Jack London354 pages (Mysteriously, my public library’s 1907 copy of this book has survived a century of use, although its tattered pages testify that the years have been harsh on it. If it ever had a … Continue reading →

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The Road to Wigan Pier

Posted on March 21, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Road to Wigan Pier© 1937 George Orwell191 pages, including forward for members of the Left Book Club.  (My own copy: I adore tattered old paperbacks.)        I read this primarily for a European history class taught by … Continue reading →

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Letter from the Birmingham Jail

Posted on March 17, 2010 by smellincoffee

Letter from the Birmingham Jail © 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. 35 pages Don’t say it can’t be done: The battle’s just begun Take it from Doctor King, You too can learn to sing, So — drop the gun! (Pete … Continue reading →

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The Geography of Nowhere

Posted on February 24, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Geography of Nowhere: the Rise and Decline of America’s Man-Made Landscape© 1993 James Howard Kunstler303 pages Little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky-tacky Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same There’s a green one, … Continue reading →

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A Power Governments Cannot Suppress

Posted on February 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

A Power Governments Cannot Suppress © 2007 Howard Zinn 293 pages This year I have become convincted that democracy is not something that happens at the ballot-box but on the streets. It consists in mass movements forcing the institutions that … Continue reading →

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Red Emma Speaks

Posted on February 4, 2010 by smellincoffee

Red Emma Speaks: An Emma Goldman Reader© 1973, 1996 ed. Alix Kates Shulman464 pages           Emma Goldman was an incorrigible political activist and social critic during the Gilded Age, speaking out against nearly everything society held dear – the government, capitalism, … Continue reading →

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The Zinn Reader

Posted on November 21, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Zinn Reader© 1997 Howard Zinn668 pages When I pulled this book from the shelf, I did so with the intention of checking it out and reading it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I did not anticipate the book monopolizing my … Continue reading →

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The Consolations of Philosophy

Posted on October 11, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Consolations of Philosophy © 2000 Alain de Botton 278 pages A number of months ago, I stumbled by chance upon a fascinating television series called Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness. Host Alain de Botton addressed the everyday concerns of … Continue reading →

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In Praise of Slowness

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

In Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed © Carl Honoré 2004 310 pages I have been living philosophically for over a year now, and as time passes I am attracted more and more … Continue reading →

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