No Shortcuts

Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age

By: Jane F. McAlevey

Narrated by: Pam Ward

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The crisis of the progressive movement is so evident that nothing less than a fundamental rethinking of its basic assumptions is required. Today's progressives now work for professional organizations more comfortable with the inside game in Washington, DC (and capitols throughout the West), where they are outmatched and outspent by corporate interests.

In No Shortcuts, Jane McAlevey argues that progressives can win, but lack the organized power to enact significant change, to outlast their bosses in labor fights, and to hold elected leaders accountable. Drawing upon her experience as a scholar and longtime organizer in the student, environmental, and labor movements, McAlevey examines cases from labor unions and social movements to pinpoint the factors that helped them succeed - or fail - to accomplish their intended goals.

McAlevey makes a compelling case that the great social movements of previous eras gained their power from mass organizing, a strategy today's progressives have mostly abandoned in favor of shallow mobilization or advocacy. She ultimately concludes that, in order to win, progressive movements need strong unions built from bottom-up organizing strategies that place the power for change in the hands of workers and ordinary people at the community level.

©2016 Oxford University Press (P)2019 Tantor

An excellent book on organizing history and strategies

This is an engaging and a very informative book on organizing history, as well as an analysis of historical and current approaches to organizing and mobilizing. The author distinguishes between the two models, and makes a compelling case for the grass roots organizing and the power of the people. This book is a must for anyone interested in labour dynamics or organizing.

great

compelling case studies and conclusions for labor in the 21st century. must read for people looking at what comes next.

Solidarity for the left

This is a blueprint for the left on how to maintain power and mobilize and organized.

Inspiring

I’ll be shoving this book under the nose of every “union leader” I encounter.
The issues described hit so close to home in my own union, that it seems to have been written while speaking directly to us.

Practical Optimism in a World Gone Sideways

Jane McAlevey's years of organizing experience are transformed into practical advice for organizers. No Shortcuts is part instruction manual and part manifesto, reminding us that movements are made up not of idealistic activists but of "ordinary people" using the power of collective action.

Great narration, compelling stories

What made this listen particularly compelling was the narration, which really animated the stories of worker struggles outlined in this books. I wish more counter arguments were addressed and a few more data points were given, but otherwise a really good listen.

Best Book for Organizers

Of all the leftist works published in the last few years, none approach the practical importance of this work. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in making change happen.