Understanding Power

The Indispensable Chomsky

By: Noam Chomsky, John Schoeffel - editor, Peter R. Mitchell - editor

Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth

Length: 22 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A major new collection from "arguably the most important intellectual alive" (The New York Times). Noam Chomsky is universally accepted as one of the preeminent public intellectuals of the modern era. Over the past thirty years, broadly diverse audiences have gathered to attend his sold-out lectures. Now, in Understanding Power, Peter Mitchell and John Schoeffel have assembled the best of Chomsky's recent talks on the past, present, and future of the politics of power.

In a series of enlightening and wide-ranging discussions, all published here for the first time, Chomsky radically reinterprets the events of the past three decades, covering topics from foreign policy during Vietnam to the decline of welfare under the Clinton administration. And as he elucidates the connection between America's imperialistic foreign policy and the decline of domestic social services, Chomsky also discerns the necessary steps to take toward social change. With an eye to political activism and the media's role in popular struggle, as well as U.S. foreign and domestic policy, Understanding Power offers a sweeping critique of the world around us and is definitive Chomsky. Characterized by Chomsky's accessible and informative style, this is the ideal book for those new to his work as well as for those who have been listening for years.

©2002 Noam Chomsky, Peter Rounds Mitchell, and John Schoeffel (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Understanding Power Indeed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, in fact I already have several times. If you feel you need help understanding power, how the media plays people and how the USA control the world this book is illuminating. Better yet it's accessible, and if you need to check it's sources you can readily though it's website.

What about Robin Bloodworth’s performance did you like?

He gets how Noam talks I think, and really gets the points across. I rather enjoy listening to him, so much so I have been listening to the book a second time barely a week later which is unheard of for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, but it's so dense your best to take breaks so you can content with the material.

Any additional comments?

After listening to Understanding power, I recommend Dictators hand book as a companion. and I do suggest them in that order as Understanding power really informs on the hypothesis presented in The Dictator's Handbook.

Possible the best book I've read in years and certainty the best political book I've ever read.

Great production and summarization

Definately job well done in organizing all of these talks. Tip of the hat to the producers

The Most Important Book for Young Social Activists

This audio book was one that took long to finish, and it should have. not because it was actually long but because it was full of information that drove me to research more. This book provides so much information on the state of the U.S. and its imperialism. Any socialist or leftist young person should listen to this and keep it close to their ideals.

Highly Predictive of 2020

Noam called most features of our current political situation when describing what would happen if we didn't redirect our political organizing in the last two chapters of the book. It's excellent in this way, but also very emotionally taxing to process in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election.

Good luck everyone.

Interesting

A thorough explanation of intellectual confirmation bias. I Wonder if any of his views have changed at the root level today due to not standing the test of time?

Fantastic

I’ve listened to a lot of Chomsky, so wasn’t sure if this would be redundant to what I already read. This was my favorite so far, and I really liked everything else I listened to. This was really mind-opening! It should be a staple of all high schools.

Great Insight into Chomsky's Thinking

This audiobook gives great insight into Noam Chomsky's thinking and his take on many influential topics and conflicts of the 20th century. Furthermore, it can be used (and probably should be) as a starting point for some further research and reading, because he sometimes only briefly covers topics that require some preexisting knowledge. Lastly, Robin Bloodworth was a great choice as a narrator.

Excellent into to Chomsky

Worth a listening. Great ideas and the narrator was solid. I recommend it as a jumping off point.

So enlightening!

It covers so many topics. So enlightening! I liked the format of Q&A because you can listen anywhere in the book.

in-depth analysis of the foundation and driving force of power structure

There are lots of documented facts exposing the forces that drive the world we know.