How the World Works

By: Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian - interviewer, Arthur Naiman - editor

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

According to The New York Times, Noam Chomsky is "arguably the most important intellectual alive." But he isn't easy to read...or at least he wasn't until these books came along. Made up of intensively edited speeches and interviews, they offer something not found anywhere else: pure Chomsky, with every dazzling idea and penetrating insight intact, delivered in clear, accessible, listener-friendly prose.

Published as four short books in the famous Real Story series - What Uncle Sam Really Wants; The Prosperous Few and the Restless Many; Secrets, Lies and Democracy; and The Common Good - they've collectively sold almost 600,000 copies. And they continue to sell year after year after year because Chomsky's ideas become, if anything, more relevant as time goes by. For example, 20 years ago, he pointed out that "in 1970, about 90% of international capital was used for trade and long-term investment - more or less productive things - and 10% for speculation. By 1990, those figures had reversed." As we know, speculation continued to increase exponentially. We're paying the price now for not heeding him them.

©1986, 2011 Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian, and Arthur Naiman (P)2020 Tantor

Illumination for the bewildered herd!

If everyone read this book the world would not be as it is. It may well be more just and fair!

Eye-opening

Extremely revelatory. This book is definitely a must-read, and the audiobook is very well done.

great book 📖

A good listen that never stood still for too long and yet is filled with relevant and little known information that I could follow. I can't wait to listen to it again.

How relevant it is today.

I could sometimes change the name of a politician or country and imagine he was talking about current times. He talked about current events even those his words were written decades ago.

Very heavy political commentary

Very thought provoking yet highly opinionated and sometimes sarcastic commentary on America. I learned a lot. But I was also glad when it was over because it was heavy and had a negative effect on my mood.

Insightful Content

This book, like most Chomsky books, is insightful. In fact it is esseantial reading, imho.

Inspiring

I wanted to honor Noam Chomsky because he is now disabled. As a life long activist this book was a gift to me. It's full of important historical facts, examples to copy and a can do attitude about building a way free of corporate domination of our media, democracy, economy and culture. Now it's up to us let's do it!

As relevant in 2023 as it was originally

will read again and again. Great place to start if you don’t know where to dive into Chomsky

Leftist Beginners Guide

Great source of information regarding capitalist class conflict with the rest of the world and what we can do.

The Canaries Call

There is little of the fury at the government that was seen back in the 1960’s - but the battle for the soul of democracy is no less fierce.