We’re happy to introduce Paige Nehls, an avid reader of feminist literature, who will be bringing us book reviews from time to time! Welcome, Paige!
Give Me Liberty: A Handbook For American Revolutionaries
Naomi Wolf, Author; Published: 2008 by Simon & Schuster Paperbacks; $13.95; 377 pages; ISBN-13: 9781416590569
A passionate and persuasive handbook that should be on the shelves of every American, Give Me Liberty by Naomi Wolf offers practical advice for how any and every American can reclaim America for themselves, the way the founding fathers would have wanted.
After venturing on a book tour and encountering numerous Americans who felt the country should be changed in some way, shape or form, but felt that they had no power in making those changes occur, Wolf became frustrated. She felt that the political system of the United States had become too exclusive to the people it was originally meant to include-everyday Americans. Thus Wolf set out to research how those everyday Americans, you and I, can become actively involved in the political process and instigate the changes in this country that we wish to see.
While Wolf can be a little too radical at times for comfort, I believe that is exactly what her purpose was in writing this book. She wants Americans to be scared that their civil liberties and rights are slowly but surely being taken away from them, because they are. This book is a call to action. We must all leave our comfort zones and never look back if we truly wish to make a better country and better world. Gone are the days of convincing yourself that being a registered voter is enough. We must delve back into history and reclaim the revolutionary mindset that was responsible for the creation of this country. We must stop comforting ourselves with the thought that if something really is a problem, somebody else, some politician, some celebrity, some activist, will do something about it. YOU must be that somebody else!
This book is a must read, and perhaps even a must own, for anybody who wishes to educate themselves about the state of the union. This book is divided into three sections with the third section being a how-to guide. It lists how to pressure legislators, start a grassroots movement, initiate a referendum and initiatives, run for office yourself, start your own non-profit, and much more. It also includes a background of the Constitution so readers can see for themselves where, explicitly, their rights come from – all stated in plain English.
This book was frightening at times, but mostly inspirational and hopeful. I recommend this to anyone and everyone, American or not. By the time you finish this book, you’ll be ready to march in the streets, full of knowledge and determination yelling “Give me liberty!”
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