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cebolla's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I've been arrested quite a few times in my life; some political, some not so political, and some in the middle. One time I even took my case to trial, just to find another way to confirm my bliefs that the US legal system is a sham. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary and consistent breaking of rules by the prosecutor (to which the judge simply instructed the jury to pretend it didn't happen), me and my co-defendants were found guilty after less than 15 minutes of deliberations. Still, I enjoyed getting called as a witness and sparing with the prosector, and—because the judge wouldn't let me read a statement—blurting random stuff out in order to cause a disturbance. A co-defendant from that case, and one from another case bought me this book, which makes me even more excited to read it.
Defiance is full of statements given by anarchists who were on trial for various “crimes,” from the late 19th century up until just a few years ago; from Europe to the US. Some of them were people I've heard of who were on trial for events that I've read about, and some were rad folks who have been arrested in my lifetime. There are even a couple who I have exchagned letters with while they were being held captive. None of them felt any remorse for the things they were charged with. All of them were different levels of inspiring with their words.
In my experience there are two main types of anarchist writing: there are the writings that light a fire under asses, that lay out the way things are and the way they should be in such a clear, concise way that one can't help but be charmed; and there is the heavy, dense theory that also has a place on radical bookshelves, but is a tad bit less accesible. Defiance is the former, for sure. For the past ten days I've woken up every morning and allowed the words of dozens of bad ass human beings slide into my psyche like my first cup of coffee slides down my throat, and like the coffee it got my days started in the best possible ways.
If I have to pick something out that I didn't love, it would probably be the fact that a lot of them went into too much detail about their crimes. It's like they forgot they were in a courtroom. But, hey, who am I to judge? I'm sure most people featured in this book would have a lot of critisisms about the way I handled my trial.
annagoldberg's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this collection. It provides a mosaic of stories and testimonies of people all united by common aspirations for a better world, even as they are not united by a common ideology. I’m impressed by the work of the translators as well. Some editorial issues which didn’t appear to be errors from the original speeches did pop up from time to time. Would highly recommend.
samohtj's review against another edition
4.5
What's most striking about this collection is just how little the events and sentiments of the various authors differ over the course of 140-some years. There is still much work to be done.
These statements are an encouraging and emboldening experience for anyone who would deny the oppressor in their own life. Full of excellent quotes and clear demonstrations of core anarchist ideas, a reminder of what we're really fighting for.
"When they attack in the name of Law, we will retaliate in the name of Liberty."
These statements are an encouraging and emboldening experience for anyone who would deny the oppressor in their own life. Full of excellent quotes and clear demonstrations of core anarchist ideas, a reminder of what we're really fighting for.
"When they attack in the name of Law, we will retaliate in the name of Liberty."
mad_taylh's review
5.0
"'I would prefer to live in peace but, when I looked around me, I couldn't find it anywhere.'" (Ann Hansen)