A review by briancady413
No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age by Jane McAlevey

5.0

Important, insightful book on organizing unions, community groups and such. Jane McAlevey argues that only massive member-led organizing, not precision staff-led advocacy or mobilizing, can repair and rebuild our communities, nation and world. The book starts with an introduction worth reading; unlike many introductions, this one is integral to the book's message. The first chapter relays the history of the turn from 'organizing'(building member-led bodies) to 'mobilizing'(professionally-led bodies acting on worker's behalf) with particular attention to Saul Alinsky's role.
The last chapters of the book chronicle several different labor successes in a wide range of subcultures.