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cavaughan's reviews
296 reviews
Revolution by Russell Brand
2.0
It's difficult in ways to give this book even two stars, while at the same time I would like to give it three. Let's start with the good aspect of Brand's book. He's witty. Well, then he is Russell Brand, so you might have expected that. And his heart and mind (the jury's a little out on that latter) are in the right spot. If you haven't been following Russell lately, he's been somewhat of a firebrand (no pun intended) on the left. He's been championing the plight of the poor, the working class, the disillusioned, the oppressed. Accordingly, he's been spot on in his rants against the capitalist system, politicians, the rich.
The problems with the book, however, are that Russell meanders about at times without much of clear direction. Like an alzheimer patients loosing his way, but suddenly brought back to the moment of clarity only to loose it again. But worse, in my personal opinion, is that the revolution Brand proposes is one of the heart. Basically, his recipe, we might say, is that enough people will have to have a change of heart to peacefully reject the current system and thereby bring to fruition the future non-capitalist, non-exploitative society. This all sounds wonderful were it possible. But even Brand on multiple occasions in the book recognizes that the powers that be - the capitalists, their politicians, their armed forces - are not going to go quietly into extinction. That they will fight back. But somehow Brand believes that this will be magically overcome through love and compassion.
Nonetheless, the book might be a good read for the average person who is fed up with the system, but has no clue where to start. Brand's book could be a source of inspiration that another world is possible, so let's start making it so.
The problems with the book, however, are that Russell meanders about at times without much of clear direction. Like an alzheimer patients loosing his way, but suddenly brought back to the moment of clarity only to loose it again. But worse, in my personal opinion, is that the revolution Brand proposes is one of the heart. Basically, his recipe, we might say, is that enough people will have to have a change of heart to peacefully reject the current system and thereby bring to fruition the future non-capitalist, non-exploitative society. This all sounds wonderful were it possible. But even Brand on multiple occasions in the book recognizes that the powers that be - the capitalists, their politicians, their armed forces - are not going to go quietly into extinction. That they will fight back. But somehow Brand believes that this will be magically overcome through love and compassion.
Nonetheless, the book might be a good read for the average person who is fed up with the system, but has no clue where to start. Brand's book could be a source of inspiration that another world is possible, so let's start making it so.