About this item
Highlights
- "[A] much needed book...a compelling portrait of the Occupy movement...that capture[s] the spirit of the people involved, the crisis that gave Occupy birth, and the possibility of genuine change it represents.
- Author(s): Todd Gitlin
- 320 Pages
- Political Science, Political Process
Description
About the Book
Occupy Wall Street is the most dynamic phenomenon in progressive politics in more than 40 years. Bestselling social historian Gitlin offers the first narrative survey of the story and spirit of the movement--from its historic inspirations, to its inner tensions, to its prospects in the months and years to come.Book Synopsis
"[A] much needed book...a compelling portrait of the Occupy movement...that capture[s] the spirit of the people involved, the crisis that gave Occupy birth, and the possibility of genuine change it represents."
--Eric Foner, author of The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery
The Occupy Wall Street movement arose out of a widespread desire of ordinary Americans to change a political system in which the moneyed "1%" of the nation controls the workings of the government. In Occupy Nation, social historian Todd Gitlin--a former leader of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) who stood at the forefront of the birth of the New Left and the student protests of the 1960s and '70s--offers a unique overview of one of the most rapidly growing yet misunderstood social revolutions in modern history. Occupy Nation is a concise and incisive look at the Occupy movement at its pivotal moment, as it weighs its unexpected power and grapples with its future mission.
From the Back Cover
Occupy Wall Street is the most dynamic phenomenon in progressive politics in more than forty years. Its followers across the country transformed the national debate, galvanizing millions with its clarion call for economic justice: "We are the 99 percent." In Occupy Nation, bestselling social historian Todd Gitlin offers the first narrative survey of the movement--from its historic inspirations, to its inner tensions, to its prospects in the months and years to come. He offers a fascinating account of this remarkable phenomenon while casting an informed look at its continuing evolution--and how it needs to proceed to truly make an impact. Informed by Gitlin's own history in the 60s protest movement--but written with both eyes aimed at the future--Occupy Nation is the key book for anyone looking to understand the revolution playing out before our eyes.
Review Quotes
"In this much needed book, Todd Gitlin, a veteran of the 1960s and an astute commentator on social movements offers a compelling portrait of the Occupy movement that captures the spirit of the people involved, the crisis that gave Occupy birth, and the possibility of genuine change it represents." -- Eric Foner, author of THE FIERY TRIAL: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery
"Balancing lyrical wit and eloquent analysis, Gitlin captures the compelling story of OWS . . . and provides a gift of clear-headed, balanced thinking about [its] future." -- The Rumpus