The Activist's Handbook: A Primer, Updated Edition with a New Preface Paperback - 2001

First line

In a previous era, social change activists were guided by the immortal words of Mary "Mother" Jones: "Don't mourn, organize."

From the rear cover

"Anybody researching or writing anything about contemporary U.S. political life should be familiar with The Activist's Handbook. Anybody attempting to influence local, state, or national political decisions needs it desperately. Politicians may read it and tremble a bit. For that matter, the rich and powerful will probably read it to see how smart some of their enemies are becoming."--Ernest Callenbach, author of Ecotopia "Provides rare insight into the strategies and tactics environmentalists must use if they are to succeed in today's political climate. A must read."--Barbara Dudley, Executive Director, Greenpeace "This is a unique book, wise, realistic, and enormously valuable for anyone interested in social change. It is practical in its advice, and inspiring in its stories of ordinary people successfully confronting powerful interests."--Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States "The Activist's Handbook could not have come at a more opportune time. In an era when poverty is growing and national social programs are threatened, the Handbook is an invaluable tool for community groups wishing to mobilize efforts in the service of escalating human needs."--Ben Bagdikian, author of The Media Monopoly and Double Vision "Randy Shaw gives us a serious and respectful treatment of the strategic problems and opportunities that confront grassroots activists. This is a dimension of contemporary politics that is rarely treated, and welcome for that reason. Moreover, in developing his analysis, Shaw draws on numerous cases of local struggles to remind us of what the media has come to ignore, the persistent and insuppressible popular activism that is part of American political life."--Frances Fox Piven, City University of New York "The Activist's Handbook lives up to its title and will likely join the company of organizing classics. It is the kind of book that should be on every activist's reading list."--Chris Ney, Nonviolent activist

From the jacket flap

"Anybody researching or writing anything about contemporary U.S. political life should be familiar with The Activist's Handbook. Anybody attempting to influence local, state, or national political decisions needs it desperately. Politicians may read it and tremble a bit. For that matter, the rich and powerful will probably read it to see how smart some of their enemies are becoming."--Ernest Callenbach, author of Ecotopia "Provides rare insight into the strategies and tactics environmentalists must use if they are to succeed in today's political climate. A must read."--Barbara Dudley, Executive Director, Greenpeace "This is a unique book, wise, realistic, and enormously valuable for anyone interested in social change. It is practical in its advice, and inspiring in its stories of ordinary people successfully confronting powerful interests."--Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States "The Activist's Handbook could not have come at a more opportune time. In an era when poverty is growing and national social programs are threatened, the Handbook is an invaluable tool for community groups wishing to mobilize efforts in the service of escalating human needs."--Ben Bagdikian, author of The Media Monopoly and Double Vision "Randy Shaw gives us a serious and respectful treatment of the strategic problems and opportunities that confront grassroots activists. This is a dimension of contemporary politics that is rarely treated, and welcome for that reason. Moreover, in developing his analysis, Shaw draws on numerous cases of local struggles to remind us of what the media has come to ignore, the persistent and insuppressible popular activism that is part of American political life."--Frances Fox Piven, City University of New York "The Activist's Handbook lives up to its title and will likely join the company of organizing classics. It is the kind of book that should be on every activist's reading list."--Chris Ney, Nonviolent activist