Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means (Abridged in One Volume). by Vollmann, William T - 2005.

New York: Harper Perennial, 2005. First Edition Thus Pictorial Wraps AS NEW in WRAPS 8vo (6 x 9), 733 pp. Trade paper is FINE, unread, unmarked (except for remainder line of page block) and otherwise AS NEW in pictorial wraps. (h) Mr. Vollmann makes it clear in his Preface to the Abridged Edition, the he did it for one reason -- money -- and a fringe benefit, he says, that someone may actually read it (the original "Rising Up and Rising Down" was over 3300 pages long published in 7 volumes). The focus is on political violence and the way power is exercised using it. Completed in 1998, it of course does not include the events of 9-11-2001, but is certainly easily applicable to understanding that event and the terror and violence the followed in years since. It is regarded as an historically brilliant work, comprehensive and literarily excellent, exploring the motivations and justifications for the use of violence, creating what he calls "a moral calculus." The rising and falling in the title refers to the rise and fall of organizations, whether states, empires, groups or military factions. But Mr Vollmann is probably right when he acknowledges that few people would have the determination to read the complete work, and although he poses his motives as cynical, this abridged version allows the rest of us to consider and understand his observations and conclusions.