Category: General Reading

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now – Jaron Lainer

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lanierSocial media is literally a modern marvel that has engulfed in its clutches, billions of people around the world.  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram remain the top three platforms for those wishing to step inside the world of “social networking”.   Additionally, other platforms such as LinkedIn cater to specific audiences who do not belong to the mainstream sites.   Even this blog is considered a form of social media. Regardless of what we use, social media has changed the way the world works and that trend will only continue.  But what if we all decided to delete our accounts?  What would happen and how would our lives change?  Jaron Lanier is a silicon valley insider who once helped engineer the very social media platforms billions of people use daily.  In this direct to the point book, he makes it clear that he believes we should all delete our social media accounts right now.

At first glance, it will seem to many that the author has clearly lost his mind and there is no way they would give up any of their social media accounts.  But Lanier is no fool and has come prepared to do psychological battle.  And has he moves through his argument, based on what he calls the Behavior of Users Modified and Made into and Empire, known simply as the BUMMER model.   The acronym is undoubtedly unique to the subject at hand but as Lanier takes us through each part of the model, we are able to see how it relates to our use of social media and the players that control the platforms that we cannot stop using.

The Bummer model is the core of his argument but what is paramount is how social media is changing us and why we are not changing social media.  I firmly believe that all of us are either guilty of or know someone who displays the very things Lanier points out in the book.  For many of us it is hard to imagine life without social media and today’s generation of young adults have grown up with it since birth. For many of them, it will be an unfathomable thought to have no social media existence at all. But if Lanier is correct and I think there is much truth to his words, social media will continue to change us unless we take the power back from the social media companies and place it our hands.  Only then, as Lanier says, will companies be forced to become competitive and offer diversity in platforms that accommodates what the users want and not what tech giants want.  But the first step is to delete our accounts.

Some of us have no social media and see no reason to start now.  And while it is part of the world we live in, there is no requirement that anyone has to use it.  It is truly up to our discretion.  But with anything else that develops habit and sometimes addiction, we must ask ourselves what value does it truly bring to our lives and is it necessary to begin with?  Once we answer these questions, we can then control the influence social media has on us and where we would like to see it go in the future.  Until then, the BUMMER model continues to thrive, claiming new loyal subscribers everyday.   Lanier may seem like a lone wolf but he’s a wolf that fears nothing and wants you to have the same fearlessness and rethink your usage of social media platforms.

ISBN-10: 125019668X
ISBN-13: 978-1250196682

Writing to Save a Life: The Louis Till File-John Edgar Wideman

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20180824_065115(0)The images that were published in Jet magazine of Emmett Till’s (1941-1955) mutilated corpse still cause readers and viewers on the internet to recoil in shock.  With their graphic detail and macabre detail, the pictures of Till’s face become burned into the memory of anyone who has seen them.   The story of Till’s murder at fourteen years of age because of allegedly “whistling or cat-calling a white woman” is a dark reminder of the ugly history of racism that prevailed in American culture.  Today such a crime is unimaginable, but in 1955 it was not only very real but also encouraged by rabid racists with a vendetta against people of color.  In January, 2017, Carolyn Bryant Donham, the woman at the center of the Till story, allegedly admitted that her claims were false.  Regardless, the mere thought of such an act was more than enough to get a Black American lynched at that time and Till became one more victim on a long list of senseless murders carried out by maniacs emboldened by racist ideology.  Till’s murder was creepy, appalling and downright shocking but another part of the story which is just as dark is the execution of his father Louis Till (1922-1944) by the Unites States Army in Civitavecchia, Italy, after being convicted of being part of the rape of two Italian women, one of whom was murdered during the crime.  Till never gave any statements about his innocence nor did he confirm his guilt but the army had what it needed and he fell victim to the hangman’s noose taking any facts with him to his grave.  After his death, details of the execution were withheld from his widow Mamie but were revealed ten years later.   His final resting place is at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial in Fère-en-Tardenois, France.

The thought that both father and son were executed because of perceived slights against white women is chilling and it is impossible to escape the aspect of race.  Two young Black men accused of having committed crimes against white females could not and would not be permitted to survive.  Their deaths are reminder of the misguided belief of the pursuit and dominance over white females by black males.  Sadly, it is a misconception that still exist to this day.  But what exactly did happen in Civitavecchia?  Undoubtedly a crime did take place and most likely by the hands of U.S. servicemen.  But there is always the requirement of conclusive evidence and in this case, there is much we do not know.  But author John Edgar Wideman decided to take another look at Till’s case, even requesting and receiving a copy of the military’s case file by way of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  In the book he does not include the entire file and moves between excerpts of it and his own story which is recounts as he writes about Till.  The style of writing might confuse some readers but I believe Wideman presented it that way because of the parallels between his life and Emmett’s. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Wideman is presenting to the reader an idea of the struggle of many Black American families during a time of fierce racial prejudice.  But the focus of the book is on Louis Till and it is here that I think  it falls just short of hitting its mark.

Wideman’s personal story is highly interesting and he does a great job of showing the plight of Black families in America during his and Emmett Till’s childhood.  But I think that more of the Louis Till file should have been presented.   He concludes that he could not save Till from either prison or the hangman but from the portions of the file that he does include in the book, it is clear that reasonable doubt exist as to whether Till actually did the crime. And this is where the book should have reached its pinnacle. But this does not happen and the book’s slightly abrupt ending makes the reader yearn for more or some sort of closure.  Sadly it never comes. And we are left to wonder about what actions, if any, Till did take on that night.  In Wideman’s defense, the Army’s file had no index and was disorganized.  I would not be surprised if some portions of it were removed or lost over the passage of time, making a definite conclusion beyond the reach of anyone today. None of figures involved with the case are alive preventing us from having the benefit of spoken words from those that were there.    We are left to rely on the case file and our own beliefs.  But I think one area where Wideman may have succeeded is igniting interest in Louis Till’s case in those that have read this book.  I believe that there is more the Till’s case than we currently know and some day, another independent investigator may uncover the truth about his conviction and execution.

The book is a good read and just enough to get an idea of what did happen to Louis Till.  But I believe it could have been much more effective with the inclusion of more of the file and some sort of definite conclusion even if it were the author’s belief.  I do not know if Wideman will publish another book on the file but time will tell.  For those looking to know more about Till’s sad and tragic life, this is a good resource to have.

ISBN-10: 1501147293
ISBN-13: 978-1501147296

Amelia Earhart: The Truth At Last – Propaganda Versus Fact in the Disappearance of America’s First Lady of Flight-Mike Campbell

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amelia1Eighty years after her disappearance and death, the life and tragic ending of Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) continues to incite curiosity not only among researchers but the general public in the United States.  She is remembered as one of aviation’s true female pioneers and her ill-fated trip with navigator Fred Noonan (1893-1937) in July, 1937, is considered one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Similar to the deaths of John F. Kennedy and James R. Hoffa, myths, half-truths , conspiracy theories and fabrications have plagued the investigations into their final moments. Officially, their disappearance remains unsolved but there are many who believe that the U.S. Government knows far more than it is willing to admit.

Mike Campbell invested many years of his life researching the case and the result is this compendium that examines the case in what could be considered the most thorough account to date.   One more than one occasion, focus had shifted to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific as the place were Earhart’s plane met its end.  Although no irrefutable and conclusive proof has been provided by researchers such as Ric Gillespie of TIGHAR, the islands continue to be a point of focus.  From start to finish, Campbell leaves no stone un-turned.  Far from a crack pot conspirator, he supplements his words with statements from natives of the island of Saipan, military personnel present in the Marianas during World War II, Earhart’s mother and an examination of the actions of the U.S. Government.  And it is this island that forms the crux of the book shedding light on overlooked parts of the story that have been forgotten or ignored over time.

To be fair, Campbell never says he has a smoking gun.   He does have a theory which holds considerable weight throughout the book.  In his final analysis, he believes many of the answers lie with Washington to reveal what President Roosevelt and the military really knew about the fate of Earhart’s plane.  Roosevelt is long gone and unable to shed light on the matter.  But even if he were alive, we can only guess as to how much he would actually tell us.  But what is paramount are disturbing questions that arise towards the end of the book.  Did Washington know where Earhart’s plane was? And if it was known, why was it withheld from the public?  Was it to pacify Japan or protect vital national security secrets about U.S. intelligence gathering operations as the world inched closer to war?  And did the military conceal what it knew to protect the image of President Roosevelt?  Pearl Harbor would occur until several years later in 1941, but even in 1937, the Japanese military had been causing destruction across China, nearly destroying the cities of Shanghai and Nanking.  Was it is this Japanese army that Earhart and Noonan encountered as they possibly landed at Milli Atoll before being transported to the island of Saipan?  And why are several years of decoded Japanese communications surrounding 1937, missing from the national archives?

I admit that I love a good conspiracy but am ambivalent enough to avoid atrociously absurd theories.  And Earhart’s story is filled with far too many extreme conspiracy theories which have only served to make a difficult case even more astounding. Campbell presents a compelling thesis and the support it receives from the statements of Saipan natives and former soldiers serves to arouse an even darker cloud over Earhart’s last flight. Campbell brilliantly debunks many rumors in order to give us the most accurate picture possible. And that picture results in more questions than answers.  From the beginning, the book pulled me as I dived deep into the last moments of her life.  Curiously though, as I read the section regarding her radio communications and lack thereof with the Itasca,  I began to understand the many factors at play which doomed the flight from the beginning.  In fact, many pilots today would probably tell you they would never attempt such a flight with such primitive radio equipment.  However, hindsight is always 20/20 and I am sure that she had lived, she would have had endless stories about the flight that was intended to change the course of history for aviation.  Regardless, she is one of America’s greatest aviators.

Some will read the book and write it off as another theory without sufficient evidence. But if we take the time to fully digest the staggering amount of research and effort put into the book, we can see that Campbell has gone to great lengths to get the story right and give us an idea of what could have very well have happened to the famed aviatrix.  And perhaps one day, Washington may tell us more than we have heard for eighty years.  If you are interested in the disappearance of Amelia Earhart or already familiar with it and seeking to clear up any confusion you may have, this is a great addition to any library.

ISBN-10: 1620066688
ISBN-13: 978-1620066683

Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Ice Man, Captain America, and the New Face of American War-Evan Wright

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gk1Fourteen years have passed since the United States military invaded the nation of Iraq and deposed its former ruler Saddam Hussein.  President George W. Bush had declared Iraq America’s number one enemy and vowed to remove Hussein from power.  Hussein fled but was captured in December, 1993 and eventually executed for his crimes against his own people.  For many Iraqis and Americans, his death was long overdue and they bid farewell to one of history’s worst dictators.  Critics of the war remain and remind us that our military is still in Iraq and no clear permanent solution to establish true democracy is in place.  The war is as controversial as those that precede it.  But for the men and women that served in the war,  their stories are often unnoticed.  However in this phenomenal story, Evan Wright brings their story to light for the world to see what warfare was like for thousands of troops.  In March, 2003, he accompanied the First Reconnaissance Battalion as the invasion begins.  The group becomes known as First Recon and is tasked with clearing town after town until the Iraqi army capitulates.   Baghdad eventually falls, Hussein escapes and the marines have done their job for the time being.  America celebrates and Bush stands stoically as the armed forces once again succeed.  The infantry soldiers return to civilian life or choose to remain enlisted.  Their stories fade in time and their names are often never heard of by the mainstream public.  But just who are these brave souls and why do they voluntarily put their lives on the line?  Wright explores this and more in the book that became a New York Times Bestseller and inspired the HBO hit series of the same name.

I forewarn those readers looking for a feel good story to stop before they purchase the book.  There is no glorification of war in this story, this is the life of a grunt and all of the ugliness that comes with it.  The Marines are quite young, most of them under twenty-five years of age.  But they are hardened and they are seasoned with one command, to kill whatever is hostile.  Readers that dislike profanity or crude talk might do well to prepare ahead of time for the dialogue contained within the pages of the book.  They’re Marines in a foreign land embroiled in a deadly conflict.  Pleasantries sometimes go out of the window.  To Iraqi troops and foreigners who have come to Iraq to fight the Americans, the Marines are a mass of invaders and nothing more.  But as we travel with the group next to Wright, we learn their stories and talk to each man to get his view on the war and his own life.  Their stories are fascinating and as we get to know them, we come to like them more and more and nervously wait until each battle is over, hoping that there have been no casualties.  Sadly, there are casualties in the book but that is a part of war.

The saying that war is hell is entirely appropriate throughout the book.  As I read through it I found myself having enormous empathy for the Iraqi civilians that the group encounters.   Some of them are severely or fatally wounded and others are mentally unbalanced because of the sudden invasion.  Their loved ones, land and animals are destroyed by American weapons but yet they truly believe in the removal of Saddam.  Their ability to continue even in the face of crippling adversity is beyond admirable.   The deaths of the civilians and their deplorable conditions affect the Marines and we see how each one wages his own personal battle knowing that his actions and those of his fellow soldiers have permanent effects on their lives. Sgt. Brad Colbert is the most recognizable and plays a prominent role in the book.  In him particularly, Jung’s concept of the duality of man is put on display.  He is joined by other Marines whom we meet one by one as the story progresses.

If he were alive today, I think Gustav Hasford (1947-1993) would be proud to read Generation Kill.  In fact, there are times in the book where I am reminded of his classic The Short Timers, the book that served as the basis for Stanley Kubrick’s (1928-1999) Full Metal Jacket (Warner Brothers, 1987).  Cowboy, Joker and Animal Mother would be in awe of Espera, Gunny and Manimal.  The war is different but the Marines are the tough lot of characters they are expected to be.  The battle scenes in Nasiriyah, Al Gharraf and Al Muwaffaqiyah are vivid and pull the reader in refusing to let go.  I have never been in active combat but as I read the book, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up each time the platoon reaches a new destination, unknown to them and potentially a kill zone.  Incredibly, the men perform as if on cue even as they are under heavy fire.  I cannot say enough about the courage they display in this book.  And regardless of personal opinions readers may have about the war,  the efforts of the soldiers and conditions under which they exist, deserved our full support and understanding.  Wright has done a great service to these Marines and the many others that have proudly put their lives on the line in defense of the United States.

ISBN-10: 0425224740
ISBN-13: 978-0425224748

In Grandma We Trust

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jean-williams-franks-2Grandmothers are one of the most sacred parts of the family structure. In some cases, the grandmother also takes on the role of the child’s mother. Their wisdom gained through years of rearing children and watching them grow into adults gives them a unique perspective of life. My maternal grandmother, Jean Williams Franks (November 18, 1934-February 14, 2017) departed from this earth on Valentine’s Day at the age of eighty-three.  She died peacefully at home after two years of declining health.  She resisted to the end but was unable to overcome the conditions that continued to plague her. She is survived by many relatives, friends and others who knew her in passing.

 

This blog is for book reviews and this post will seem unusual but there are a couple of reasons why it is her.  You see, my grandmother was a secretary for several decades at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.   She was an excellent typist and highly detailed.  And she encourage all of us to focus on our reading and writing skills.  Her home always had its share of books. In fact, I have one of her most-cherished; a book from the famed Pan Am Airlines that was published in 1958.  In addition, she also had in her possession, license plates from the states of New York and New Jersey that were over forty years in age. To say that she was nostalgic would be an understatement.

In addition to her interest in reading and writing, she also allowed me to perfect my typing skills through the endless use of her computers as I moved through college.  She would hear me typing and comment here and there on what I need to work on.  I will never forget her admonishment towards my brother and I to drink more water and use our minds. Today, I do both of these extensively.  Travel was one of her true passions and from her, I have gained my love of traveling which has influence my selection of reading material that appears on this blog.  Whenever I saw her, she would always ask how long it would be before I was out of the country yet again.  No matter where I was going, she was always happy that I was going somewhere.  Throughout her life, she never let anything stop her from seeing the world and she truly loved people.   Conversation was her love and she engaged anyone who was willing to listen and respond.  Tomorrow she will be laid to rest and that act will be the final stage in the changing of the guard for my aunt and mother will now assume the roles that she once assumed.

The beauty in her life was that she gave something to everyone that she met in many different forms.  Though she never was able to really see this blog, I know she would be thrilled that her first-born grandchild had tapped into the gifts of reading and writing to apply them towards a positive cause.  As I write, I can see her smiling in satisfaction that her endless efforts to keep us on the right track did in fact pay off over time.   And in the future, as I continue to write, she will appear in my thoughts repeatedly.  She is no longer in pain and has moved to a place which we all shall see one day.   But until then, we will serve ourselves best by living the life that we have and enjoying each day.

Tupac Shakur once said “death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive”.  Our time on this earth is limited and we do not know when we will take our last breath.  We come into the world, learn from those who are already here and through our experiences as we age and mature.  And at some point, we leave behind our friends, family and those who we have crossed paths with. But our actions, words and thoughts stay behind and live on in the memories of those we have touched.  And in that sense, we all have the ability to live forever.

“For Whom The Bell Tolls, It Tolls For Thee”- John Donne

The Night Lives On: The Untold Stories and Secrets Behind the Sinking of the “Unsinkable” Ship – Titanic-Walter Lord

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The sinking of the RMS Titanic remains the deadliest maritime incident in history with over 1,500 casualties on the night of April 15, 1912, as the vessel embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City.  Today, more than 100 years after the disaster, many questions about that night continue to linger with the answers to those questions lost to time and the remaining survivors of the wreck are now deceased. The never ending questions that remain are how and why did the tragedy occur?  Researchers and investigative panels have attempted to answer this question and while we know a great deal of critical information regarding the tragedy, there are still many beliefs held as to how the tragedy  unfolded. Some of the theories go as far to suggest that is was actually the Titanic’s sister ship The Olympic which actually sank at the bottom on the sea. Conspiracy theories, misinformation and unfounded claims have caused confusion and masked the truth regarding the events of the night of April 15, 1912.

Walter Lord revisits that cold April night in the middle of the Atlantic to  relive the events as they unfolded in an attempt to form a complete picture of what transpired and how.  Drawing on the testimony taken of the remaining crew members following the tragedy,  passenger accounts and documents, the image we see from Lord’s research is one in which many individuals were complicit and that the sinking was a disaster in the making even before the ship left Southampton for its maiden voyage.  He also puts to rest several ridiculous stories that were told after the sinking without any factual basis, persisting for several decades and serving only to add more confusion to an already horrific account.  Stories such as a passenger dressing in woman’s clothing and shootings aboard the ship became staples of tales told of the ship’s last moments.

J. Bruce Ismay, chairman and managing director of the White Star Line, the company that owned both the Olympic and Titanic, never recovered following the disaster and was savaged by the media for having left the ship and the company’s failure to protect the lives of its passengers.  But as we see as we make our way through this exceptional account of the night, a series of events outside of Ismay’s control, unfolded and in the process doomed the ship almost from the start.  Staffed with a well-trained crew and in close proximity to other ships that night, mainly the The RMS Carpathia and the SS Californian, the Titanic’s voyage should have been a relatively smooth and safe passage.  But as we now know, fate took over that night resulting in unspeakable horror that continues to stir discussion and spark controversy to this day.

The sinking of the Titanic, for all of its tragic aspects, did serve as a lesson for vessel safety for future generations.  White Star Line merged with Cunard in 1934 and is now owned by the Carnival corporation.  The Titanic remains on the floor of the ocean, its final resting place from which it will never be lifted.  On May 31, 2009, Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the disaster, died at her home in Southampton, England.  And in 2014, The Indegraph Times uploaded a documentary to YouTube narrated by Peter Willis that presents the event in a completely different light suggesting that the tragedy was a  carefully staged deception by the vessel’s owners that went horribly wrong.   Everyone that was on the vessel is now deceased and are unable to give any further testimony about the events of that night.  Many questions will probably remain unanswered for an eternity.  But from the investigations that took place, the documentation that has survived and books such as this excellent investigative report by Lord, we do have an almost complete picture of what really happened that night separating fact from fiction in the story of the great and tragic RMS Titanic.

ISBN-10: 0140279008
ISBN-13: 978-0140279009

Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority-Tom Burrell

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brainwashedAs recent events have shown, America continues to struggle with freedom and equality for all of its citizens.  And while great progress has been made over the past 50 years, there is still much ground to cover and many thins to understand.  A friend once told me that Black Americans are unique in the world for a variety of reasons but mainly because there is no other group of people similar. At first I didn’t quite understand where she was going with the conversation, but the more I listened and the more I began to digest her words, I came to understand the meaning behind her words and why they sparked such deep thought within me.   Her words however, only covered a fraction of the entire story and as author Tom Burrell points out, the story of the Black American is a long and tragic one that is still not fully understood.  In this exceptional testament to the current day status of Black Americans, Burrell forces the reader to open the eyes and mind as we explore the enduring myth of Black Inferiority (BI).

Some may be tempted to say that no such thing exist and that Black Americans are more successful now than ever before.  While that’s party true, the underlying story is that the successes and achievements of Black Americans across many fields are sometimes a cover and in many cases the exceptions and not the norm.  The election of Barack Obama misleading caused many to believe that America had moved past its ugly past and that for Black Americans, life would be dramatically different.  Not only was it unrealistic to believe one man could change an entire country himself, it was also unfair to place such a huge burden upon him.  However, he is without a doubt, the most recognized and respected role model for millions of young African-American men and women.  Another point that might be made is that slavery ended over 100 years ago and no one in America is a slave today.  True, emancipation did occur in 1865 under President Lincoln, but it is wise to remember, mental slavery is just as dangerous and disheartening as physical slavery. And for many Black Americans, that slavery still exists and in most cases unbeknownst to its victims.

Burrell, who has had a long career in the field of advertising, examines the root causes of the black inferiority complex seeking to understand how and why it exist.  He revisits the system of slavery and the disastrous effects of it on the self-image of those enslaved.  The physical pain and economic depravity continued for decades before Black Americans finally began to advance. But even today, poverty remains a significant issue across the country for Black Americans and as we very well know, Americans of other backgrounds as well.  Financially, Black Americans have made great strides individually, but as a whole, our communities still suffer from decades long conditions and mindsets that do nothing to enhance the well-being of its residents. Burrell shows us the origin of both and why they continue to persist.

The book may give off the impression that the blame for the belief in inferiority lay solely with White America. However, that is not the case for Burrell shows that Black Americans also share some the blame for the current conditions of the Black community.  Degrading images in the music industry, aversion to books and learning, poor spending habits and horrific dietary habits have resulted in a very slow road to destruction of what Burrell calls a form of suicide.  High mortality rates combined with neglect of health and sub par health care have shortened the life span of thousands of Black Americans.  Street violence and domestic violence have caused even more destruction and remain very sensitive issues with the community sometimes seeming to be beyond reproach. The hold of religion over the Black community is also examined to shed light on the complicated relationship between Christianity, slavery and modern day America.  Each of the chapters in the book explores a different avenue that is set to take us to the final destination.  But as Burrell points out, the destination isn’t yet determined but if things don’t change, the future is grim.

James Baldwin once said that the African-American story is America’s story. For if there are no African-Americans, there is no America.   The media reminds us daily of the injustices and crimes committed by Americans against each other and in particular people of color.  Until we understand why our nation’s history affects us today, we will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.  Burrell’s focus is on Black America but the lessons in the book can be applied to any group of people deemed to be inferiority for whichever reasons.  As a child, I grew up in East New York, Brooklyn during the 1980s and 1990s, when the area was one of the worst in the City of New York. Burrell’s book struck a chord and many of his points resonated with me and are things I’ve seen and experienced first hand.  This book is a must for all Americans of all backgrounds and even if you don’t live in America, you too might find the information in this book to be eye-opening and highly sobering.  But as we are reminded throughout the book, the inferiority we perceive to see and feel is nothing more than a myth.

ISBN-10: 1401925928
ISBN-13: 978-1401925925

Transcendentalism: Essential Essays of Emerson and Thoreau

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TranscedentalismMy friend Vanesa in Argentina is currently studying transcendentalism and provided me with insight into the subject.  I decided to do some research so that she and I could discuss what we’ve read so far.  I had heard of Ralph Emerson but my knowledge on Henry Thoreau was lacking to say the least.  However, I did know that his essay ‘Civil Disobedience’ had been read by Mahatma Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other subscribers of the belief of nonviolent resistance.  Having now read it myself, I can see why it was and is so important. Thoreau, an outspoken critic of the government of Massachusetts and the United States in general, made no attempt to hide his distaste for the institution of slavery.  And his refusal to pay taxes and support the government of Massachusetts could either be seen as a noble act of humanity or the actions of a traitor, it is left up to the reader to decide.  But his essay is the blueprint for forcing social change without the use of violent methods.

Emerson, the leader of the transcendentalist movement, gave hundreds of lectures during his career which spanned almost 40 years.  Also an outspoken opponent of the institution of slavery,  his writings on friendship, religion and injustice would be some of the most critical of the movement.  A close friend of Thoreau, whom he met in 1837, the two minds would produce writings that would become pillars of transcendentalism ideals.  Years of ahead of their time, their writings might make you question what you know and what you believe.

ASIN: B00387159M