The Precipice: Neoliberalism, the Pandemic and the Urgent Need for Radical Change

This could be another example prime of British rip-off culture! I noticed the US edition (not a Pelican) and thought to get the paperback. What a shock!!! The font is so so tiny that even with a magnifying glass you'd struggle. I have noticed before how Pelican uses much smaller fonts than other publishers, but this is even tinier, it seems. Refunded immediately!So, unless you possess the eyesight of an eagle do not get the papeback.

"The Precipice", is a series of interviews of Noam Chomsky by C.J. Polychroniou, covering the Trump years.Whilst I personally subscribe to most of the political principles of Noam Chomsky, I do believe that this book should also be compulsory reading for everyone with different views, but who also regards democracy as important. The factual information in this book points indeed to the immediate dangers that neo-liberalism, racism, pandemics and ultra-right populist movements bring to our world.Chomsky’s analyses are, as always thorough and to the point. However, despite all the negatives, he is hopeful for the future as there is a [fast] growing movement, of mostly younger people, acting, demonstrating against neo-liberalism, racism and fighting for justice and democratic principles.This book should be read by everyone, interested in understanding the imminent dangers our world faces.

In a way, Noam Chomsky might here be telling the world how it is under Covid. You may not agree, but it’s consistently interesting because of the depth of his reasoning. It also seems likely that the world doesn’t want to hear his inconvenient facts. A 352-page polemic on the state of things is never going to be an easy read. There’s a heavy American theme here, which cannot be entirely unexpected. This book is a sort of pressure valve release covering the Trump presidency into the Covid pandemic. It’s certainly controversial stuff, because it provokes difficult questions. The whole book is set out as a series of question-and-answer sessions. This is effective in preventing the themes from becoming stale. It sharpens the whole style of the text.Chomsky makes points which are lucid and worth reading. He does also project into the future. If you want to take something here and now, then Chomsky nails much of what may follow to fragility. Before Covid, he maintains the world was not robust in any sense of the word. And now it’s been weakened further. These are global issues, and cannot be solved by any one idea or one state. Another theme is democracy under attack. That should matter a great deal to an enormous number of people. None of this is entirely new, but can be traced back to the turmoil of earlier centuries. Thought provoking stuff, but is it having any impact on current events?

Please continue incredible work:)

Faultless