Hopes and Prospects by Noam Chomsky (PDF)

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In this urgent new book, Noam Chomsky surveys the dangers and prospects of our early twenty-first century. Exploring challenges such as the growing gap between North and South, American exceptionalism (including under President Barack Obama), the fiascos of Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S.-Israeli assault on Gaza, and the recent financial bailouts, he also sees hope for the future and a way to move forward—in the democratic wave in Latin America and in the global solidarity movements that suggest “real progress toward freedom and justice.”Hopes and Prospects is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the primary challenges still facing the human race.”This is a classic Chomsky work: a bonfire of myths and lies, sophistries and delusions. Noam Chomsky is an enduring inspiration all over the world—to millions, I suspect—for the simple reason that he is a truth-teller on an epic scale. I salute him.” —John Pilger”In dissecting the rhetoric and logic of American empire and class domination, at home and abroad, Chomsky continues a longstanding and crucial work of elucidation and activism…the writing remains unswervingly rational and principled throughout, and lends bracing impetus to the real alternatives before us.” —Publisher’s Weekly”Chomsky’s commentary is razor sharp and offers a compendium of facts that make a well-supported—and undoubtedly controversial—claim of the incongruity between US actions and the democratic ideals it professes….A valuable resource for both academics and everyday concerned citizens.” —ForeWordProfessor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Noam Chomsky is widely regarded to be one of the foremost critics of U.S. foreign policy in the world. He has published numerous groundbreaking books, articles, and essays on global politics, history, and linguistics. Among his recent books are The New York Times bestsellers Hegemony or Survival and Failed States.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. This selection of Chomsky’s essays and lectures comes divided into geographical areas, but the issues are global in scope and import. In dissecting the rhetoric and logic of American empire and class domination, at home and abroad, Chomsky continues a longstanding and crucial work of elucidation and activism. His latest updates elaborate upon his signature themes—the double standards applied by the centers of U.S. power, including the mainstream media and intellectual culture, and the pervasive disconnect between American policies and public opinion in what Chomsky dubs a dysfunctional democracy. But this book flags another major interest of Chomsky’s, signaled in the title: global avenues of resistance, in particular the democratic and independent course being forged across Latin America (where several of these lectures were originally delivered). There are significant redundancies and polemical flourishes, but the writing remains unswervingly rational and principled throughout, and lends bracing impetus to the real alternatives before us. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the Author Professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Noam Chomsky is widely regarded to be the foremost critic of U.S. foreign policy in the world. He has published a multitude of books, articles and essays on global politics, history, and linguistics. Among his recent books includes “Hegemony or Survival,” published by Haymarket Books in audiobook format, with Brian Jones reading.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Arrived in great condition

⭐Chomsky again proves to be the master story teller by researching the history, back room deals, and political efforts of those who have to win at all costs. His writing is a must to read if we are to be critical thinkers and truly be engaged in our political process. Through his insightful writing, Chomsky forces us to ask difficult questions.

⭐I’m not usually a huge fan of Chomsky but his new collection of essays Hopes and Prospects is really good. The first part of the book deals with Latin America. Chomsky outlines the colonial past and present of Latin American countries and their valiant efforts to rid themselves of neo-imperialist domination by the United States. He states correctly that today’s struggles of Latin American countries (Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela) to oppose the depredations of the US-inspired version of globalization offer hope for the rest of the world. He is also absolutely right in pointing out that “Latin America is not merely the victim of foreign forces. The region is notorious for the rapacity of its wealthy classes and their freedom from social responsibility.” Here, Chomsky echoes Eduardo Galeano’s classic work

⭐that decades ago offered a brilliant analysis of how Latin American power elites sold out their own countries to the predatory forces of the US neo-liberalism. Today, Chomsky points out “Latin America has real choices, for the first time in its history.” And this is great news for the entire planet.In the second part of the book, Chomsky analyzes the influence that the imperialist mentality in the US exercises over the discussions of the US military presence in Iraq. I was particularly pleased to see that Chomsky decided not to follow in the footsteps of most liberal commentators in their refusal to see that Russian imperialism is in no way “better” or more justified than the US imperialism. Chomsky qualifies Putin’s actions in Chechnya as “murderous”, which they most definitely are. I only wish that more progressive analysts dared to depart from the tendency to praise everybody who opposes the US regardless of the atrocities they perpetrate. It is definitely right that the US imperialism and Russian imperialism should be discussed together since there are glaring similarities between them.Chomsky then segues into what I consider the weakest part of the book: the discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As usual, Chomsky’s analysis of the issue is one-sided and biased. Israelis are all villainous nationalists and religious fanatics, while the Palestinians are without an exception languishing and tolerant victims. While Chomsky is right in suggesting that the Israelis do everything they can to make sure the conflict continues, he forgets to say that so do the Palestinians. When he describes the Israeli “information campaigns to instruct the world on its errors and misunderstanding, arrogant self-righteousness, circling the wagons, defiance . . . and paranoia,” he avoids mentioning that this exactly the pattern adopted by every single nation-state with a very weak and diluted national identity (Russia is a great example of precisely this kind of paranoid nation building. Closer to home, so is the US.)Starting from Chapter 9 of Part II, Chomsky offers a brilliant analysis of the 2008 presidential elections and the job Obama’s presidency has done since then. He points out correctly that both Democrats and Republicans are considerably to the right of the American population on many major issues, both international and domestic. Hence, it is not surprising that Obama’s tepid efforts to defend his intentions to introduce some kind of change don’t convince Americans any longer. Chomsky talks about how the American people have been brilliantly manipulated into being suspicious of public welfare programs that would be of invaluable use to themselves while supporting the “nanny state for the rich.”The fact that the two main candidates in the 2008 Democratic primary were a woman and an African American were a welcome sign, Chomsky acknowledges, that the country has managed to get at least somewhat civilized. Still, we cannot expect the joy from this reality to keep us perennially blind to the numerous ways in which Obama has not been living up to his promise. Chomsky reminds us that “Obama’s message of ‘hope’ and ‘change’ offered a virtual blank slate on which supporters could write their wishes.” And write we did, only to be disappointed in most of our expectations.The book is composed of a series of essays and as a result is very repetitive in places. It could have done with a lot of editing because many sentences are simply repeated over and over. This lack of editing is the main reason for the four-star rating I give to the book.

⭐Everyone who does not understand what is going on in the world today needs to read this book. There are few people that are not afraid of speaking the truth these days. Noam Chomsky has never stopped!

⭐Simply put, Noam Chomsky’s Hopes and Prospects is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the world. Chomsky is the only scholar I know of who can take on the daunting and seemingly impossible task of describing the “state of the world” and do it successfully, for instance, by not sacrificing too much depth in the pursuit of breadth. I attribute this feat to Chomsky’s ability to get at the heart of matters.The book is broken up into two sections: the first focuses on Latin America and the second North America. He covers key topics such as: the connection between neoliberalism and development and democracy; the Obama phenomenon; the new U.S. administration’s policy on the Israel/Palestine conflict; the democracy movements in Latin America; the current state of the nuclear threat; and other topics of crucial importance.As usual, in Hopes and Prospects Chomsky brings forth an onslaught of historical examples and empirical data to establish his basic arguments. For me, this book has served as a gold-mine of sorts. I find myself often digging through his references and finding informed voices and sources that address a wide-range of political, economic, and social topics.

⭐Typical Chomsky intellect but not much new news. Worth the time to read ….

⭐Noam Chomsky again lays it out in this book. I would recommend all of Chomsky’s books to anyone interested in the real history of the United States and its relationship to other countries.

⭐As the titles states, Dr. Chomsky is amazing, with his direct truth, it always leaves a sharp pain in the side of those that prefer to be clouded by idiotic propaganda news channels and low class talk radio. If you are interested in a accurate assessment on past and current affairs in terms of U.S. policy, then get this book.

⭐If you’re wanting to leave the cave from Plato’s allegory, read this.It is so refreshing to read the words of a man as articulate and direct as Chomsky.This book has been eye opening and addictive, highly recommended.

⭐Fantastic attention

⭐genius

⭐As his readers are already used to, in “Hopes and prospects” Chomsky heavily criticizes modern (mostly US) politics, starting from the collonial times and ending with the struggle of the third world to set itself free of the rich centres’ of power deadly grip. Although the book does not offer much new material for readers already familiar with Chomsky, I would have given it four stars if it had a clear concept and order. However, it is actually a collection of several lectures Chomsky had given in Chile (as he himself says in the perface), arranged for a printed edition, with only loosely bounded chapters. Further, although as always very sharp and insightful in his comments, Chomsky quite often just wonders off a topic, or the opposite, stays too long on one. Nevertheless, the essence is more than clear, clearly argued and presented, and I can recommend the book to everybody interested in a critical view of the time we live in, and different from the one usually presented.

⭐A must read for all people concerned about the challenges the human race is facing and the role of US imperialism.

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