Rating: 
Summary: It's easier to tear down than to build up
Review: This book describes the operating tenets of the radical left-wing about as well any I've read. In it, Alinsky skillfully describes his techniques for disrupting civil society in this how-to manual on "how to" throw sand into the gears of a smoothly functioning, free-market, capitalist economy. His presumptions follow the usual Marxist tripe with regard to class warfare and the labor theory of value, Never, repeat never, does he talk about how to build a better society or how to bring greater prosperity to the people. He just assumes that his human wreaking ball approach will lead to some kind of peoples utopia. Alas for poor Alinsky experience has rendered his presumptions to the ash heap of history; read "Commanding Heights" by Yergin for a starter. Any reader of this reveiw can merely visit Freedom House and acquaint themselves with the statistics about the shift in worldwide governing systems over the last 25 years. Unfortunately, our universities today have many disciples of Alinsky on their faculties, and they continue to preach his dated nonsense. But, hide and watch as that too will soon undergo a disruptive change for the better; a move back toward the political middle. It's interesting that Ann Coulter has been critised so harshly by the Left when in fact she has merely turned some of Alinsky's Communist organizer tactics on his cohorts who abound in the movements of the political Left, those who have so thirstily imbibed Alinsky's cool-aid. This is a good read for those who wish to better undestand the M.O. of the former Clinton administration.
Rating: 
Summary: How the upper classes can become political leaders
Review: This book is a book about how to organize people to change policies so that those who don't have much power in our system can get policies that help level the playing field. Rules for Radicals is directed toward upper middle class and upper class college students that want to make a difference in poor and underprivileged communities. One of the things talked about in the book is how to relate to people in poor and underprivileged communities. This is important since it assumes that people from upper class backgrounds will be doing most of the organizing. One of the main lessons is that everything must be done within the peoples experience. If you don't do something in the experience of the people you are trying to organize then whatever your trying to do will fail. Alinsky explains his tactics using liberal causes as examples but the tactics could be used by anybody to promote any cause. Alinsky also stresses that an organizer shouldn't get locked into any one tactic and should by creative in creating new tactics to be most effective in promoting a paticular cause. Despite the good advice in this book I didn't give it five stars for two reasons. Frist the book asumes that it takes a person from the upper classes to come into a poor or underprivileged community and organize for them. The book doesn't address the idea of communities organizing themselves without outside help. People that want to organize within their own communities would find much helpful information in this book, but the subject isn't discussed or even mentioned in the book. Second reason I didn't give this book five stars is the last chapter. In the last chapter Alinsky goes on a tangent about issues that for the most part are no longer relivent. They were relivent when the book was published in 1971.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly exceptional
Review: This book is the very best I have read about social change. It is devoid of any sentimental issues, rather focusing on the pragmatic aspects of change. For example, he does not believe Ghandi was a pacifist from the beginning; he believes Ghandi realized that pacifism was the most effective approach in that case, so he chose it. If Ghandi had had guns and people to fight, Alinsky believes that Ghandi would have fought with guns. The book is full of similar stories that give life to the beliefs of the author. He also gives a blueprint of what the characteristics he believes make up a good radical organizer, and methods for such an organizer to better communicate with his audience. This book is great for the radical who has a clue of what he would like to achieve and needs some help figuring out how to do it. It is not for someone simply seeking inspiration to make society better.
Rating: 
Summary: Could not suck more.
Review: This book was and is typical Berkeley leftist crap which adds nothing to the constructive nature of our political process. Change made in the ways described in the book ALWAYS result in the opposite of that desired. I give it one star because it could heat a small home for two minutes if burned.
Rating:
Summary: Alinsky: True in 1972, Even Truer Now
Review: You want to know why the neo-Stalinist neo-cons are kicking liberal butt nowadays? It's because they read Alinsky and took his lessons to heart. It's all here: Single-issue politics, properly targeting your opponent, means and ends. Writing in 1972, just before his death, Alinsky explains how he used these methods to become America's premier organizer -- and how his worst enemies were, all too often, the very wimpy-ass Ellen-Goodman-style 'liberals' who kept him from doing what needed to be done. (Meanwhile, neo-conservative and conservative people like David Horowitz and Ralph Reed were -- just as Alinsky feared -- memorizing everything he said so they could use it to keep us all down.) Want to know how to win? Read this book. (Joe Trippi has. He's Howard Dean's campaign manager, and his stratagems mark him as a true Son of Saul. That's why he's going to kick Bush's butt next year.)
Rating:
Summary: Alinsky: True in 1972, Even Truer Now
Review: You want to know why the neo-Stalinist neo-cons are kicking liberal butt nowadays? It's because they read Alinsky and took his lessons to heart. It's all here: Single-issue politics, properly targeting your opponent, means and ends. Writing in 1972, just before his death, Alinsky explains how he used these methods to become America's premier organizer -- and how his worst enemies were, all too often, the very wimpy-ass Ellen-Goodman-style 'liberals' who kept him from doing what needed to be done. (Meanwhile, neo-conservative and conservative people like David Horowitz and Ralph Reed were -- just as Alinsky feared -- memorizing everything he said so they could use it to keep us all down.) Want to know how to win? Read this book. (Joe Trippi has. He's Howard Dean's campaign manager, and his stratagems mark him as a true Son of Saul. That's why he's going to kick Bush's butt next year.)
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