

A wide-ranging and incisive collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky, addressing the urgent questions of this tumultuous moment.
In these informative interviews, conducted for Truthout by C.J. Polychroniou, Noam Chomsky addresses the rapid deterioration of democracy in the United States and rising tensions globally. He examines the crumbling social fabric and fractures of the Biden era, including the halting steps toward a Green New Deal; the illegitimate authority of the Supreme Court, in particular its decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade; and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale.
Throughout, Chomsky “remains…a beacon of hope in the darkest of times" (Sarah Jaffe).
- Price: $19.95
- Pages: 350
- Carton Quantity: 32
- Publisher: Haymarket Books
- Imprint: Haymarket Books
- Publication Date: 9th May 2023
- Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 in
- ISBN: 9781642599053
- Format: Paperback
- BISACs:
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Imperialism
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Geopolitics
POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / General
HISTORY / World
"Incisive, informative, timely, thoughtful and thought-provoking...." —Midwest Book Review
"Illegitimate Authority is a trove of facts and arguments about the most impactful problems of our time and how to improve on current responses to them—from the ‘illegitimate authority’ of the US Supreme Court, to global heating, the war in Ukraine, prevention of nuclear war, US-China cooperation, the US Democratic Party and the working class, the role of neoliberalism in class war, and more. Anyone who enjoys the company of articulate, provocative, and off-beat intelligences (not only Chomsky but also Bob Pollin and Costas Lapavitsas) will want to read it. And pick a fight with it.”—Robert H. Wade, London School of EconomicsPraise for Optimism Over Despair:
"The elder statesman of a resurgent left offers clear-eyed assessments of the US, past and present, and its role in the world. From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times." —Sarah Jaffe, Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt
"This book of interviews with Noam Chomsky is a must read in these troubling times. Divided into three parts, it begins with Chomsky’s razor sharp analysis of neoliberalism, imperialism, the EU, the role of religion in politics, and class polarization. In the second, it focuses on the Trump presidency and lays out the long history of US foreign policy, as well as other topics such as health care, global warming and education policy. Finally, it looks at various alternatives—anarchism, communism and socialism. This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%." —Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire
“In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.” —Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
“…Chomsky argues that the choice between optimism and despair is really no choice at all. I have a great admiration for Chomsky’s combination of consistent critical moral perspective and sharp eye for the details of world politics…” —Heikki Patomäki, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, and a civic and political activist
Biden's Early Agenda Gives Hope, But Activist Pressure Must Not Cease
Biden’s Foreign Policy Is Largely Indistinguishable From Trump’s
Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin: Green New Deal Is Essential for Human Survival
Without US Aid, Israel Wouldn’t Be Killing Palestinians En Masse
Republicans Are Willing to Destroy Democracy to Retake Power
To Retain Power, Democrats Must Stop Abandoning the Working Class
Bolsonaro Is Spreading Trump-Like Fear of "Election Fraud" in Brazil
We Need Genuine International Cooperation to Tackle the Climate Crisis
Biden’s “Radical” Proposals Are Minimum Measures to Avoid Catastrophe
Chomsky and Pollin: We Can't Rely on Private Sector for Necessary Climate Action
The US-Led “War on Terror” Has Devastated Much of the World
It’s Life and Death -- Intellectuals Can’t Keep Serving the Status Quo
Chomsky, Pollin, and Lapavitsas: Are We Witnessing the Demise of Neoliberalism?
Chomsky and Pollin: COP26 Pledges Will Fail Unless Pushed by Mass Organizing
Build Back Better Fiasco Exposes How Both Parties Serve Corporate Power
Chomsky and Pollin: Protests Outside of COP26 Offered More Hope Than the Summit
US-China Cooperation Is Essential to Avert a New Cold War
Outdated US Cold War Policy Worsens Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict
GOP’s Soft Coup Is Still Underway One Year After Capitol Assault
US Approach to Ukraine and Russia Has “Left the Domain of Rational Discourse”
US Push to "Reign Supreme" Stokes the Ukraine Conflict
US Military Escalation Against Russia Would Have No Victors
A No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine Could Unleash Untold Violence
Peace Talks in Ukraine “Will Get Nowhere” If US Keeps Refusing to Join
Let’s Focus on Preventing Nuclear War, Rather Than Debating “Just War”
Russia's War Against Ukraine Has Accelerated the Doomsday Clock
US Policy Toward Russia Is Blocking Paths to De-escalation in Ukraine
Our Priority on Ukraine Should Be Saving Lives, Not Punishing Russia
Propaganda Wars Are Raging as Russia’s War on Ukraine Expands
US Is Prioritizing Its Jockeying With Russia, Not Ukrainians’ Lives
To Tackle Climate, Our Morality Must Catch Up with Our Intelligence
The Supreme Court Is Wielding Illegitimate Authority in the US
We Must Insist That Nuclear Warfare Is an Unthinkable Policy
Overturn of “Roe” Shows How Extreme an Outlier the US Has Become
A wide-ranging and incisive collection of interviews with Noam Chomsky, addressing the urgent questions of this tumultuous moment.
In these informative interviews, conducted for Truthout by C.J. Polychroniou, Noam Chomsky addresses the rapid deterioration of democracy in the United States and rising tensions globally. He examines the crumbling social fabric and fractures of the Biden era, including the halting steps toward a Green New Deal; the illegitimate authority of the Supreme Court, in particular its decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade; and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale.
Throughout, Chomsky “remains…a beacon of hope in the darkest of times" (Sarah Jaffe).
- Price: $19.95
- Pages: 350
- Carton Quantity: 32
- Publisher: Haymarket Books
- Imprint: Haymarket Books
- Publication Date: 9th May 2023
- Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 in
- ISBN: 9781642599053
- Format: Paperback
- BISACs:
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Imperialism
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Geopolitics
POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / General
HISTORY / World
"Incisive, informative, timely, thoughtful and thought-provoking...." —Midwest Book Review
"Illegitimate Authority is a trove of facts and arguments about the most impactful problems of our time and how to improve on current responses to them—from the ‘illegitimate authority’ of the US Supreme Court, to global heating, the war in Ukraine, prevention of nuclear war, US-China cooperation, the US Democratic Party and the working class, the role of neoliberalism in class war, and more. Anyone who enjoys the company of articulate, provocative, and off-beat intelligences (not only Chomsky but also Bob Pollin and Costas Lapavitsas) will want to read it. And pick a fight with it.”—Robert H. Wade, London School of EconomicsPraise for Optimism Over Despair:
"The elder statesman of a resurgent left offers clear-eyed assessments of the US, past and present, and its role in the world. From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times." —Sarah Jaffe, Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt
"This book of interviews with Noam Chomsky is a must read in these troubling times. Divided into three parts, it begins with Chomsky’s razor sharp analysis of neoliberalism, imperialism, the EU, the role of religion in politics, and class polarization. In the second, it focuses on the Trump presidency and lays out the long history of US foreign policy, as well as other topics such as health care, global warming and education policy. Finally, it looks at various alternatives—anarchism, communism and socialism. This is an excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky’s encyclopedic knowledge of the key issues of our day and his unwavering criticism of the regime of the global 1%." —Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire
“In this brilliant series of recent and wide-ranging interviews, Noam Chomsky combines an astounding breadth of knowledge, great depth of insight, clarity in explaining his ideas, and a relentless commitment to social and economic justice. The full package is simply exhilarating, especially in our current dismal era of Donald Trump. Optimism over Despair is a book to devour.” —Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
“…Chomsky argues that the choice between optimism and despair is really no choice at all. I have a great admiration for Chomsky’s combination of consistent critical moral perspective and sharp eye for the details of world politics…” —Heikki Patomäki, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, and a civic and political activist
Biden's Early Agenda Gives Hope, But Activist Pressure Must Not Cease
Biden’s Foreign Policy Is Largely Indistinguishable From Trump’s
Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin: Green New Deal Is Essential for Human Survival
Without US Aid, Israel Wouldn’t Be Killing Palestinians En Masse
Republicans Are Willing to Destroy Democracy to Retake Power
To Retain Power, Democrats Must Stop Abandoning the Working Class
Bolsonaro Is Spreading Trump-Like Fear of "Election Fraud" in Brazil
We Need Genuine International Cooperation to Tackle the Climate Crisis
Biden’s “Radical” Proposals Are Minimum Measures to Avoid Catastrophe
Chomsky and Pollin: We Can't Rely on Private Sector for Necessary Climate Action
The US-Led “War on Terror” Has Devastated Much of the World
It’s Life and Death -- Intellectuals Can’t Keep Serving the Status Quo
Chomsky, Pollin, and Lapavitsas: Are We Witnessing the Demise of Neoliberalism?
Chomsky and Pollin: COP26 Pledges Will Fail Unless Pushed by Mass Organizing
Build Back Better Fiasco Exposes How Both Parties Serve Corporate Power
Chomsky and Pollin: Protests Outside of COP26 Offered More Hope Than the Summit
US-China Cooperation Is Essential to Avert a New Cold War
Outdated US Cold War Policy Worsens Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict
GOP’s Soft Coup Is Still Underway One Year After Capitol Assault
US Approach to Ukraine and Russia Has “Left the Domain of Rational Discourse”
US Push to "Reign Supreme" Stokes the Ukraine Conflict
US Military Escalation Against Russia Would Have No Victors
A No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine Could Unleash Untold Violence
Peace Talks in Ukraine “Will Get Nowhere” If US Keeps Refusing to Join
Let’s Focus on Preventing Nuclear War, Rather Than Debating “Just War”
Russia's War Against Ukraine Has Accelerated the Doomsday Clock
US Policy Toward Russia Is Blocking Paths to De-escalation in Ukraine
Our Priority on Ukraine Should Be Saving Lives, Not Punishing Russia
Propaganda Wars Are Raging as Russia’s War on Ukraine Expands
US Is Prioritizing Its Jockeying With Russia, Not Ukrainians’ Lives
To Tackle Climate, Our Morality Must Catch Up with Our Intelligence
The Supreme Court Is Wielding Illegitimate Authority in the US
We Must Insist That Nuclear Warfare Is an Unthinkable Policy
Overturn of “Roe” Shows How Extreme an Outlier the US Has Become