Preview
  • Rules for Radicals

  • A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals
  • By: Saul D. Alinsky
  • Narrated by: Scott Lange
  • Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (1,159 ratings)

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Rules for Radicals

By: Saul D. Alinsky
Narrated by: Scott Lange
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Publisher's summary

First published in 1971, Rules for Radicals is Saul Alinsky's impassioned counsel to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change and know "the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one." Written in the midst of radical political developments whose direction Alinsky was one of the first to question, this volume exhibits his style at its best. Like Thomas Paine before him, Alinsky was able to combine, both in his person and his writing, the intensity of political engagement with an absolute insistence on rational political discourse and adherence to the American democratic tradition.

©1971 Saul D. Alinsky (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about Rules for Radicals

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Why and How Trump Win's!

a very schrewd and practical understanding of how to create and maintain pressure for real change.

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A Brilliant Man, A Dangerous Idea, Well Performed

Saul gives really interesting insights into the inner workings of organized social movements and tells tails of masterful choreography of political mudslinging and manipulation. It is important to keep in mind, however that radicalism is friend to no man and when it gets what it is powerful, leaves people in graves. That said, this is a fantastic educational piece and ought to be regarded as a classic of organizational philosophy!

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needs warning

good lessons but rough to listen to! needs an intro or something to warn us

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Brilliant, but sociopathic.

Certainly brilliant from a tactician's point-of-view, but nonetheless sociopathic. The "ends justify any means" mindset may get a person/group what they want in the short term, but it does the seeds of constant discord. Of course, that seems to be the plan as Alinsky & his acolytes believe that it's not enough to get what you want/need but to always strive for more. The irony being that this is the very philosophy that they are supposedly fighting against. But, hey, what's the saying? "Do as I say, not as I do."

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11 people found this helpful

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I'm sorry I didn't read /listen to this years ago

Discussions on lower income middle class are the most relevant I've seen for today's context.

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Liberal's Party Playbook

while I don't agree with 75% of the tactics and the why behind it, it's very helpful with knowing why the Democrats act the way they do and initiatives they choose. This is their playbook for everything. A must read for every conservative Republican.

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Still Radical and Still Relevant

As a former community organizer turned civil rights attorney, I reread this book for the first time in 10 years. It’s amazing how relevant ALL of these rules still are today decades after being written. Every organizer and activist should read this if their hope is to be truly radical.

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History book

Did not find it as informative as others. Good history book for the early 70's.

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amazing read

this book was so interesting! easy to listen all the way through! will be recommending this book to others!!!

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Insightful

Insightful and instructive to anyone interested in understanding ‘social movement creation’, regardless of political party or perspective.

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