Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

Previously published by Cassell as The Cassell Handbook of Radicalism. A fine reference on modern radical thought and action, opening with a 46-page introductory essay, "Radicalism in the Twentieth Century." Following a look at 38 "Radical Forerunners," some 350 20th-century radicals are profiled, most including a short bibliography. A "Groups and Movements" section describes organizations, cultural and political movements, events, and campaigns that have had a marked influence on the development of radical ideas and tactics. Among the three appendices is a list of 70 additional radicals in the US with their dates, field of activity, and suggestions for further reading. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Veteran environmental activist Button has compiled a representative worldwide selection of individuals, organizations, and movements associated with radical activism during its long, 20th-century roller-coaster ride. Button attempts to redress the androcentric and ethnocentric biases of the past: women constitute 42 percent of the 360 sketches in the biographical section, while American and Western European entries are capped at less than 60 percent. A substantial essay placing radicalism in clear historical perspective precedes the biographical sketches, which are followed by a similar sequence for groups and movements. Usually less than a page, the entries are competent though occasionally rather wooden. The lack of inclusiveness may frustrate some (e.g., Why not Norman Thomas? Why not the League for Industrial Democracy?). Nevertheless, the reasonable price and global, gender-balanced approach make this work an attractive reference companion to such titles as Biographical Dictionary of the American Left (Greenwood, 1986) and Encyclopedia of the American Left (Garland, 1990).-Mark R. Yerburgh, Fern Ridge Community Lib., Veneta, Ore. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Radicalism Handbook is interesting for two reasons. First, it is a biographical dictionary and directory for individuals and organizations involved in leftist politics, feminism, gay rights, pacifism, and related movements. Button (Dictionary of Green Ideas, 1988) limits American, European, and male entries in order to widen coverage of women, nonwhite, and Third World activists, creating a useful source of information about individuals not always found in standard reference sources. Entries cover salient aspects of their subjects and include brief bibliographies, and appendixes list individuals by country and areas of activity and include brief entries for 80 Americans not covered in the main body. The book ends with a detailed subject index. Second, the work takes a sympathetic tone toward its subject matter. Although the book is emphatically not objective (many entries are uncritical in discussing their topics), its perspective is honestly presented. Button's two essays defining radicalism as solely a leftist-progressive concept and surveying radical thought and action from 1790 to the present are excellent and accessible to general readers. An interesting, well-written, and valuable source, of interest to scholars and students of political and social movements. All academic libraries. S. L. Hupp; University of Pittsburgh

Booklist Review

This handbook aims to satisfy the curiosity and information needs of patrons searching the subjects "radicalism" and "radical," in terms of the left. Compiled by an environmental activist and author of A Dictionary of Green Ideas, the work is global in scope and includes radicals who worked for social change in a wide variety of areas, from the arts to women's rights. The handbook begins with an explanation of the criteria for inclusion: individuals have to be doers as well as thinkers and have to have worked for radical causes for much of their lives. An essay discusses radicalism in the twentieth century, its radical antecedents (1790-1860) and "rebirth" (1955-75). The author says that the 1990s present immense new challenges for the radical movement, but he is optimistic about creating the world that radicals have worked for. The main part of the book begins with a look at "radical forerunners," 38 individuals crucial to twentieth-century radicalism--for example, William Blake, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Engels--who completed their life's work before 1900. The next section contains profiles of 350 twentieth-century radicals, arranged from Chinua Achebe to Emiliano Zapata. Birth and death dates (if appropriate), occupation, and a short bibliography of works by and about the person are provided along with the biography. More than 100 of these radicals are still living. Coverage is international; only 90 of those profiled are from the U.S. Some of these people will be found in such books as American Reformers (Wilson, 1985) and Leaders from the 1960s (Greenwood, 1994). The "Groups and Movements" section is also arranged alphabetically and describes organizations, cultural and political movements, events, and campaigns that have had an impact on the development of radical ideas and tactics. Groups range from ACT-UP to Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo and the Yippies. These profiles also have bibliographies. Two appendixes list radical activists by country and by main area of activity, and a third provides information on some 70 "other notable American radicals." A comprehensive subject index concludes the book. The Radicalism Handbook is a reference work with an agenda: to show that leftist radicalism has played an important role in modern political and economic thought. Patrons seeking information on the impact of conservative radicalism will not find it here. Recommended for academic libraries. (Reviewed November 1, 1995)

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

John Button has been active in environmental politics for over 20 years.