Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go with the Flow

by Jim Hightower and Susan DeMarco

Book Overview

America's most irascible and hilarious curmudgeon turns a kind and benevolent eye toward brave, hardy, and hardworking souls around the country who have found ways to break free from corporate tentacles; redefine success in business, politics, and life in general; and blaze new pathways toward a richer and happier way of life, from the farmers' cooperative that said "NO " to Wal-Mart and thrived to the economists who got into the coffee business by...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470422831
• ISBN13: 9780470422830
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

What if YOU Could Make Change Happen?

Imagine for a minute if you could make change happen in the community and world around you. What would the US be like if instead of letting big business run politics, ordinary citizens actually had a say in what went on? What would business be like if the corporation actually put people ahead of profit? What would our healthcare system be like if we focused on diagnosis and cures without attaching a price tag to life? What could... what would... what if. Many people ask this question, and in "Swim Against the Current" the author introduces us to the people who asked those questions, and more, and instead of waiting around for an answer they went out and did something -- they swam against the current and in doing so started change in their communities, businesses and homes. This book could be labeled a lot of things, but the label that fits it best is reform. It's a book that is meant to show you that there is a way to get your voice heard, there is a way to change the status quo, there is a way to do things the right way. Throughout the book the author introduces us to ordinary people who are doing the right thing, and fostering change in their communities. People who realized that putting people ahead of profits can lead to a better company; people who brought healthcare to places that nobody else would even think about; people who took back their local government bodies and did things for the people instead of handing over their towns and communities to the corporations. This book is meant to inspire, and the author does a terrific job of making sure that throughout you "see" with real-life examples of how things can change. You'll follow people who started out with one person asking "why can't things be different?" and watch as it progresses into movements both large and small. At the end of the book, hopefully, it will have inspired you to take the next step -- to start taking steps to take back your community, schools, businesses and more. You can go with the flow, or you can stand up and be counted. Use this book as your inspiration to stand-up, be counted and to say to heck with the status quo.

An absorbing and edifying read....

I've never run across Hightower before and wasn't too sure about this book but after reading "Swim Against the Current", I've become a fan. This book is amazing and really touched me personally. This book was eye opening as long as you realize that Hightower's view is skewed (he is anti-business, despite his denials). Even still, this book contains really good sections that made me stop and think. I could not read it fast enough. I'm a fan of business yet the Populist Movement appeals to me. The author's progressive philosophy is engaging, especially the the passage about Dunn, a real estate developer who caters to the struggling, working and real middle class while providing elegant, environmental friendly and AFFORDABLE housing. I never heard of this being accomplished in New York. Why isn't this being covered by the media? Or Yunus (who deservedly won a Nobel Peace Prize), who provides banking to the poor. Or the organic milk farmer co-op? All of the stories in this book shows us how ordinary citizens can band together to fight big corporations, even with their legion of attorneys, lobbyists and wads of cash. I liked the examples of how to buck the system or enrich the quality of your life (some even provide instructions). Haven't you looking around in disguist with politics? corporate greed? and why don't we do something about it? This book encourages us to do just that and it gives me hope that one day..........

I loved this book!

Jim Hightower and Susan DeMarco have written a funny, informative and enlightening book about those of us who are living their lives for the good of all and running businesses with a social conscience. We've become such a corporate society that it's beyond refreshing to hear the stories of those who are succeeding and yes, even thriving by listening to their hearts and making a difference. Their are a number of fascinating stories. One that really interested me personally was the story of Organic Valley. I'm a big proponent for organic food and had been reading a chart put out by the Organic Consumers Association, which showed which organic companies are actually owned by corporations. Organic Valley stood out as one that was NOT. Jim and Susan include the story of Organic Valley in this book and how it was started by a group of dairy farmers as a way to stay in business and get a decent price for their organic milk. They are doing such a great job and I was thrilled to be able to read their story Highly recommended for a very informative and entertaining read

A Progressive Call to Arms

I'm giving this Swim Against the Current 5 stars for the importance of its substance, but in spite of the style in which it is presented. To be fair, I reviewed an unedited draft, so the final product might be fine. For now, the text is a bit schizophrenic. The book is supposed to be written in Jim Hightower's well-known Texan voice, but is a collaboration between him and his long-time partner Susan DeMarco, and it shows. There's a failure to blend the two voices into a consistent presentation. The result is that the text will flow nicely for many pages, then out of nowhere some bit of odd Southern humor is thrown in and it's a bit jarring. I appreciate that Hightower is known first and foremost for his humor and his Texas origins, but his writing partner DeMarco is a Northerner. Hopefully their editor can smooth things out for the final draft. This is a wonderful book with great information, and I'd like to be able to recommend it wholeheartedly. The theme of the book is that all of us, no matter who we are, can not only make a difference, but have an obligation to do so. We're treated to the stories of several citizen action groups and projects that were started by average people with no connections and not a clue how to begin. In spite ongoing challenges, these groups have made a difference in their own lives and the lives of those they touch. The book is divided into three sections: Business, Politics and Life. In the Business section, we see workers overcome union-busting tactics in a Wisconsin cab company and a California strip club, both taken over and run successfully by their respective employees. We get a brief but enlightening history of Peace Coffee, a fair trade cooperative that is cutting out the middle men who have been making all the money that should have gone to the farmers growing the beans. A meeting among farmers in someone's kitchen grows to become the Organic Valley Family of Farms, a cooperative that eventually became the first group to say 'no' to Walmart's cost-cutting ways. The reader is encouraged throughout to break the mold by redefining success in America. Rather than the cycle of fear and consumption that power structure uses to keep the public compulsively acquiring things, Hightower and DeMarco encourage us to look at sustainablity and quality of life, human rights and social justice as integral parts of business. A pharmacist leaves his 100,000 dollar a year job to provide discounts to low income customers with no insurance. He makes less money, but he has breakfast with his kids every day and he's back to helping people rather than turning them away because they can't pay for their medicine. Bankers defy the odds and conventional wisdom by moving into a troubled neighborhood and investing in the people who live there. The result is a thriving community and a profitable bottom line. Section Two takes on the seedy practice of politics. Influence peddlers like Jack Abramoff are juxtaposed with citizen act

Ignore the status quo and rediscover a better life

`Swim Against the Current' takes a bold look at three major and influential topics and examines their impacts on present day society. In a modern world where a nefarious element wants us to think, feel, and act in a predetermined manner, we as individuals and groups owe it to ourselves to resist this and become the catalyst for badly needed change. Beginning with a look at business in the first section, the dubious history of greed, fraud, and lack of ethics in big corporations is not lost on anyone. In a refreshing change for the better, numerous examples are detailed here of people and organizations that have defied the odds to create successful businesses that are untouched by questionable influences. Cooperation and teamwork are basic fundamentals that reach far and wide in accomplishing so much and their benefits are explored here also. Turning next to politics, this sometimes repugnant subject really needs no formal introduction. Immoral and unethical behavior of lobbyists and elected officials are firmly etched in our thoughts. Citizens are fed up and valuable changes are in progress. Four impressive programs described in this book are 'Clean Elections', `Democracy School', `Camp Wellstone', and `ACORN` (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). The impacts from these fine efforts have already had a positive political impact across the country. The underlying theme here is that the general public has the capacity to make these things happen. The process can be laborious at times with the gains coming slowly at first but the end results are positive and worth the efforts. The last and probably most important focus is life itself. It begins with an unpleasant look at our deteriorating food industry but ends up on a positive note in that organic foods and farming are gaining huge popularity in America. The final issue is nature and how mankind is wreaking havoc on the environment. Global warming is a reality, it's not going away or getting better, and the public has to be the voice that facilitates change. The National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) and other groups are spotlighted here in the fight to save America's heritage and homeland. I found 'Swim Against the Current' to be both educational and inspirational and the messages contained within are vitally important. This is a well written and thought provoking book, in my opinion, and I recommend it to everyone.