The Activist's Handbook: A Primer for the 1990s and Beyond

by Randy Shaw

Book Overview

The Activist's Handbook is a hard-hitting guide to making social change happen. Shaw, a longtime activist for urban issues, shows how positive change can still be accomplished-- despite an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520203178
• ISBN13: 9780520203174
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 326 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Highest Recommendation

Even if you're not an activist and don't want to be, as long as you have any sort of interest in social change, this book will be well worth reading. Packed with examples of how movements have succeeded and failed, this extremely readable handbook will inspire through its analysis of strategies and tactics that can be used to accomplish what many of us desperately want. Most of us understand already that simply arguing for social justice will fail to achieve it, but -- as Shaw demonstrates -- Herculean efforts, if miscalculated, will just as surely fail. In this book, Shaw describes successful strategies for community organizers, effective relationships with elected officials, the use of coalitions, ballot initiatives, the media, lawyers, and direct action strategies. The most persuasive theme tying each of these discussions together is that the best defense is an effective offense, that a failure to aggressively pursue positive change is a strategy for worsening the status quo.

GREAT ideas and examples for Activists

This book is highly readable and has GREAT examples and tips. The author shows examples where organizations succeeded and where they failed. As a novice activist, I found it to be very helpful. The examples are diverse so I think there is a great deal for more experienced activits to learn as well. The only drawback of this book is that it focuses only on domestic issues. For those whose causes are on the international level as well as the domestic level would find that to be the only draw back. Still, this is a useful book with great examples and ideas that any activist could use and relate to their own campaign.

A must read for activists

This book is absolutely essential reading for any activist. The author, who is a successful activist himself, covers everthing you need to know to get your cause "out there" where people (and especially decision-makers) will see the importance of your issue and choose to do something about it.If you are an activist that wants to be both efficennt and effective, I would highly suggest reading this book

Good strategies, but where's the democracy?

Good advice especially re: dealing with the press, lawyers, and applying strategy. Would have liked to see a lot more about getting social change organizations to really involve their members in running the organization- its still "Tales of the Super Organizer" a model activists need to outgrow and are already outgrowing.

Essential reading for serious social-change activists

This book provides concrete examples of how grassroots social change organizations are either successful or unsuccessful in reaching their goals. Case studies of actual campaigns are presented and particular strategies are analyzed in various fields of activism. Legislative strategy, ballot initiatives, direct action and dealing with the media are all presented. Compelling reading and very rewarding, this book is also the activism Bible of the adult adoptee-rights organization Bastard Nation.