Anarchism And Other Essays by Emma Goldman

From The Week of August 29, 2010

She may not have as fervent a following as some 20th century political philosophers, but upon reading this collection of essays from Emma Goldman, the brilliant Russian-born anarchist who came in the 1880s to America in search of a newer and freer life, it is clear to me that she has earned her place among humanity's greatest thinkers. Her passion against injustice is boundless; her fight against prejudice is exemplary; her will to press on in spite of a lifetime's worth of disappointments is courageous. She is a marvel.

the following is Ms. Goldman's most famous quote. I place it here because it explains so succinctly the origins of her philosophy outlined in these essays: " Anarchism, then, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals for the purpose of producing real social wealth; an order that will guarantee to every human being free access to the earth and full enjoyment of the necessities of life, according to individual desires, tastes, and inclinations." I've never read a profounder or clearer definition of freedom.

From the paucity of womens rights, to the poor treatment of prisoners, to the crime of marriage, to the trap of patriotism, Ms. Goldman leaves few of our Western sacred cows untouched as, well ahead of her time, she opens fire on the unfairness of life. Informed by her upbringing in a Czarist Russia, and having had her education in tyranny continued in some f the darkest decades for liberty in the American experiment, Ms. Goldman emerges from her crucible with a coherent philosophy which echos through each of these essays. Fairness can only be achieved when we treat everyone equally. And we can only treat everyone equally when we acknowledge that everyone has the right to be an individual, and when we relinquish our right to judge them for their choices. This is wonderful work and it will spur me onto someday read her autobiography. First, I will let these declarations of freedom breathe awhile, content in the knowledge that I am not alone in the way I think about the world. (4/5 Stars)