Understanding Power

For people to call it “conspiracy theory” is part of the effort to prevent an understanding of how the world works, in my view—“conspiracy theory” has become the intellectual equivalent of a four-letter word: it’s something people say when they don’t want you to think about what’s really going on.

on HN, 2013

Understanding Power is, without question, the most comprehensive and compelling presentation of Noam Chomsky's ideas. Reading this book will change the way you see the world.

on HN, 2013

Absolutely amazing, changed the way I look at the society, will re-read:

on HN, 2015

Chomsky is very specific with his criticism of foreign policy, and one of the things that impresses me is that he seems to read more of 'Foreign Policy' and the Wall Street Journal than most of the right-wing, and certainly more than most of his critics.

on HN, 2013

This was the first political book I had ever read and it completely rocked my world. I knew the US was involved in some nefarious stuff, but never to that extent. Completely changed the way I read news / history & how I react to current events.

on HN, 2019

Manufacturing consent and Understanding power are indeed life changing books. They are in the sense that after reading them you will look at the media and politics in a new way and that that way will never leave you. It's like putting on glasses when you didn't know you needed them.

on HN, 2013

For non-fiction, by far the one that had the most novelty factor and effect of my worldview probably Chomsky - Understanding Power.

on HN, 2024

I knew the United States was complicit in some nefarious things, both domestic and abroad, but wow, that book really blew my hair back.

on HN, 2017

Understanding Power is a great place to start. Its a collection of past talks given by him and I found it to be a great primer for more focused Chomsky books.

on HN, 2017