BOOK REVIEW

Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions – Paul Mason

Tremendously perspicacious geopolitical read that mixes journalistic reportage with historical context

          I would label this book a must-read for anyone even remotely interested in world affairs and the current geopolitical climate, particularly if you’ve been following the Arab uprisings, which have seen the antediluvian rule of tyrannical governments challenged by the collective mass of their subjects. Although this book receives mixed reviews online depending on where you look, I think Paul Mason, the BBC’s much-acclaimed economics editor, has done a terrific job with this work. The book is a fully satisfying blend of on-the-ground journalistic coverage meshed with appropriate historical context that leaves its readers feeling intellectually bloated.

          Although he does tend to jump around from region to region as the chapters come and go, Mason’s scrutiny of the sociocultural drivers behind major events such as the London riots as well as his portraiture of the vivid details makes for a truly insightful read into some of the most significant power shifts of the 21st century. For one, I hadn’t appreciated the diversity of context of many of the protests, nor the sheer magnitude of the political backdrop until I read this book. I was also ignorant to the bleakness of situations in areas like the rural southern U.S., or Manila, whose people now suffer heavily as a result of Big Government.  This piece also shines a light on new forms of activism, such as the use of social media in the protests in Tahrir Square and Tehran, a trend which on its own could fill several books’ worth of pages. For those amongst us who crave to learn more about the world and better understand its political and social complexities, I would recommend you put this at the top of your reading list.

-NP, August 2013