Hopes and Prospects by Noam Chomsky

This excellent series of lectures, essays and articles explore events in the Americas that, although recent, are presented through an analysis of history and power. For those who have never read Chomsky, this wouldn't be a bad place to start.


Noam's usual topical suspects are here: Power, imperialism, hypocrisy/different standards for 'them,' what is printed in the news vs. what actually happens, Vietnam, aggression, American public opinion vs. elite opinion, NPT, Israel, siege of Gaza, nature of democracy promotion, Iraq, torture memos, Obama's support of the corporate elite, Latin American struggles (e.g., the first 9-11 in Chile), Haiti and so much more.
I cannot deny that much of the content is disheartening but such is the price for being aware of injustice. It is hard to refute the phrase "if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

Highly recommended.