Nonviolence, H.H. Dalai Lama
Nonviolence, H.H. Dalai Lama
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Nonviolence
The History of a Dangerous Idea

Author: H.H. Dalai Lama, Mark Kurlansky

Narrator: Richard Dreyfuss

Unabridged: 7 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 04/29/2009

Categories: Nonfiction, History


Synopsis

In this timely, highly original, and controversial narrative, New York Times bestselling author Mark Kurlansky discusses nonviolence as a distinct entity, a course of action, rather than a mere state of mind. Nonviolence can and should be a technique for overcoming social injustice and ending wars, he asserts, which is why it is the preferred method of those who speak truth to power. Nonviolence is a sweeping yet concise history that moves from ancient Hindu times to present-day conflicts raging in the Middle East and elsewhere. Kurlansky also brings into focus just why nonviolence is a "dangerous" idea, and asks such provocative questions as: Is there such a thing as a "just war"? Could nonviolence have worked against even the most evil regimes in history? Kurlansky draws from history twenty-five provocative lessons on the subject that we can use to effect change today. He shows how, time and again, violence is used to suppress nonviolence and its practitioners-Gandhi and Martin Luther King, for example; that the stated deterrence value of standing national armies and huge weapons arsenals is, at best, negligible; and, encouragingly, that much of the hard work necessary to begin a movement to end war is already complete. It simply needs to be embraced and accelerated. Engaging, scholarly, and brilliantly reasoned, Nonviolence is a work that compels readers to look at history in an entirely new way. This is not just a manifesto for our times but a trailblazing book whose time has come

Reviews

Goodreads review by Larry on May 23, 2023

Once again, I am listening to a book in the audible version that I first read almost a dozen years ago. But I am mostly surprise this time to find out that although I only gave this book 3 stars when I read it in the printed version, I fairly immediately new as I listened to the book that I was goin......more

Goodreads review by Steven R. on July 26, 2016

"One of history's greatest lessons is that once the state embraces a religion, the nature of that religion changes radically. It loses its nonviolent component and becomes a force for war rather than peace. The state must make war, because without war it would have to drop its power politics and ren......more

Goodreads review by Nick on September 22, 2009

I didn't particularly enjoy Kurlansky's book on nonviolence--although his facts are accurate, they are often incomplete and his tone is snarky throughout. Someone whose introduction to nonviolence is this book is likely to reject the whole business.......more

Goodreads review by Steve on March 18, 2013

Mark Kurlansky is an excellent writer, He makes a very strong case for nonviolence. He sees nonviolence as a political tactic, and openly questions those cases in history that have been routinely touted as examples of regimes which would be impervious to a Ghandi-like resistance. He singles out the......more

Goodreads review by Evelyn on January 31, 2014

Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea is a book that I've seen many human rights activists who I admire recommend, and it's really opened my eyes to seeing things from a different point of view. In Nonviolence, Kurlansky provides an insightful overview of this powerful mindset and movement, c......more