The Uprising

In this polarized land of ours, a not-so-quiet grassroots dissident movement is at work. Its voices are heard amid established U.S. lawmakers, in the nebulous world of the blogosphere, and from shareholders urging responsibility from large corporations. It is nothing short of a progressive revolt, author David Sirota maintains. In his book he seeks people of varying walks of life who are part of this movement and takes the listener inside their worlds--from a border patrol to Lou Dobbs's newsroom. Lloyd James's narration strikes a balanced tone--not smarmy, but not dead-on serious. It's a perfect fit for Sirota's well-written book. Don't expect potshots against the right wing. The author never resorts to a rant, just as James never relies on a cartoonish or arrogant voice. M.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

April 28, 2008
Sirota (Hostile Takeover
) chronicles how ordinary citizens on the right and the left are marshaling their frustrations with the government into uprisings across the country and analyzes the effectiveness and longevity of their efforts. Citing developments as disparate as progressive political victories in the Montana state senate and the rise of the California Minutemen militia, the author weaves entertaining case studies, keeping his tone conversational, the narrative fast-paced and the content accessible. Sirota hits numerous high notes, including a fine elucidation of continuing Democratic support for the Iraq War, a breakdown of the “echo chamber” qualities of beltway television shows like Hardball
and salient observations of how and why the Democratic Party severed ties with the liberal uprising of the '60s era. According to Sirota, “The activism and energy frothing today is disconnected and atomized. The only commonality between it all is rage.” It remains to be seen whether this rage will snowball into something large enough to upset entrenched political systems, but for the time being, this book presents a rousing account of the local uprisings already in effect.

August 18, 2008
The signs are out there and Sirota believes they imply a forthcoming wide-ranging insurrection. From shifting politics in Montana's state government to the influence of a third political party in New York to the role and positioning of socialist senator Bernie Sanders, to the rise of a militia guarding the Mexican border; moments of dissent, resistance, and change are registering all over the United States. Sirota is quick to point out the more problematic and contradictory issues with these blips on the radar, but he also ably explains the significance of these events in relation to the larger picture. Lloyd James delivers a solid rendering of the text with a consistent tone that provides nuance and subtlety, especially in Sirota's more reflective moments. He provides some personality to characters but not much more than the text dictates, even when dealing with more well-known public figures. A Crown hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 28).

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.