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How to Resist: Turn Protest to Power

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"This extraordinary book is the roadmap for a new kind of effective activism."' -- Brian Eno

"This book is for people who are angry with the ways things are and want to do something about it; for people who are frustrated with the system, or worried about the direction the country is going. Maybe they've been on a march, posted their opinions on social media, or shouted angrily at something they've seen on the news but don't feel like it's making any difference. It is for people who want to make a change but they're not sure how." -- Matthew Bolton

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

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Matthew Bolton

12 books4 followers

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5 stars
66 (38%)
4 stars
74 (42%)
3 stars
26 (15%)
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6 (3%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
2,415 reviews46 followers
July 24, 2021

“It can feel like the resistance is just a series of one-off symbolic protests aimed at raising awareness but lacking specific aims or a strategy to achieve them. We may feel momentarily powerful gathering in large numbers but, if we’re honest, it’s too often a disparate coalition brought together around a host of different causes or abstract principles. If this is the way we resist then, as quickly as this energy for activism has, it will pass in disappointment, and the opportunity will be lost.”

Much in the same way that economics is far too important to be left to the economists, we have known for a long time that politics is far too important to be left to the politicians. If we waited on politicians to willingly affect positive and meaningful change for the benefit of most people then we will be waiting a long time.

“Everyone has power. Those with less power tend to have more than they think, or they do not use their power strategically enough.”

This is that rare and precious thing, a political book which tries to offer up some rational and doable ways to work towards various solutions, with a whole number of inspiring and relevant examples, like the historical case in the UK in 1884, the age of sexual consent was thirteen, which created the perfect environment for widespread sexual exploitation, and yet when the Salvation Army drew the government’s attention to this fact, they weren’t interested, it was only when they persisted and drew support from other concerned parties and forced the issue that the British government eventually relented by raising it to 16 in 1885. Bolton uses many other examples of grassroots action in more contemporary situations from the 21st Century.

“We are faced with a market culture that is spending hundreds of millions of pounds on advertising, telling us that our primary role in life is to be a consumer, and with a dominant political culture telling us that we are spectators in a game played out in Westminster and in TV studios. In standing up to this and providing an alternative vision, we all have a role to play.”
Profile Image for bekhush.
21 reviews
February 13, 2022
I had several lightbulb moments reading this book. Bolton has a way of making you feel safe from judgement as you reflect on conversations and beliefs you've held for a while and only discussed in small trusted circles or with no one at all. For me these were my thoughts on money, power, self-interest and action.

Through a series of inspiring and engaging examples, from the UK Living Wage campaign to disability inclusion on buses to safe passage for refugee children, he provides a roadmap for how to turn what makes you angry into a meaningful, sustained action.

The central tenet of his toolkit is the conviction, or rather the reminder that "democracy doesn't just mean 'to vote', it means people power. It means embedding political action into our day-to-day lives, in our communities and workplaces. It is a vision of a society where power is distributed amongst the people, not concentrated in the hands of the few. It's not an end state, but a constant struggle for people to fight for a seat around the decision making table".

As there is a growing list of things that keeps most of us up at night - not least the opaque, revolving, unevolving door concentrating power into the hands of the same few, it would serve us well to heed this timely reminder and go through Bolton's practical toolkit on how to tear it down altogether.

A book whose lessons I will doubtless be drawing on for the unforseeable future.
Profile Image for Malcolm.
1,814 reviews469 followers
September 20, 2017
For many years Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals provided one of the most effective frameworks for community level organising. The ‘rules’ are pretty straightforward and in a sense quite obvious, but I can’t help thinking that part of that ‘obviousness’ is that Alinsky’s approach has, over the last 50 years or so, been so influential. This excellent guide updates Alinsky and demonstrates the usefulness of his approach through the work of Citizens UK, highlighting especially Bolton’s work in the Living Wage campaign.

Bolton has an engaging, conversational writing style, interspersing theory and principles with examples grounded in various of Citizens UK’s campaigns. All this gives a good balance between advice and evidence and makes ‘rules’ clear. The approach, built on three basic organising tools blending biographical and structural questions and approaches, is clearly laid out with good advice on how to put them into action, or at least how to ‘resist’ while still doing all the things of everyday life.

The stories and cases are inspiring, and Bolton maintains a good balance between the personalised stories and cases, and the community activism basis of the successes he is promoting. Crucially, in the spirit of community organising and effective politics he draws out excellent examples of ways to take big problems and turn them into achievable political demands without losing sight of the big picture. Along with Lucy-Anne Holmes’ recent How To Start a Revolution Bolton has given us an excellent guide on ways to turn anger into activism.
Profile Image for Laure.
85 reviews6 followers
January 10, 2021
This book is necessary for anyone who wants to achieve change. It explains power, its necessity, and how to analyze it; the necessity of pragmatism and compromise, of setting reachable goals and making alliances. The writing style is engaging.
I needed this read and it is likely you do, too.
Profile Image for JC.
549 reviews56 followers
Read
February 1, 2023
Read this book for a reading group. Some fairly useful and practical tips for organizing effectively. Leans quite a bit reformist, but I think any person involved in revolutionary political work is always involved in parallel reformist struggles to the extent that it can make evident the limitations of reformist efforts and bring others into revolutionary politics or for particular aims where coalitions can prove useful. I have seen Bayan orgs and NDMOs based in the Philippines engage in these front tactics very well, and run some very effective campaigns that engage liberal institutions (and this is honestly where a lot of progressive faith organizations fit into wider radical struggles). The MI5 file on Hobsbawm called the historian a 'tireless and tiresome organiser of petitions and champion of lost causes' and the journalist Frances Stonor Saunders in a London Review of Books documentary said that seems close to what Hobsbawm thought of himself at the time. And I sometimes feel that way too. Anyway, some of the tips in this book are useful for revolutionary organizing also.

There was one story in particular that hit me hard, and it was about the author, Matthew Bolton, working hard to organize a local meeting around social issues like asylum seekers, and no one showing up. Boy do I ever know how that feels (very bad). But there are good tips in this book about how to run organizing meetings (that do not waste people’s time and foster meaningful social connections) as well as accounting for the interests of people you are trying to organize with (people have to get things out of meetings and it cannot just be another sink hole that sucks up everyone’s energy). The value of one-on-one engagement is also something I’ve been finding is tremendously useful for organizing. A lot of these things I’ve picked up perhaps by osmosis, from just being in organizing meetings around others who are good at organizing. There are organizers I admire who possess a lot of the characteristics mentioned in the book — abilities like nourishing motivation, encouraging people to take ownership of projects and the initiative to take up relevant tasks (I still do not have these sorts of abilities, though ARAK / Activist Study has some really good praxis regarding this stuff, and hope to attend some NDMO Step-by-Step Organizing workshops this year).

Another useful tip was how to approach power analysis in terms of formulating a theory of change. How does power flow within the particular constellation of social relations, who holds decision making powers and where are the particular vulnerabilities or leverage points. Tactics around electoral politics mostly focused on trying to extract public promises from candidates during election campaign periods. The one thing this book does emphasize a lot is building power, which I appreciate. The subtitle of the book is “turn protest to power” and a lot of the text was trying to formulate a way past symbolic acts of protest. This is definitely a struggle because public acts of solidarity are significant and sometimes they align directly with social change that has immediate material effects and sometimes they do not, but more indirectly contribute to preparing for action that later on has the power to effect such change. I disagreed a lot with some of the tactics in this book around policy reform or corporate engagement, and I think a lot of those types of campaigns have sucked enormous amounts of energy from people and have largely lead to dead ends. But some of the tactical stories around building coalitions with faith communities, organizing workers for a living wage, and stopping migrant deportations were very useful and I want to think through them more, and how they might apply to the organizing efforts I’m involved in now.
Profile Image for iulia Lambrino.
50 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2022
A really inspiring book for acquiring change and being impactful. Gives great examples and techniques about actual change and not only raising awareness. Therefore, it focuses in transforming problems into issues and solving smaller issues which would make up a bigger problem. Step by step, following the suggested advice, the problem could be approached with more success results.

Also really easy to read! Recommend 100%
Profile Image for Michael.
Author 1 book14 followers
November 9, 2017
Timely, concise, practical, useful.

As the saying goes: "don't agonize, organize" - and that's exactly what Matthew Bolton sets out to explain how to do, and he does it well.

Bolton illustrates key points using real-life examples - using historical characters you'll recognise (Rosa Parks, MLK and others). Perhaps aware that those may seem too lofty as role models, he then dives into his own personal experiences of bringing about change: dissecting what has worked, and what hasn't.

A worthwhile parallel read is Moisés Naím's The End of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields and Churches to States, Why Being In Charge Isn't What It Used to Be - that books pulls power apart. Matthew Bolton's builds it up again - for the 21st century.

The only issue I'd pick out is the assertion that anger and frustration is the best spark for change. Whilst it can be a source, it shouldn't be the only source. Change can happen in many ways. So if you're not in a corner, trying to resist the unreasonable, try: Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change - and of course the writings of John P. Kotter etc. However, if you are in a corner, dealing with the unreasonable: start with Mr Bolton.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
81 reviews12 followers
June 8, 2020
It wasn’t exactly what I was anticipating. While I enjoyed the information about the campaigns that Matthew has been involved in I wasn’t aware how much of the book would be about it.
I’m struggling to find the exact words but sometimes it felt like Matthew was really writing out of a place of privilege. Much of the time it sounds like this book are for external campaigners who are working with communities and I think this was further felt because he hadn’t campaigned (or at least mentioned) anything that impacted him.
I also found that some of the generalisation he makes are a bit... frustrating? I’m particularly thinking of the slight guilt trip where he breaks down the number of hours people do things and that there should be 14 hours a week left to work on a topic/campaign you care about. Who did he base this off? Not the workers he’s been campaigning with, definitely not women with or without kids... I know he was probably looking to inspire but I didn’t feel like this generalisation was necessary.

I did generally find the information about how to organise helpful and will take some of the things onboard.
Profile Image for Ashley.
716 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2019
Best for:
Anyone looking for some practical advice to help make meaningful policy change.

In a nutshell:
One of the Living Wage Campaigners and the Executive director of Citizens UK offers tips on building targeted social movements based on the success - and failure - he has experienced as a community organizer.

Worth quoting:
“Be intentional about what kind of change it’s worth our while putting your time into: what’s achievable, and how you could influence those decisions.”

Why I chose it:
A work colleague had some extra copies from what she’d ordered for an event.

Review:
I love a good, practical book. Especially when it’s a book that can help bring about change.

Author Matthew Bolton knows about making change. He’s helped organize successful campaigns to get companies — and Parliament — to adopt the Living Wage so people can actually survive by working just one job (imagine that!). He recognizes that there are many things we as citizens may want to change, but he is also pragmatic. A big protest is a great show of force, but to make change you have to be intentional and pick very specific actions that you want your elected officials or company leaders to make. It’s not enough to protest about, say, global warming (though that kind of disruption obviously has its place); to be effective it helps to have specific policy proposals as well as a collection of individuals who we can call upon to lend their support.

This is an easy read, with case studies illustrating how the suggestions play out in practice. It includes step-by-step processes, and tips for making sure you take care of yourself along the way. It’s a small book and only 150 pages, so its accessible. I look forward to putting what I’ve learned into action.

Keep it / Pass to a Friend / Donate it / Toss it:
Keep it
Profile Image for Stephanie Nguyen.
280 reviews
August 19, 2019
Short little book that offers practical tools on how to mobilize and think like a community organizer. Most of the book is helpful but I found chapter 1, 2, 3 and 9 most useful as Bolton teaches the mindset of an organizer. He's honest that self-interest (chap 1) and power (chap 2) are real tools to help mobilize and target the right decision makers. Chap 9 is the most helpful because Bolton breaks down the dominant assumption of social and political change, which is charity. He argues that being an organizer means helping people find their own agency rather than doing things for them (charity). Teaching agency ensures citizens learn how to improve their local communities rather than rely on politicians or authorities to do it for them.
Profile Image for Abbey.
57 reviews3 followers
March 27, 2021
I read this as part of a community organizing reading group that I joined. It's a good introduction to community organizing, but in my opinion misses out on some of the key elements of building a transformational movement. I was frustrated by the focus on incrementalism without a discussion of how those actions should be in the pursuit of a transformational and radical goal. There was also a tendency to recommend "politeness" and "non-violence" (echoing of respectability politics) that I don't agree with. The author spoke of campaigns he helped organized but never described his own involvement or drive to be part of them, staying instead in a sticky "outsider" position that doesn't seem congruous with how I understand community organizing.
Profile Image for Joseph Busa.
Author 8 books5 followers
August 19, 2018
Short, concise and to the point. Explains in a practical way how just about anybody can harness the power to change the world.

I was a little concerned to learn about the role of Citizens UK in community activism. I can imagine that it wouldn't take very much to turn an obvious force for good into a "Rent of Mob" in a less democratic society. That aside: if you're feeling powerless, isolated or exploited, this book will help you stop moaning and start motivating!
Profile Image for Maughn Gregory.
1,084 reviews36 followers
November 11, 2018
Democracy will not survive if most citizens participate in politics mostly as spectators, some of whom occasionally vote. All the marches, online petitions and social media wars some of us spend so much time and energy on are USELESS unless we also spend time and energy in the kind of community organizing for direct political action described in this little guidebook.
20 reviews
July 14, 2020
Much more of an autobiography with a few key points on how to obtain political power. Not sure what I was expecting, but a British guy talking about how he got legislation passed wasn't really it. Could've done with about 85% fewer personal anecdotes and more actual advice, though the advice given was worthwhile.
Profile Image for David Caldwell.
203 reviews
December 6, 2023
Expertly written guide to community organizing. I bought this one, and made some highlights throughout. He gives a lot of examples through his own experience in community organizing to help make change when people are being wronged, and how collective action is where we get our power when we face powerful people.
Profile Image for Khulud Khamis.
Author 2 books98 followers
September 8, 2017
this is a small book but with tons of practical advice for anyone who has a passion to change the world. it offers practical steps you can do about the issues that make you mad and angry. how to mobilize people around you and lead grassroots campaigns the people feel ownership of
Author 4 books12 followers
April 18, 2019
Good practical advice on how to campaign for social issues with step by step advice on getting things done. Many case studies included. Very close to five stars, but for me, the material was a bit dry. Any person of action would find this invaluable.
2 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2020
Easy to read and giving a lot of inspiration to get on with activism. I love the critical approach on activism-for-activistic-sake. His focus on getting small steps ahead and how to work with people in power is lovely!
Profile Image for SilenceFort.
27 reviews
January 1, 2021
I found this book honest and fact-based, which I do not often think of self-help books on social activism. I greatly appreciated the bits about Bolton's own experience. I could make more out of these anecdotes than I would have with a generic "here is what you should do" tone.
24 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2018
What makes you angry ?How do you inspire social change?
Profile Image for Naomi.
826 reviews3 followers
March 6, 2019
Short and snappy. Bring real life examples of how to coordinate and develop direct action to tackle issues from inequality to climate change.
334 reviews
September 24, 2019
This all made good sense to me. Should I ever decide to campaign to change something I will make use of this book.
Profile Image for Diana Turchi.
78 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2021
Very much the basics about creating effective change, a bit too dry at times. Preferred the sections with tangible real life examples more than the theory/organizational skills presented.
Profile Image for Tom Snape.
28 reviews
May 15, 2021
A practical handbook for community organising and activism. Cannot recommend it highly enough.
Profile Image for Maddy.
283 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2021
I’m so grateful to already be involved with Citizens but if I wasn’t I would be after this (thanks citizens for that and the books recommendations if anyone ever sees this 😉)

When I first heard of community organising the almost unbelievable stories drew me in (a point which is made in the book is that ordinary people participating in democracy shouldn’t be unbelievable but I digress). This book believed in the power of those stories and used them to solidify the main points from the book- which was very effective and quite emotional.

The book acted as a mixture of an explanation of what community organisers believe and how anybody can resist. The perfect textbook intro to community organising.

Main takings:
- understanding of the values of community organisers: how they organise, the methods they organise with and why they employ certain methods
- basically everything that I’ve wondered since discovering CO was addressed and it was addressed well
- made me want to read more into BOTH sides of it: the organisers and the campaigns
- really appreciated the explanations of why Citizens/CO value education/learning so much
- the points about self interest were important.... everyone is selfish. Pretending different hinders campaigning. Appeal to everyone’s self interest otherwise even the campaigners won’t care.
- the points about specificity and targets as opposed to vague campaigns were something I have very much been upset about lately so it was good to see validation on what makes more effective social action
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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