The author's aim in writing is to share ideas, experiences, and the lessons learned, hoping to evoke a range of emotions and critical thought in readers. The core aspiration is to create a profound connection, a moment of shared understanding across time and space, which the author views as the true marvel of the written word. Ultimately, the author emphasizes that their work is incomplete and meaningless without the reader's engagement and interpretation.
The collection of essays showcases the author's vibrant personality and diverse experiences over thirty years, blending humor and passion. Readers will journey through his reflections on nature, social consciousness sparked by travels in Central America, and candid observations on life and death. Nichols's talent shines through as he captures the beauty in simple moments and navigates serious themes with irreverence and joy. His unique voice brings a mix of compassion and wit, making each essay a celebration of life and the human experience.
Exploring the evolution of socialism in America, this book serves as a bold response to conservative critiques. It presents a concise yet engaging narrative that challenges misconceptions and highlights the historical significance of socialist movements in the U.S. By addressing key events and figures, the author aims to demystify socialism and encourage a more nuanced understanding of its role in American society.
"Fighting fascism at home and abroad begins with the consolidation of a progressive politics. Seventy-five years ago, Henry Wallace, then the vice president of the United States, mounted a campaign about the “Danger of American Fascism.” As fighting in the European and Japanese theatres drew to a close, Wallace warned that the country might win the war and lose the peace; that the fascist threat the United States was battling abroad had a terrifying domestic variant, growing rapidly in power: wealthy corporatists and their allies in the media. Wallace predicted that if the New Deal project was not renewed and expanded in the postwar era, American fascists would use fear mongering, xenophobia, and racism to regain economic and political power. He championed a progressive postwar world—an alternative to the rising triumphalist “American Century” notion in which the United States rejected colonialism and imperialism. Wallace’s political vision—as well as his nomination to remain vice president—was sidelined by Democratic big city bosses and southern segregationists. In the decades to come, other progressives would mount similar campaigns: George McGovern and Jesse Jackson most prominently. As John Nichols chronicles in this book, they ultimately failed—a warning to would-be reformers today—but their efforts provide us with insights into the nature of the Democratic Party and strategic lessons for the likes of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."--Publisher's description
The memoir chronicles the author's transformative journey from a privileged upbringing to becoming an influential author and activist. It explores his evolving beliefs, particularly in "liberation ecology," showcasing a shift from self-satisfaction to a deeper commitment to social and environmental justice. Accompanied by illustrations, the narrative reflects on personal growth and the quest for meaningful change.
Argues that the infusion of more and more cash into election campaigns is leading to predictable results, reducing political elections to little more than a numbers game and allowing the powers that be to practically buy an election.
Joe Mondragon, a feisty hustler with a talent for trouble, slammed his battered pickup to a stop, tugged on his gumboots, and marched into the arid patch of ground. Carefully (and also illegally), he tapped into the main irrigation channel. And so began-though few knew it at the time-the Milagro beanfield war. But like everything else in the dirt-poor town of Milagro, it would be a patchwork war, fought more by tactical retreats than by battlefield victories. Gradually, the small farmers and sheepmen begin to rally to Joe's beanfield as the symbol of their lost rights and their lost lands. And downstate in the capital, the Anglo water barons and power brokers huddle in urgent conference, intent on destroying that symbol before it destroys their multimillion-dollar land-development schemes. The tale of Milagro's rising is wildly comic and lovingly ter, a vivid portrayal of a town that, half-stumbling and partly prodded, gropes its way toward its own stubborn salvation.
Set against the backdrop of a divided America, the story follows Michael Smith, a Vietnam War veteran grappling with the haunting memories of war and the brutality of civilian life. His journey through anger and disillusionment leads him to a complex relationship that offers a glimmer of hope. This novel, first published in 1987, resonates with contemporary issues of violence and loss, making it a poignant commentary on societal turmoil that remains relevant today.
Boom times came to the forgotten little southwestern town of Chamisaville just as the rest of America was in the Great Depression. They came when a rattletrap bus loaded with stolen dynamite blew sky-high, leaving behind a giant gushing hot spring. Within minutes, the town's wheeler-dealers had organized, and within a year, Chamisaville was flooded with tourists and pilgrims, and the wheeler-dealers were rich.Spanning forty years, The Magic Journey tells the tale of how progress transformed a rural backwater into a boomtown. At first, it was a magic time for Chamisaville—almost as if every day were a holiday. But the euphoria gradually dissipated, and the land-hungry developers, speculators, and interlopers moved in. Finally, the day came when Chamisaville's people found themselves all but displaced, their children no longer heirs to their land or their tradition. With mounting intensity, The Magic Journey reaches a climax that is tragically foreordained. A sensitive, vital, and honest chronicle of life in America's Southwest, it is also an incisive commentary on what America has become on its road to progress.The Magic Journey is part of the New Mexico Trilogy, which includes The Milagro Beanfield War and The Nirvana Blues.
