Comments on: Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means – by William T. Vollmann http://calitreview.com/163 Book reviews, essays, and author interviews. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:08:48 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://calitreview.com/163/comment-page-1#comment-743 Patrick Tue, 29 May 2007 17:50:57 +0000 http://calitreview.com//non-fiction-reviews/rising-up-and-rising-down-some-thoughts-on-violence-freedom-and-urgent-means-by-william-t-vollmann/#comment-743 While Vollmann should be comended for tackeling such an enormous task of mapping, discussing, and attempting to answer questions of violence, there is one major flaw in this work that cannot be overlooked. He greatly misunderstands nonviolence and its principles. He has spent so much time thinking and writing about violence that it is clear he has done little research or thought into the deeper ideas of nonviolence. Case in point: Gene Sharp wrote a book in the early 70's (I believe '73) called "Politics of Nonviolent Action." This book accomplishes for nonviolence what Vollman attempts with his opus. Sharp takes a critical look at nonviolence and its historic uses and discusses success, failure, and future possibilties. (He followed this work up in 2005 with Waging Nonviolent Struggle) THe book is very well known and very well respected in fields of nonviolence. Had Vollman done any amount of research on the subject he would have come across this book, and after reading realized about half of his critiques of nonviolence in situations that supposedly need violence is flawed. Overall this makes Rising up, Rising Down elementary in regards to analysis of violence. You cannot write on either side without a detailed understanding of both sides (this understanding must go beyondmere practice of both), and it is clear Vollman does not understand nonviolence to any great or practical, degree (despite his dabblings ins the field). While Vollmann should be comended for tackeling such an enormous task of mapping, discussing, and attempting to answer questions of violence, there is one major flaw in this work that cannot be overlooked. He greatly misunderstands nonviolence and its principles. He has spent so much time thinking and writing about violence that it is clear he has done little research or thought into the deeper ideas of nonviolence. Case in point: Gene Sharp wrote a book in the early 70’s (I believe ‘73) called “Politics of Nonviolent Action.” This book accomplishes for nonviolence what Vollman attempts with his opus. Sharp takes a critical look at nonviolence and its historic uses and discusses success, failure, and future possibilties. (He followed this work up in 2005 with Waging Nonviolent Struggle) THe book is very well known and very well respected in fields of nonviolence. Had Vollman done any amount of research on the subject he would have come across this book, and after reading realized about half of his critiques of nonviolence in situations that supposedly need violence is flawed. Overall this makes Rising up, Rising Down elementary in regards to analysis of violence. You cannot write on either side without a detailed understanding of both sides (this understanding must go beyondmere practice of both), and it is clear Vollman does not understand nonviolence to any great or practical, degree (despite his dabblings ins the field).

]]> By: Rupert Rahl http://calitreview.com/163/comment-page-1#comment-742 Rupert Rahl Tue, 29 May 2007 17:50:30 +0000 http://calitreview.com//non-fiction-reviews/rising-up-and-rising-down-some-thoughts-on-violence-freedom-and-urgent-means-by-william-t-vollmann/#comment-742 Im on page 280 of Rising Up and Rising Down! Reading this is comparable to writing the same statement over and over on a chalkboard in detention. I will finish this book I will finish this book I will finish this book Im on page 280 of Rising Up and Rising Down! Reading this is comparable to writing the same statement over and over on a chalkboard in detention.

I will finish this book
I will finish this book
I will finish this book

]]> By: Thomas Barber http://calitreview.com/163/comment-page-1#comment-741 Thomas Barber Tue, 29 May 2007 17:49:45 +0000 http://calitreview.com//non-fiction-reviews/rising-up-and-rising-down-some-thoughts-on-violence-freedom-and-urgent-means-by-william-t-vollmann/#comment-741 I know you. You're the critic who, as a student, always asked the teacher, "What does this book mean?" and "How long does this paper have to be?" I know you. You’re the critic who, as a student, always asked the teacher, “What does this book mean?” and “How long does this paper have to be?”

]]> By: anonymous http://calitreview.com/163/comment-page-1#comment-740 anonymous Tue, 29 May 2007 17:49:05 +0000 http://calitreview.com//non-fiction-reviews/rising-up-and-rising-down-some-thoughts-on-violence-freedom-and-urgent-means-by-william-t-vollmann/#comment-740 I'm a hundred pages into the book. Your review made me laugh out loud. I’m a hundred pages into the book. Your review made me laugh out loud.

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