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We Are Free to Change the World
We Are Free to Change the World: Hannah Arendt's Lessons in Love and Disobedience | Lyndsey Stonebridge
13 posts | 2 read | 1 reading | 7 to read
A timely guide on how to liveand thinkthrough the challenges of our century drawn from the life and thought of political theorist Hannah Arendt, one of the twentieth centurys foremost opponents of totalitarianism We are free to change the world and to start something new in it.Hannah Arendt The violent unease of todays world would have been familiar to Hannah Arendt. Tyranny, occupation, disenchantment, post-truth politics, conspiracy theories, racism, mass migration: She lived through them all. Born in the first decade of the last century, she escaped fascist Europe to make a new life for herself in America, where she became one of its most influentialand controversialpublic intellectuals. She wrote about power and terror, exile and love, and above all, about freedom. Questioningthinkingwas her first defense against tyranny. She advocated a politics of action and plurality, courage and, when necessary, disobedience. We Are Free to Change the World is a book about the Arendt we need for the twenty-first century. It tells us how and why Arendt came to think the way she did, and how to think when our own politics goes off the rails. Both a guide to Arendts life and work, and its dialogue with our troubled present, We Are Free to Change the World is an urgent call for us to think, as Hannah Arendt didunflinchingly, lovingly, and defiantlythrough our own unpredictable times.
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kspenmoll
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Cuilin I read some before the holidays but had to return it to the library. I may borrow it again. 4d
GingerAntics I haven‘t been able yup get my hands on a copy of this yet. Hopefully in the next few weeks. 🤞🏻 4d
Suet624 I have to say I read at least a 1/4 of the book and then decided it wasn't what I was looking for. It was more about her life and what I was looking for was books she had written. So I'm trying to find some at libraries before I pursue online. My book budget has gone completely off the rails. 2d
kspenmoll @Suet624 Thanks for your input!!! I have not gotten very far… Does your library have 13h
Suet624 I just put a hold on The Origins of Totalitarianism. 13h
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kspenmoll
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#buddyread
Read at your own pace. Post ideas, thoughts, quotes as you read. Open discussion. Open to anyone! Use hashtags #HannahArendt #resistance #adventuresinphilosophy when you post.
If you want to be added or deleted from tag list, let me know.

review
Tamra
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Pickpick

As you can see, plenty of insightful observations & wisdom offered here on behalf of Arendt. Highly relevant today, though I‘d be hard pressed to believe there would ever be a time when it isn‘t.

Freedom is in plurality. However, it requires relinquishing a degree of sovereignty. (Cliche freedom isn‘t free.)

I had to laugh when Stonebridge points out shouting “stupid” into the void of social media is not effective resistance. 😆

Tamra @kspenmoll thank you for bringing this book to my attention! 😄 1w
TheBookHippie I highly recommend reading her work this is timely… 1w
Tamra @TheBookHippie it‘s on my TBR! 😃 Next time I see it in a shop I‘ll pick it up. 1w
kspenmoll I plan to start January 2 & just have everyone post thoughts, etc. you are welcome @Tamra ! I cannot wait to dig in! 1w
55 likes4 comments
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kspenmoll
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Planning to start this in January.Maybe a chapter per week? Does that sound doable? Rather than generating questions which is not a talent of mine,I thought anyone can post questions ideas,quotes,etcI am sure there will be much to question & research about Arendt‘ philosophy,her times, connections to our time.Thoughts? I know a few of you have started this month. Please keep posting! #adventuresinphilosophy #resistence #HannahArendt

Tamra Thank you for tagging me! I am about 3/4 in so I‘ll likely finish before January. But I‘ll be curious to read everyone‘s thoughts! 😄 3w
kspenmoll @Tamra I saw your posts! When I get there, will respond! 3w
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ravenlee Sounds like a plan! I got my copy but haven‘t started it yet. 3w
TheBookHippie Sounds good. 3w
GingerAntics That works for me. Coming up with the questions is the hardest part. I was actually considering getting rid of them. 3w
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ravenlee
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Today‘s #bookmail came with my vitamin/supplement package. Gotta get to that free shipping threshold, right?

Tamra I‘m currently reading this one. 👍🏾 1mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Free postage for the win!! 1mo
35 likes2 comments
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Tamra
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Outrage is definitely a cheap source of political power, until people become numb & apathetic from exhaustion. 😑 My cynical twin says Americans don‘t want my love, just money.

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Tamra
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This passage is in reference to Kafka‘s The Castle, which I definitely want to read. It‘s been on my shelves for years.

Denying human dignity makes scapegoating not just possible, but permissible and even promoted.

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Tamra
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There is quote worthy material on nearly every page. #resistance

Suet624 Fake storms feels relentless right now. 3w
39 likes1 comment
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Tamra
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Terrific introductory chapter to this highly relevant guide to Arendt‘s thinking/political philosophy. I appreciate the fact Stonebridge recognizes Arendt wasn‘t perfect and we are a work in progress with effort.

The end of the first chapter left me thinking about the new admin “eyeing new immigrant detention centers outside major US cities.” Same scapegoating, different target. #resistance @kspenmoll

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GingerAntics
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This book has become very… necessary… in recent weeks. There has been a lot of talk about us reading this. We talked about ending our year with Free Will. It may be a good plan to start our year with this. We could start the first weekend of January (1/5/25). That would give everyone time to get their hands on a copy, as some of us are having a moment trying to get our hands on one. Thoughts? Prayers? Anyone you‘d like to smack upside the head?

Chrissyreadit that gives me time to 2mo
TheBookHippie @kspenmoll has it going I think??? 2mo
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GingerAntics @kspenmoll are you doing this one or is it a dead philosophers society thing? I guess I got confused there. 2mo
kspenmoll No problem. We can all do this- I just wanted to make sure people with library books could start now if they need to. Or if they can get a renewal? 2mo
GingerAntics @kspenmoll that‘s fair 2mo
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Suet624
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My library was smart enough to purchase this book. Thanks to @kspenmoll for suggesting we read it.

#resistance

Tamra I‘ve thumbed through it, but haven‘t started it yet. I saw some really great tidbits! 2mo
Suet624 @Tamra right. There were a few quotes I could have posted just from the intro! 2mo
kspenmoll I plan to look through it/start this weekend. 2mo
dabbe 🤎🍁🧡 2mo
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Tamra
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Spent the day hopping around to bookstores with hubby. For the first time in maybe ever he got a pile and I am coming home with these two! 😲

Tagged is for #resistance buddy read. 👊🏽 Thumbing through I‘m seeing great nuggets of wisdom.

Ruthiella Obviously you are a good influence on him! 😜 2mo
kspenmoll Nglad you found the book! 2mo
Tamra @Ruthiella 😆 hopefully! 2mo
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Tamra @kspenmoll 👏🏾👏🏾 2mo
LeahBergen He bought more than you?? 😱 2mo
Tamra @LeahBergen I know right?! He goes in streaks, but what is unusual now is it‘s fiction. 😮 2mo
LeahBergen I love it! 2mo
54 likes7 comments
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kspenmoll
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Here are the chapters in the tagged book. Maybe start one chapter per week? Let me know your thoughts. I am open to anything. If library holds are in, we can start as soon as everyone has the book, or any time later. For discussion post our thoughts/questions after each chapter or just as they occur to any of us? Arendt‘s book The Origins of Totalitarianism might be a good follow up. All are welcome to join in. #adventuresinphilosophy #resistence

Tamra My name has the odd spelling, Tamra. 😁 I‘m game for a chapter a week. (edited) 2mo
Deblovestoread I'd like to join if I may. 2mo
kspenmoll Thanks @Tamra! Oops! ❤️ 2mo
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kspenmoll @Deblovestoread Fantastic! The more voices the better! The book is available in some libraries, audio, kindle, hardcover. 2mo
Cuilin Wonderful 2mo
Suet624 My vote would be to make it easy for you, Katherine. Trying to do a week by week can certainly work for some and if you have the stamina to pull that off, go for it. I may find that I can only read a chapter every two weeks - especially if I find myself in a pit of despair. Or I may be so inspired I might read it in 2 days. So go with whatever you think you can handle, since it seems you are taking on the task for pulling us together. :) 2mo
Tamra @Suet624 agreed, whatever is easiest! No need to pile on any extra stress. 2mo
GingerAntics I can‘t get the book right away, and I know at least one other person can‘t, either. I‘m thinking this can be our book to kick off the new year. We could start discussion over new year if everyone is open to that. 2mo
kspenmoll For those who have the book right now from a library, we can start just reading as we can. I like the idea of reading it in the New Year as well, if we can emotionally with the new admin. I am going with my son Sunday to a LGBTQIA2S rally that was not planned until now. —- So i guess i am saying let‘s read what we can & take care of one another. I may start this weekend. I will be in touch. @Suet624 @Cuilin @Deblovestoread @Tamra @GingerAntics 2mo
Tamra @kspenmoll 🤗 2mo
Suet624 👍💕 2mo
TheBookHippie I‘ll go with whatever. 2mo
46 likes12 comments