Fugitive Days: A Memoir by Bill Ayers Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fugitive Days: A Memoir
Book Review: A Horrible Book on All Levels
Summary: 1 Stars
First, Fugitive Days is poorly written and confused. It seems to have been written only when the author was really stoned.I can forgive poor writing. I can't forgive the extreme self-rightiousness and lame justifications for Ayers life as an American terrorist. He tries to refute that label. The hard facts are that he participated in bombing the Pentagon, the Capitol, police stations and who knows what else. He appears to have no real remorse. I honestly don't think this guy should be walking the streets. Ayers genuinely scares me, which is why I'm not signing my name to this review. Another wierd thing about this book is the constant bragging about his sexual conquests -- page after page.
I was against the Vietnam war also. Ayers, however, seems to have learned nothing since the war ended. His world is still black and white: bad guys include cops (whom he STILL calls pigs), capitalitsts, frat guys and the country that has been so merciful with Ayers. He would have been executed if he terrorized China, Cuba, Vietnam or most of the other countries he still sees through rose colored glasses. The good guys are still Karl Marx, the North Vietnamese, the working class, people who hurt cops, Che, Fidel and violent "activists." For Ayers, time has stood still. He justifies himself but honest reflection is rare.
The only value in this book is that it does provide insight into the strange and twisted mind of a terrorist. Reading it, I can better understand what happened on September 11.
Book Review: A Huge Disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
I found the writing self-righteous and sensationalistic. Really a disappointing waste of time. I thought I'd find something worth gleening by reading his experience...but in the light of what has happened in the US of late, I found this book distastful. I bought this book at my local bookstore and am returning it post haste!!! Don't waste your money!Book Review: A Long Overdue Memoir - Well Worth Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Ayers once, several years ago, during a breakfast in Chicago that I was privileged to have with former SDS National Secretary Michael Klonsky. Since, as Bill writes in his book, "Memory is a mother----er," he probably doesn't remember that meeting at all. But, I remember Bill's stated ambition at the time as wanting to be the "Rush Limbaugh of the left." It's a shame he didn't follow through on that, for I think he would have made an articulate radio commentator.Fortunately, we have this long overdue memoir. Bill Ayers writes with tremendous grace (he's a fine writer), and absolute candor. These two attributes should be sufficient recommendation for anyone interested in political radicalism in the 1960's. Ayers was in the thick of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), quite possibly the most significant, mass movement of the left in the past three decades. Books on this subject alone are difficult to find (such as Kirkpatrick Sale's long out of print history).
But, it is always refreshing to hear history as told by a participant. Bill Ayers, to his great credit, glosses over nothing that is significant. Equally worthwhile is the fact that although Bill's focus has changed to educational reform, he has not joined the legions of former leftists (e.g., Max Eastman, Jay Lovestone, Whitaker Chambers, Jerry Rubin, David Horowitz) who turned their back on their political leftism for conservative and neo-conservative politics.
The interesting thing is that, with the exception of the FBI and those within the SDS orbit, Bill Ayers was somewhat of an unknown. The media focused on Mark Rudd, following the Columbia University rebellion, and Bernardine Dohrn, an activist and lawyer (who is now married to Ayers). Still, Bill Ayers was very much in the thick of things and uniquely suited to write this very stimulating and provocative memoir.
Read this book for its merits, no matter your own political philosophy. You do not have to agree with Bill Ayers, nor do you need champion the Weather Underground and its activities. Indeed, there are but a few who will do so. What you do need to understand is what liberals, conservatives, and radicals all seem to agree on: The 1960's were turbulent, angry times when this nation appeared to be coming apart, and when revolution seemed a relevant concept.
Bill Ayers brings these times to life in his compelling memoir. Much of his activity was wrong-headed, which he admits. Some of it had very tragic consequences. But the spirit of commitment, of pursuit of a just and equitable society, of working toward a brighter future, all of this is worthwhile and shines through in this book.
Book Review: A first cousin of bin Laden
Summary: 1 Stars
Ayers is a self-described terrorist who carefully avoids the use of that word in his puerile memoirs. But make no mistake- he is closely related to bin Laden and all other terrorists in history who use violence to advance political positions. While he may bristle at the use of the terrorist label now, Ayers is proud of his use of bombs and violence in the book.It would be a shame to give this terrorist money through royalties from sales of this piece of garbage and self-justifying trash.
Book Review: A wonderful memoir of a time with many lessons
Summary: 5 Stars
Today, as we all necessarily embark on the launching of a new anti-war movement against yet another vicious amerikkkan assault on the people of the world, we need to learn some of the lessons that this book has to teach. Prof. Ayers gives a short, yet interesting account of how he came to oppose war and racism and to understand the need for standing up courageously for justice and equality. Did he and the Weathermen make errors? well certainly! and he explores some of these. One wishes that he had presented more of a detailed perspective for what he regards as the way forward. Clearly, one of the key errors that he and his brothers and sisters made was the almost complete liquidation of above ground mass organization. Whatever efforts were later made to revive this on their part, via the Prairie Fire Organizing Committees, etc., was probably too little too late. Hopefully those same errors will not be made in these troubled times by the new emerging anti-war movement.
The book also suffers, unfortunately, from the lack of an index, and it would have been useful to have an appendix with some of the documents of the time described. Many also would have appreciated a section of photos.
You may not agree with all of this book. I know that I didn't. That's not the point.
There are many valuable lessons to be learned here.
And, if nothing else, purchasing this book can help show your appreciation for one of the genuine heros of the movement in support of the Vietnamese people, who did more than just talk when action was clearly called for. Peace and Justice.