Fugitive Days: A Memoir by Bill Ayers Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fugitive Days: A Memoir
Book Review: Fascinating life story offers hope in turbulent times
Summary: 4 Stars
After reading the other reviews about this book, I was prepared not to like it. What I found instead was a riveting, fascinating story which succeeds in spades in conjuring up the mood and motivations behind the radical groups of the '60s. True, Bill Ayers is not exactly repentant. But, I didn't read this book looking for an apology. I read it because I wanted to know how and why the Weathermen did what they did, how they managed to stay "underground" for so long (amazing details here) and how Ayers feels with hindsight. I got answers to most of these questions, plus things I never expected. Want to know how Ayers helped bust Timothy Leary out of jail? You'll find it here. (Also,if you're a Chicagoan, you'll find the book especially interesting, as some of the most amazing activity took place right in this city).
True, many of the details are disturbing. The parts about bombing the Pentagon and the glee the Weathermen brought to the task would be upsetting in any context and are even more so right now. Still I think this book offers lessons and hope for today. The fervor the Weathermen brought to their cause and their unshakable belief in their cause's sympathy shed light on present day terrorist psychology. There are also thought provoking perceptions about American involvement in other countries' politics and culture. Here's the hope part: Ayers does a remarkable job describing the 60's turbulence. I'm not old enough to remember it, but after reading this book I felt I'd lived through it. If the U.S. got through those times, I believe we'll get through present times, too.
And, I must give some credit to Ayers. Although he is not as apologetic as we might hope (I think he owes his parents an apology for starters), he is not entirely unrepentant, either. Numerous times, he admits to misplaced arrogance and misguided tactics. He also manages to explain the series of events and "logic" that culminated in the group's violent legacy. Infuriating at times but never boring. And ironically, he scores some valuable points about the definition of justice.
I was not very happy about most of what I read in this book, but I turned the final page feeling like whatever I'd lost in enjoyment, I'd gained in insight. It was worth the read. If you still doubt the book's insights, read this passage:
"I remember everyone sleeping the deep American sleep, the sleep that still engulfs us and from which I worry we might not awake in time ... The world roils in agony and despair ... and our ears are covered, our eyes are closed. Perhaps only the bark of bombs at our door will shake us up after all." (p. 285)
Book Review: For Ayers, honesty is just another word.....
Summary: 1 Stars
How interesting that the fans of this book should place such emphasis on its "honesty," "candor," "truth." Not that Ayers is a liar, exactly. Say rather that he has been very, very economical with the truth, omitting anything that might complicate and hinder his narcissistic agenda. For a certain class of reader, the stipulation that "memory is a mother-----" will be sufficient to license any spin that Ayers chooses to perpetrate. So yeah: memory is unreliable: that's why, when writing a book about your life, its necessary to check your memory against other sources. Like other peoples' memories, other historical accounts of the same events, contemporary documents, letters, news, etc etc. It's not like Ayers would have been short of memory aids to assist him in disciplining his memory, had he been sufficiently interested in truth to look at them.
In establishing his contract with the reader, Ayers doesn't even CLAIM to be telling the truth. In his own words, the stories in this book represent "what feels real to me." That's a cushy standard against which to measure one's self. That, my friends, is decadence.
So puh-leeze! defend the book on any grounds except "honesty."
You want to see what an honest autobiography feels like, read the searing "Growing Up in Black and White" by Brent Staples, an African-American contemporary of Ayers' who also passed through a phase of involvement with the Black Panthers in the 1960s. Then read Staple's splendid dismissal of "Fugitive Days" from the New York Times Book Review last winter. And then admit to yourself that you've been had, and that your ...badly needs recalibration.
Book Review: Fugitive on the Run From Reality
Summary: 2 Stars
Now that the War on Terror is in full force, readers may need a grain of salt to help them through this self-righteous account of Bill Ayers' days as a Weatherman in the 1960's. This book came out several days before 9/11 so at least we can absolve the author for his obvious bad taste. The story Ayers tells here is a familiar one to anyone who has studied the Far Left politics of the Woodstock era. The United States government was evil, the War in Vietnam was a crime, and "Down With the Establishment and Status Quo" was the rage of the day. To support their radical views, Ayers and company went on a little terrorist spree of their own, ruining countless lives for the sake of their hypocritical "cause". It was all fun and games back then, at the expense of a lot of innocent people. History, of course, has finally proven Ayers and his crowd all wrong. This self-serving memoir of a spoiled brat who got away with murder is a disgrace and loaded with enough dishonesty to make every reader cringe. Bill Ayers, a child of privilege, should have served plenty of jail time for his shenanigans instead of being given the opportunity to justify his idiotic and criminal actions. Those actions are all on display here (and it's too bad we have a statute of limitations in this country). For all of Ayers' howling about the evils of America, he's been able to cash in big-time himself, using the system he supposedly despises for all the economic gain he can muster. Only in America does hypocrisy like this sell. At least Abbie Hoffman was man enough to encourage the stealing of his book. But as Dylan said, "Don't think twice, it's alright."
Book Review: Good story of the times and the political counter culture
Summary: 5 Stars
Most of the strongly negative reviews of this book on this page are politically motivated, let's be clear about that. It is to be expected with such a controversial subject as the experiences of a leftist organizer, saboteur and street fighter of the 1960's and -70's. Many people hold strong views and ill will for Mr. Ayers' political viewpoint as well as a desire that his views not get wide distribution. Hence one should view the reviews and star ratings with this reality in mind. The critics can't fault the writing. Ayers' narrative flows on the page with a natural and even poetic quality.
They can't fault his honesty. Ayers presents a straightforward, self effacing view of his thoughts and actions. He certainly expresses regrets about the path he took in his political life, though those regrets can never satisfy his critics.
They can't fault the book as uninteresting, as the real story of life evading the FBI is anything but boring. It is understandable that he is far from complete in his account of their illegal activities. Other people's lives would still be affected.
They can't even fault his motivations. Ayers was motivated by a love of justice and driven by the best understanding he could muster to achieve the goal of a just and peaceable America in a world of freedom and equality. He and his associates were certainly not motivated by greed, glory or other nefarious enticements. Rage at injustice and violence particularly by the US government in America and elsewhere in the world steeled them to action.
That leaves his actions. The destruction of property, reckless endangerment, bombings, armed robberies to finance actions, and assault are certainly open to condemnation. However, Ayers makes no excuses. Compare their actions to the deaths inflicted in the Deep South, in "race riots" or in Vietnam in that period for some perspective, however.
I was one of many millions of Americans who experienced the political and cultural turmoil of the sixties and seventies. I supported the Civil Rights struggle and was opposed to the Vietnam war. Remember that the clear majority of people in the United States eventually came to share similar beliefs. The stubborn continuation of the war and the violent opposition to realizing full civil rights for minorities and women frustrated the desires of the this emerging majority. The period was marked by an upheaval against the established order by a sincere and dedicated mass of baby boomers: black, white, brown, upper and lower class young men and women. Some were idealists, some were just fighting for a decent life. But all were united in a sense of excitement, change and the possibilities of a better world in their lifetime. One trend of young militants in that upheaval, the Weathermen of whom Bill Ayers was one, careened off in the direction of illegal, organized and violent direct action.
Any student of the period would do well to read this book to understand not only the thoughts and motivations of these militants, but also to get a glimpse of the time and the political counter-culture that they contributed to and moved in. For example, to illustrate the breadth and passion of the opposition to the Vietnam war in that period, Ayers notes that in the period of early 1969 to Spring of 1970, the Weathermen were responsible for 6 bombings. In that same period there were approximately 5000 actual bombings of government and corporate facilities. "It makes you wonder," he writes (p. 228).
Mr. Ayers expresses well the sense of being swept up in a phenomenon of his choosing. But the sacrifices, up to and including the loss of many of their own lives along with the painful deaths of some innocents by the errors of other groups became onerous. In the end the necessary isolation became self-defeating, as the Weather Underground, instead of growing to a mass guerrilla movement as they hoped, became alienated from the struggle they meant to support.
In today's atmosphere of the war against terrorism, one might be tempted to equate the actions of Mr. Ayers with those of the likes of Al Qaeda. That would be a mistake. It is disingenuous to call the Weather Underground a terrorist organization; their goal was never to instill terror. True terror to them was what the US was doing in Vietnam or Watts or Kent State on a daily, massive scale. I recall the Weather Underground were actually the subject of some amusement among other armed leftist groups for their efforts to preserve human life. Their actions were violent, but more "armed propaganda" and incitement than any serious attempt to destroy government operations. They were saboteurs with aspirations to form a guerrilla resistance movement.
Regardless of one's political outlook, however, all of us would do well to read this book to understand some of the rage of people who make bombs in the sincere, if misguided belief that they are making a better world.
Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I whipped through this book in 3 days. Just couldn't put it down. Bill Ayers writes with passion and conviction, and his story is captivating. What would make the son of a CEO, a kid from a prestigious suburban prep school, become a radical anti-war revolutionary who was on the lamb, living under a false name for twelve years? Read the book and find out. It's a great story, and it offers a perspective on the sixties that is honest and inspiring.