May 20, 2013
This collection of interviews with revered American linguist, historian, political critic, and activist Chomsky reads at times like a "Chomsky for Beginners" or greatest hits compilation mixed with some fresh insights on current political and economic issues. The book's central problem is its structure, most evident in its misleading title. Though Chomsky sharply critiques America's lack of green tech-nology, blames America for nuclear damage in Iraq, and attacks its arrogant attempt to control the arms race, these are hardly the two central themes of the book. However, the volume is still rich with Chomsky's opinions; he debunks present day hysterias like overblown threats from Iran or aggressive posturing by China. Perhaps the most interesting part of the Q & A format is Polk's constant attempts to bait Chomsky into Republican-specific attacks (the Koch brothers, Santorum, the religious right), a simplistic trap that Chomsky doesn't fall into. As Kennedy gets hit as hard as Nixon, so Obama takes his licks as much as Reagan. In the end, Chomsky argues that environmentalist hopes lay with one of the world's poorest countries, Boliviaâwhich has passed laws granting rights to natureâwhile Amer-ica, the richest, fracks the very ground beneath its feet.