Review "Must read … A radical odyssey." (Daily Mail)"Very interesting book, lots of fascinating details." (Amber Rudd MP, Home Secretary)"Bartlett is an accomplished journalist: careful, dispassionate and willing to put the time in. And once again he does the work, spending time with people whom less committed reporters might wish to avoid. And he does so with a degree of sympathy that is as impressive as it is rare... All of the chapters contain thoughtful and intelligent reflections on the position of outsiders who, as Bartlett reminds us, could well be proven by history to be ahead of their time." (Andrew Anthony Observer)"Inside the anti-political revolt that gave us Brexit and Trump... Bartlett is right to remind us that democracies are not necessarily the natural order, and that they need fresh ideas to survive some very scary emerging challenges." (Andrew Neather Evening Standard)"Bartlett has put together a fascinating book and is an excellent narrator." (James Bloodworth Literary Review)"He is a natural storyteller and Radicals is a book of tales. Showing understanding and humility, whilst moving himself to the role of outsider or studied observer when needed, Bartlett exercises the art of storytelling. His ability to be probing whilst remaining sensitive and non-dismissive draws out intriguing details that could easily have been lost... Intriguing and sometimes fraught with a little jeopardy, you can’t help but get hooked on the narratives." (David Beer LSE Review of Books)"A smart, serious book that goes out into the world, reflecting on lives rather than headlines. Excellent." (Tom Chatfield)"Radicals sets out to describe and understand this new spirit of radicalism... Throughout, Mr Bartlett is a friendly guide, with a reporter's eye for detail and a willingness to engage with his subjects." (Wall Street Journal)"Enlightening and unnerving... Bartlett, ever the knowledgeable guide through murky political and technological waters...embeds himself with these groups and approaches each with a commendable balance of genuine open-mindedness and healthy scepticism... A highly recommended read, Radicals could influence you to chase after some of these utopian organisations and ideas, or make you want to flee from them just the same." (New York Journal of Books)"Eye-opening... enlightening." (Huffington Post) From the Inside Flap In the last few years the world has changed in unexpected ways. The power of radical ideas and groups is growing. What was once considered extreme is now the mainstream. But what is life like on the political fringes? What is the real power of radicals? Radicals is an exploration of the individuals, groups and movements who are rejecting the way we live now, and attempting to find alternatives. In it, Jamie Bartlett, one of the world’s leading thinkers on radical politics and technology, takes us inside the strange and exciting worlds of the innovators, disruptors, idealists and extremists who think society is broken, and believe they know how to fix it. From dawn raids into open mines to the darkest recesses of the internet, Radicals introduces us to some of the most secretive and influential movements today: techno-futurists questing for immortality, far-right groups seeking to close borders, militant environmentalists striving to save the planet's natural reserves by any means possible, libertarian movements founding new countries, autonomous cooperatives in self-sustaining micro-societies, and psychedelic pioneers attempting to heal society with the help of powerful hallucinogens.As well as providing a fascinating glimpse at the people and ideas driving these groups, Radicals also presents a startling argument: radicals are not only the symptoms of a deep unrest within the world today, but might also offer the most plausible models for our future. About the Author Jamie Bartlett is the bestselling author of The Dark Net, an examination of the hidden corners of the internet, and Radicals Chasing Utopia: Inside the Rogue Movements Trying to Change the World. He is the Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think-tank Demos. He also writes on technology for the Spectator, the Telegraph and for several other publications on how the internet is changing politics and society. In 2017 Jamie presented the two-part BBC TWO documentary series The Secrets of Silicon Valley. He lives in London.
T**N
Fascinating and beautifully told.
A fascinating, well-researched book about some of our present-day radicals and the function (perhaps even import) of radical thinking in society. If you feel disconnected from some recent trends, or simply wish to gain a wider understanding of the current world, you should gain something from this work.When you're younger (at University, for example) you feel relatively connected to whatever is the current vibe. You may not agree with the social experiments of all of your peers, but you get the lingo. And then it happens. One day you wake up and discover that you've aged. The world has moved on without you. It has new ways of speaking, dressing, and thinking. You'd stick out like a sore thumb were it not for the fact that, once you hit your 40's, you start to become miraculously and wonderfully invisible.I'd never heard of Pegida-UK; and until I read this book I thought Five Star were just an American 80's pop group with astonishingly high-pitched female vocals. Bartlett introduces phenomena like Pegida, Five Star, the "alt right" and so on in a way that inspires fresh critical evaluation from the reader.I think he encourages this "think again" response partly because of his humble approach. He has sat alongside his subjects; rubbed shoulders, shared meals, broken bread. His starting point has been one of respect, and he seems to have earned his respect in return. Hence the reader is invited to explore it all with him; to leave behind whatever comfort zones we make for ourselves and "go there" - to the places and people we have, perhaps, avoided because they don't fit our own sense of reality - our own echo chamber.That means nothing gets objectified. Characters and subjects become more real. My own need to objectify in order to summarize, categorize, understand or dismiss is left without much function. I love this book for that, and I loved discovering how some brave souls choose to live, think, and act in ways I'm never likely to myself.
J**W
This book is a wake up call for us all ...
This book is a wake up call for us all.Jamie Bartlett ,with empathy and humour ,leads the reader into the hearts and minds of these radical thinkers.Without being dogmatic he then gives his own assessment of such ideas.The epilogue is a thought provoking chapter and invites the reader to think rather than react Deserving of wide readership.J.W.
M**M
Enlightening!
An enlightening and a well researched book. Bartlett provides incredible insight into how political change is not always a smooth path, and that some individuals and groups go to extraordinary lengths to bring about what seems to appear a 'natural' shift of opinion in societies. It is clear from the first chapter that a great deal of time has been spent with these groups, and so provides the reader with an informed first hand account of their extraordinary efforts to bring about change. An effortless writing style, relaxed yet extremely informative. Has encouraged me to read further on this subject.
C**E
A fantastic contribution
Radicals is an excellent follow-up to The Dark Net. Bartlett's gonzo-journalist style brings the reader in to a new world of communes, psychadelics, transhumanists, right-wing nationalists, climate activists and libertarians. He forces us to empathise with these quirky characters, even where uncomfortable, and treats each point of view with fairness and respect. This book can broaden horizons, forcing readers to reconsider their assumptions, and value the existence of the eccentric and the outsider for stimulating debate and opening the Overton Window in challenging times.
J**1
Absolutely loved it. Changed my whole way of thinking about politics
This is genuinely one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Bartlett embeds himself in an array of scary and wonderful political groups that may seem mad but also have a lot of interesting ideas that may not seem so mad in the near future. Bartlett's personal take on the movements he explores is hugely entertaining and I found his curiosity hugely inspiring. I can't recommend this book enough
L**A
A must read!
What a great read! Really well written, informative and engaging. I certainly learned a lot reading about not only political movements but also the history of free love communes and psychedelic drugs. Definitely a must read given today's political climate!
R**O
Real page-turner
Bartlett takes a fair, non-judgemental approach to extraordinary beliefs and behaviours. As a result, the reader is encouraged to do the same, and to come to their own conclusions about some fascinating characters.
E**.
An excellent book with a very interesting approach
An excellent book with a very interesting approach!What seems to me to be an unbiased account of what it's like to experience the inner world of various radical groups!Highly recommendedA ⭐️
