If We Burn

This book is about how those who do not represent themselves (as in people/movements who do not pick a representative/leader) will be represented whether they want to be or not and it uses the mass protest movements of the last decade as examples to make its point.

It doesn't really go too deep into why so many of the movements of the past decade have been rather leaderless (aside from the usual “leftist” tendency toward the inability to wield charisma) but I guess that's really a different question altogether.

As has been pointed out by other reviewers there's a fair amount of focus on Bevins' own experience and the places where he was when things happened, personally I rather enjoyed that. Overall it was a pleasant read if a rather discouraging one for me.

I loved this book. I also got to attend a talk by the author in Islington Mill - the man knows his shit! (predictably).

One of the more interesting bits to me were the ultras and hooligans. Growing up in the UK I knew about hooligans but really didn't appreciate how well organised and political they were - the Turkish ultras were particularly interesting!

In addition to the topic, the prose itself was also very engaging. I didn't suffer reading it (which I usually do with non-fiction).

Highly, highly recommend.