"Don't Mourn, Organize!" - Joe Hill.
Organizing
Buy from BarnesandNoble.com.
Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Activists, by Si Kahn. Available from BarnesandNoble.com instead of Amazon.com. You can also order this book directly for $32.95 plus shipping by calling 1-800-227-3590. A no-nonsense manual on the nuts and bolts of political organizing by an experienced union and community organizer and folksinger. As a tribute to his organizing skills, his book is praised by Jesse Jackson, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Holly Near, and other activists.
Making the News: A Guide for Nonprofits and Activists, by Jason Salzman. Published in 1998. "Salzman gives you the nitty-gritty, the nuts and bolts, to compete in the not-so-free marketplace of ideas." - Mathew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive. "Marvelous. A great handbook for activists." - Jeff Cohen, executive director of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting." Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Power Structure
Or
buy
from the National Journal.The Capital Source, Fall 2001, by the National Journal. Lists over 6,500 contacts in the Washington, DC political, economic, and media establishment. Revised twice annually. Includes a list of all members of Congress, plenty of White House contacts, federal government agencies, foreign embassies, corporations, labor unions, think tanks, interest groups, and over 1,000 media contacts, including TV and radio stations, syndicated columnists, news services, newspapers, magazines, etc. This information is also for sale (for a hefty price) in electronic format. CapWeb- The Internet Guide to the United States Congress offers some additional info.
Buy from Macrocosm USA.
Macrocosm USA: Possibilities for a New Progressive Era...: An Environmental, Political, and Social Solutions Handbook with Directories, by Sandi Brockway. 422 pages. Published in 1992. Click here for more information. Most of this book is available online and it can be purchased directly from Macrocosm USA for a very low price. A thorough compilation of left-wing issues and resources as of 1992, it is still a good resource book now. (However, some of the listings in the over 200-page resource list must be out-of-date by now.) Reviewed by Amazon.com.
More Organizing Books
The Kid's Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose-- and Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action, by Barbara A. Lewis. Published in 1998. "The liveliest practical civics book for young students in print." -- Ralph Nader. Includes a 26-page resource guide. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Power: A Repossession Manual: Organizing Strategies for Citizens, by Greg Specter of the Citizens Involvement Training Project. Published in 1978. Includes plenty of graphics.
War Resisters League Organizer's Manual, edited by Ed Hedemann. In addition to covering political organizing skills, this manual devotes 24 pages to explaining nonviolence, socialism, anarchism, and feminism. From the War Resisters League.
The Activist Cookbook: Creative Actions for a Fair Economy, by Andrew Boyd. Published in Dec. 1998 by United for a Fair Economy.
In the Tiger's Mouth: An Empowerment Guide for Social Action, by Katrina Shields. In the book's own words, "In the Tiger's Mouth provides much-needed support for everyone helping to heal our society and earth....In the Tiger's Mouth offers a wealth of practical ideas and approaches for curing stress and burnout, for coping with the daily diet of bad news, for developing accountability in groups, and for listening to and supporting allies, workmates and one's self. Full of exercises and success stories drawn from experience, In the Tiger's Mouth will help you build sustainable, and sustaining, organizations, groups, and activist lives." Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Politics of Nonviolent Action, Part One: Power and Struggle, by Gene Sharp. "This significant book is a valuable storehouse of relevant information for all who believe, as my husband did and as I do, that nonviolence is the way to overcome poverty, racism, and war." - Coretta Scott King.
The Politics of Nonviolent Action, Part Two: The Methods of Nonviolent Action, by Gene Sharp, examines in detail 198 specific methods of nonviolent action.
Publisher out of stock in Dec. 2000.
The Politics of Nonviolent Action, Part Three: The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action, by Gene Sharp, examines the complex operation of nonviolent action against a violent, repressive opponent.
Union Organizing
A Troublemaker's Handbook: How to Fight Back Where You Work- And Win!, edited by Dan La Botz. A detailed union organizing handbook.
The Union Steward's Complete Guide, edited by David Prosten. Published in 1997. Based upon the Steward Update newsletter. Click here for a review. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Finding Social Change Employment
Out of print.
Non-Profits and Education Job Finder: 1997-2000, by Daniel Lauber. Published in 1997. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Jobs and Careers With Nonprofit Organizations: Profitable Opportunities With Nonprofits, by Daniel Lauber. Second edition, published in Dec. 1998. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Good Works: A Guide to Careers in Social Change, edited by Ralph Nader and Donna Colvin. 682 pages. Click here for a review. You can also check out the Good Works Online Job Search.
Fundraising
Buy from NNG.
The New 2000-2001 Grantmakers Directory. Published by the National Network of Grantmakers. Click here for a description. This book provides lists and provides contact information for more than 160 foundations that fund progressive social change work.
Buy from More than Money.
Taking Charge. A guide for progressive philanthropists published by More than Money that may be useful to fundraisers as well.
Buy from the Foundation Center.
The Foundation Center's Guide to Grantseeking on the Web, edited by Frederick Schoff. Published in 2000. Click here for a description.
Grant Seekers Guide: Foundations That Support Social and Economic Justice: Fifth Edition, edited by James McGrath Morris and Laura Adler. 600 pages. Published in 1998.
- See also fundraising. -