How to Escape the Present

The desire to radically challenge capitalism is widespread and growing. Naomi Klein’s new book is an important contribution to that project.

Naomi Klein.Columbia GSAPP / Flickr


Donald Trump’s speech in Warsaw, Poland, just before this year’s G20 summit, was equal parts pandering and proselytizing, but altogether unsettling. At a moment when cooperation on global warming matters more than ever, the leader of the world’s most powerful country appeared more interested in weaponizing Samuel Huntington than saving the planet.

Trump’s position on climate change has set him apart from other world leaders. In her closing remarks, Angela Merkel said she “deplored” the United States’ decision to abandon the Paris climate accords. But for many, polite rebukes have passed their sell-by date. Amid fierce police repression, protests rocked the meeting.

Naomi Klein understands this furious cry — “No to the global elite!” “No to empty promises!” “No to the status quo!” — better than most. She’s been traveling the world, writing about struggles for peace and justice for decades. But Klein has a message for these protesters and for the millions more who are horrified by Trump and the landscape of greed, hate, and despair that brought him to power.

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