S. Brian Willson

An All-American boy steps out of a Norman Rockwell painting and discovers the truth about his country. This book is about his “waking up process,” which led him to some very sobering conclusions. Conclusions that all Americans should consider.

His war experience in Viet Nam was a life-changing revelation. Here he decided that his own government was “not only criminal but psychotic.” He likens the war to the genocide of Native Americans. Later insights came from his work in what he called the American “criminal injustice system.” And in Central America, which was “Viet Nam all over again.” Working for change within the system will never work, he decides, because “the system is the problem.” Thus he becomes a dissident, a rebel, a tax refuser. Another insight came in 1987, when his government tried to murder him.

This book is an indictment of the American way of life, which the author casts off in favor of a more fair and eco-friendly lifestyle. “The American Way of Life is inherently violent,” he concludes. America’s affluence is based on genocide, slavery, and “theft of the world’s resources.” He dedicates himself to nonviolence and global justice.

Strictly nonfiction, this is autobiography, but rich in hands-on history and social commentary. Plus ecology, philosophy, and economics. Good insights into American foreign policies. His own personal journey of discovery within the context of history. A riveting and provocative read! Many glossy pages of illustrations. Indexed and annotated.… (meer)