This is not the average 10-steps-to-becoming-an-effective-leader manual.
This book is different because it speaks to people who feel like they’ve never been given a fair chance.
“I encourage, coach and agitate citizens to play their rightful roles and claim their rightful places in the public arena of our nation,” said Gecan in the introduction.
Gecan uses his personal and professional life experiences to explain why he thinks change within the public sector is most effective when done through organized, serious efforts.
One event that inspired Gecan to become an organizer was the fire that occurred at his grade school when he was nine years old. Although it claimed the lives of some of his classmates and teachers
With chapters such as “Introducing Your Larger Self” and “Ambiguity, Reciprocity, Victory,” he identifies situations where one would petition for change, protest or hold a town hall meeting.
Gecan emphasizes that organization is the most effective way for citizens to make their voices heard to government officials.
Furthermore, he offers advice on how to identify which issues are better served by organization methods. He even revisits some famous cases where the voices of citizens would have been heard by their elected officials had they organized instead of protesting.
His writing style is contemporary but not too modern. Instead of boardroom buzzwords like “finalize” and “productivity,” the author uses simple and conversational words to communicate his objective.
Sometimes this works against him, especially when the experiences he talks about are pages long. However, most of these digressions keep the story rolling.
There are some references to the church, but the author does not use them to persuade the reader to organize faith-based groups. It is simply part of his life experiences.
All the author is trying to persuade the reader of is the effectiveness of organizing. Gecan enjoys organizing because “it permits travel into every corner of every city, into every class, and into every racial and ethnic precinct,” he said in his conclusion.
To him, citizen action should go beyond fighting the power, to putting an end to corruption in power, but in an organized manner.
Rating: Three bookshelves
Going Public: An Organizer’s Guide to Citizen Action by Michael Gecan. List Price: $12.00. Available in paperback only.