Pedagogy of Resistance: Against Manufactured Ignorance by Henry A. Giroux

This is a timely, densely-packed nonfiction book that offers a searing commentary on education in relation to issues, such as: the destruction of our democracy, Trumpism, rising fascism in the US, propaganda and the prevalence of misinformation, and the effects of white supremacy. It’s an impressive feat of research and critical analysis. In my opinion, the best word to describe this book is: intense.

I’m giving it a 3.5 (and rounding up on Goodreads) because the sheer intensity and weight of the content can be difficult to take in. I had to read it in small portions—which unfortunately probably worsened my feeling like I was missing the broader point that the author was trying to make. Much of the book is dedicated to detailing these serious issues rather than focusing on explicit solutions. I found myself getting lost in these details. I nearly abandoned this one altogether, but I’m ultimately glad I stuck it out. The writing really is remarkable.

I do recommend for those interested in education and pedagogy issues related to our current political climate. This one does feel oriented towards a specific, academic/educator audience.

Thanks to @bloomsburypublishing and @netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

📖: (3.5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A title that promises an interesting argument but fails to deliver anything other than a clumsy, dissertation-level rant. Focussing mainly on Donald Trump rather clouds the issue, as anybody with a functional frontal lobe knows that Trump is an intellectual black hole with all the mental capacity of a laundry basket.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC

If you call your book "Pedagogy Of..." you are purposely linking your work to the seminal Pedagogy Of The oppressed by Paolo Freire (if you've not read that - run off now and do it - its short, punchy and really rather life-changing). That's fine, Giroux knows he is building on and having a conversation with both The Pedagogy Of The Oppressed and The Pedagogy Of Hope. What is frustrating is that the book feels too specific to the current moment, and that it spends most of its time explaining the problem, and scant time on positing a solution.

The lion's share of the first half of the Pedagogy of Resistance explaining the current global problem, how education now exists to fulfil neo-liberal goals, and social media becomes an echo chamber to squash the imagination of a potential better world. It would be a decent summary, if it wasn't well over half the book reminding me of recent US politics. The US focus also seems problematic as it doesn't really pick up how some of the techniques of squashing inquiry have already happened in authoritarian countries elsewhere (a deep dive into education in China would have been a fascinating example of the contradictions of trying to grow through knowledge expansion whilst also restricting knowledge). By the time we get to the attempt at a solution, it became clear to me that Giroux seemed more comfortable treating this as a point in time and history rather than suggesting anything radical. After a lengthy discussion on Freire and how it might be applicable (it is), he eventually gloms onto a solution coming from Black Lives matters and other social activist groups owning their own education. He already seems higher education mired in managerialism and people trying to hold onto jobs as culture wars force them into safe silos.

The problem isn't that Giroux's analysis is wrong. The problem is we have been having these conversation for ten years, and The Pedagogy Of The Oppressed/Hope is still a better battle cry.. I was pretty snippy about Tom Fletcher's Ten Survival Skills For A World In Flux, but that name-dropping book had a lot more solutions to similar problems than this does, its emphasis on being a good ancestor probably didn't occur to Giroux as his pessimism is such that he doesn't wholly seem to believe other generations are possible. The lack of a global focus, or case studies outside of Trump's America is also a failing, people have lived under authoritarian and oppressive regimes for centuries - there are case studies there to see how education can survive and free people. Perhaps it is cautious as it is more of an academic book, but I was still disappointed.

There is always hope in resistance. This is in the introduction by revered Brad Evans. This is obviously a very important specialist piece of writing and one in a number written by the author. Deserves deep reading and will be important in third level institutions studying this subject.

This is an important book that captures the damage to democracy in educational institutions as well as society at large. Pedagogy of Resistance examines how the recent Trump administration eroded the social fabric of the US, with comparisons being made with authorian Europe in the 1930s/1940s..and we all know what followed...
Education
Giroux examines,what he terms 'Gangster Capitalism' and its effects on public schools and Higher education institutions. He provides many examples, one, in particular, is the 'dumming down' of society.
There is much discussion about the atrocities carried out towards African American citizens and an in-depth examination of the Black Lives Matter movement. He also examines censorship and Critical Race Theory.
An excerpt;
'Apartheid pedagogy uses education as a disimagination machine to convince students and others that racism does not exist, that teaching about racial injustice is a form of indoctrination, and that understanding history is more an exercise in blind reverence than critical analysis.'
'His writing style is engaging and at times thought-provoking. The style of writing is dense and scholarly, however, the message is loud and clear.
'In an age of social isolation, information overflow, a culture of infantilization, consumer glut, and growing white supremacist and rebranded fascist movement, it is all more crucial to take seriously the notion that a democracy cannot exist or be defended without citizens who are critical, knowledgable, and willing to act on their insights and values.'
Pedagogy of Resistance is best read as a series of individual essays. It is a timely analysis of contemporary society.

The writing is quite dense, but the message is vital: Education is first and foremost a way to advance the premises of democracy. Public education, and higher education, are the most commons means by which the US population is educated; but these are precisely the areas that under attack by right-wing and conservative politicians in the US.

The author makes his case abundantly clear that the rising tide of American fascism will extinguish the public good if citizens, educators, and the public at large do not actively strive to protect it. Considerable commentary throughout the book is aimed at the past six years--Donald Trump's presidency and the global pandemic that followed--in which there have been no shortage of terrifying and unprecedented events.

Because this an academic text, it seemed to me that many pages of the book were spent trying to say the same thing in different words. This made the book feel repetitive in addition to being tough to follow.

For those who can slow down and give this book the attention it requires, much can be gleaned from its pages. I found myself taking too many notes because each chapter is rich in history and original insights. This book demands a lot from its reader, but in return, a passionate and invaluable message will be gained.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book is an important exploration of the creeping fascism in today's society, and how the Right is attempting to destroy education through lies and outright attacks on public schools. The author does not attempt to remain neutral, and at many times this book is a strong polemic against Trumpism and fascism - as well it should be. The most terrifying part of this book is the comparison Giroux makes between Trumpism and the white-supremacist Right and fascist movements of the past. They seem a little too close for comfort - which makes it utterly stomach-churning. After his comparison, Giroux examines education and pedagogy and how they can be taken back, brought back to life, and used to bring our democracy back - and even make it better. He states many times that democracy cannot exist without an educated population, something that explains all in one why the anti-democratic Right wants to destroy it, and why it is so very important that we grab it back and reform it. A terrifying book, but an important one for everyone concerned by the politics of Trumpism to read.