Contrary Notions: The Michael Parenti Reader by Michael Parenti City Lights, 2007.

It's not often that you get the chance to review a book about which nothing really negative can be said, but this is definitely the case with Michael Parenti's recently published collection of essays Contrary Notions.

Unlike many left-wing academics, Parenti writes in a clear, direct and articulate style, managing to explain quite complex ideas in a way that is both simple and accessible.

His approach to social issues is also unashamedly systemic and he goes far, far beyond the usual gripes that some of the anti-globalization movement seem content to focus on.

Class struggle is seen as neither irrelevant nor obsolete, while the importance of Marxist theory for understanding societies both past and present is emphasized throughout.

Best of all, though, is the fact that Parenti is keen to defend the achievements of socialism to date - a very important concern bearing in mind the present wave of anti-communist politics.

It's all good stuff and Parenti helps things along even more by being able to write on a whole number of different topics, ranging from the role of the media to his own experiences growing up in a predominantly Italian working-class neighborhood.

All of this material has been published elsewhere, but it's a useful collection to have if only to pass on to others. Political writing at its best.

From Morning Star