Book Summary and Reviews of Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young by Zayd Ayers Dohrn

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Margaret_S

I remember it well
Of the many books out there placing blame or calling to account our parents, this is one for the ages. This author learned how to cope in the face of history in action. We know that resilience is learned through love and this young man certainly shows by example that foundational love can cover much.

Others can speak to the politics of the time and what propelled this family. For me it is the powerful testimony of their son that resonates.

Lori M. (Lafayette, IN)

A Personal Look at History
This is a fascinating book. Written by the son of Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers, who founded the Weather Underground, you get a unique and riveting look at two of the late 60's and 70's radical figures who so strongly opposed war, racism, and injustice that they would use whatever means possible, including violence. This is a page turner, a history lesson, a cautionary tale, and a fair look at the author's memories of his parents and this moment in time. Highly recommend.

Jill_D1

A well written thought provoking book
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young. I was drawn to the author's story because his parents were people I had heard about my whole life. I grew up outside of Chicago, where a fair amount of the events in this book occur. The author is a wonderful writer. His insights and honesty about his parents, who founded the Weather Underground, made this a satisfying read. His parents, Bernardine Dohrn and William Ayers, were 60's radicals, who thought that through militant action, organizing and sometimes violence, they could end the Vietnam War and bring about social change and equality. Their choices and their impact on their children, families, fellow radicals, the government and the world at large, were both inspiring and horrifying. They were of their time and forever stayed committed to their revolutionary ideals. As a result of this commitment, the author's early life as a child of The Underground, was nomadic and unpredictable, with fear of arrest, abandonment and danger. His parents loved him but loyalty to the cause and the movement came first. However, as the author points out, his parents believed that it was worth it because the movement would lead to a better future for their children and the world. His family's history gives a personal perspective on an important time in our own American history, that is still relevant today.

Becky_D

An eye opening look at a turbulent time
I was finishing high school and starting college when the Weathermen and Black Liberation Army were front and center in the news. I was leaving a dysfunctional family and wanted nothing more than order and predictability in my life.

I just could not fathom why anyone would choose to live a life of chaos, uncertainty and possible incarceration.

An explanation to this question comes in the skillful hands of author Zayd Dohrn. The social consciousness of a generation was motivated to insure justice by battling the U.S. government with violence.

This was the backdrop of the author's young life: going underground with his parents, being fugitives. His mother eventually spent time in prison.

Even though I couldn't imagine doing anything that knowingly would separate me from my child, Dohrn sheds light on his mother's absolute compulsion. This compulsion (to act on her social consciousness) to do battle with the government, was to the detriment of all else, even her family cohesion.

In trying to understand why some people are led to this type of disruptive (some would say terrorist) behavior to achieve their goals, I thought maybe they were schooled in this rhetoric growing up. Not so with Dohrn's mother. She had conservative parents, finished school and went to college.

The skill of Dohrn's writing can not be underestimated. His book is highly readable.
He weaves the telling of his chaotic early childhood with the beliefs and actions of his parents in a way that while not condoning the repercussions of their actions, gives the reader a glimpse into their rationale.

Ann_H

Perfect Descriptive Title
Dohrn did a great job describing the social unrest of the 60s. His characters weren't all bad just disillusioned with society. They took to violence on many levels - bombs, killings, etc. Their dedication to this type of warfare not only affected them but also their families. FBI interrogated innocent family members in order to scare the revolutionaries into stopping their violent activities or turn themselves in to the authorities. Children running from state to state, city to city finding safe houses and undergrounds had to be resilient. The author's examples of children growing up to be productive members of society in spite of their parents gives this reader hope.

Kristina_C

Engaging and Informative
I was immediately drawn into this book. The author does an amazing job of arranging a complex timeline in an easy to follow and engaging way. The addition of photos makes the read even more engaging. I appreciated the extensive citations at the end as well. I have learned so much about American revolutionaries in the 60-70s and found myself doing extra reading and research after reading. I also had engaging conversations with others about the topics in the book. As someone who struggles with an interest in history, that is a big deal. The book is not small, with well over 400 pages, and not once did I feel it to be too long or burdensome to read. I recommend this book and definitely consider it a 5 star read.

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