Necessary Trouble

"Without a doubt, Sarah Jaffe is the preeminent social movement chronicler of her generation. Cutting through the hype, she finds the unsung heroes and tells the real story of how change happens. Mixing razor sharp analysis with moving reports from the front lines, Necessary Trouble reveals the interconnections, complexities, and possibilities of nearly a decade of radical uprisings. Read this book now-and then join the revolt."--Astra Taylor, author of The People's Platform and co-founder of The Debt Collective "While commercial media can't seem to turn away from the Trump circus or Hillary's emails, Sarah Jaffe follows America's new radicals. And in doing so, tells a far more consequential story-one that reveals our recent past and an alternative future. The most compelling social and political portrait of our age, Necessary Trouble should be mandatory for anyone who thinks justice is necessary."--Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination "There have been attempts to describe this emerging movement for social justice in book form before. Necessary Trouble is the best so far. ... Jaffe is a leading light ... delightful and inspiring."--In These Times "The political activism and beliefs of ordinary Americans are as ignored as they are consequential. Sarah Jaffe is one of the few American journalists who has meaningfully covered this vital, growing force-invariably with passion, empathy, and unflinching insight. Her new book is indispensable for understanding how marginalized and resource-deprived communities are politically empowering themselves in ways that will fundamentally shape America's future."--Glenn Greenwald, author of No Place to Hide "The fullest account yet of the social movements that are attempting to transform American politics."--Tim Barker, London Review of Books "Striking a tone that simultaneously infuriates and inspires, Jaffe gives a macro-level overview of recent protest movements...with a spare, intelligent style."--Publishers Weekly "Sarah Jaffe's book tells the story of the giant step made by America's networked young people off the sidelines of progressive politics and into the foreground. It weaves together the story of radicalized labor activism, black protests against police violence, and the horizontalist movements. These are the stories the millennial generation will tell their grandchildren-about how they reversed the balance between the citizen and corporate power, and saved the planet."--Paul Mason, author of PostCapitalism: A Guide to Our Future "Sarah Jaffe has written a wise and eloquent book about the surging movements against inequality that are giving the one percent a run for its money. If you want to understand the present and future of the American left, you must read Necessary Trouble."--Michael Kazin, co-editor of Dissent and author of War Against War: The American Fight for Peace, 1914-1918 "Sarah Jaffe draws on her journalistic experience and talent to give us a vivid portrait of the contemporary protest movements that just may transform America."--Frances Fox Piven, author of Challenging Authority "Like Boadicea leading the Celts against the Romans or Joan of Arc breaking the siege of Orleans, Sarah Jaffe marches into the class war, fighting the good fight with a pen as sharp as any sword."--Bill Moyers "Jaffe's effort to put radicalism at the center, not the fringes, of American democracy renders Necessary Trouble a necessary read."--Carlos Lozada, Washington Post "History is filled with stories of rebellion-and not just history, as Sarah Jaffe shows. What we've too often lacked are reporters willing and able to weave one-day stories into meaningful fabric. Jaffe does just that, with depth and breadth and eloquence. Necessary Trouble is necessary reading, and Jaffe's arrival is something to celebrate."--Laura Flanders, host an

Sarah Jaffe is a Nation Institute fellow and an independent journalist covering labor, economic justice, social movements, politics, gender, and pop culture. Her work has appeared in The Nation, Salon, The Week, American Prospect, Washington Post, Atlantic, and many other publications. She is the co-host, with Michelle Chen, of Dissent magazine's Belabored podcast, as well as an editorial board member at Dissent and a columnist at New Labor Forum. Jaffe was formerly a staff writer at In These Times and the labor editor at AlterNet. She was a contributing editor on The 99%: How the Occupy Wall Street Movement Is Changing America, from AlterNet books, as well as a contributor to the anthologies At the Tea Party and Tales of Two Cities, both from OR Books. She was also the web director at GRITtv with Laura Flanders.