What do you think?
Rate this book
Camden Press Graphic Guides
Anarchy, A Graphic Guide
"Like all really good ideas, Anarchy is pretty simple when you get down to it-human beings are at their very best when they are living free of authority, deciding things among themselves rather than being ordered about." So begins the only modern anarchist classic.
Anarchy, A Graphic Guide is an account of people's attempts to build a world and live a life free of imposed authority. From the thirteenth century Free Spirits, to Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, from Noam Chomsky to the Zapatistas, Clifford Harper chronicles, in word and illustration, ordinary people's extraordinary efforts to overcome authoritarian social and economic conditions.
Harper's beautifully rendered drawings add a distinctive elegance to his writings. With entirely new illustrations-over 350-and prose, this handsome reissue can hardly be called a reprint. His celebrated style brings new life to history's forgotten and maligned heroes: the Diggers, William Godwin, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Peter Kropotkin, the Grimke Sisters, Francisco Ferrer, Buenaventura Durruti, the Kronstadt sailors, Kenneth Rexroth, Paul Goodman, and Carol Ehrlich. In addition, he addresses anarchism's relationship to broader movements, including art, feminism, environmentalism, abolitionism, labor, intellectualism, atheism, and education.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 1987
17 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 7, 2012
I have the old edition of this, I think it's maybe been updated.
It's a really good basic introduction to the history of anarchism, or the history of insurrection and revolt in general, well illustrated with woodcuts.
The chapters themselves are very general and basic, but are intended only as an introduction, and are excellent as pointers toward further reading and research.
The book begins with the Free spirit heretics of the Middle Ages, but it could've equally well begun with, say, Spartacus and his slave revolt. In its general history of antinomianism and heresy, it's indebted to Norman Cohn's book The Pursuit of the Millennium.
The woodcuts are dynamic and forceful, well matched to the subject matter, and bring to mind the great Frans Masereel.
To me, one of the most effective parts is the chapter on the Situationist International, a good nutshell encapsulation of this difficult topic.
Of course, this broad approach, and the lack of space, can have its drawbacks (the bit on the Sex Pistols is not quite right, for instance) but overall it's a great introduction to anarchist history which would be suitable for young people who want a fairly light, engaging start to this topic.
To end with an excerpt from Tristan Tzara's 1918 Dada Manifesto cannot be bettered, I think.
I'll try and get hold of the updated edition, and see if it's much different.
It's a really good basic introduction to the history of anarchism, or the history of insurrection and revolt in general, well illustrated with woodcuts.
The chapters themselves are very general and basic, but are intended only as an introduction, and are excellent as pointers toward further reading and research.
The book begins with the Free spirit heretics of the Middle Ages, but it could've equally well begun with, say, Spartacus and his slave revolt. In its general history of antinomianism and heresy, it's indebted to Norman Cohn's book The Pursuit of the Millennium.
The woodcuts are dynamic and forceful, well matched to the subject matter, and bring to mind the great Frans Masereel.
To me, one of the most effective parts is the chapter on the Situationist International, a good nutshell encapsulation of this difficult topic.
Of course, this broad approach, and the lack of space, can have its drawbacks (the bit on the Sex Pistols is not quite right, for instance) but overall it's a great introduction to anarchist history which would be suitable for young people who want a fairly light, engaging start to this topic.
To end with an excerpt from Tristan Tzara's 1918 Dada Manifesto cannot be bettered, I think.
I'll try and get hold of the updated edition, and see if it's much different.
January 28, 2008
#1 source of anarchist clip art.
September 11, 2008
An essential illustrated reference book for anyone into radical history. I need to check out the new edition of this one—so much has happened since Harper's first edition and he has some facts wrong. Still his bold, uncompromising spirit comes through in both his art and writing—yep, the dude loves anarchism. Check out Icky A's interview with the man in Realizing the Impossible: Art Against Authority.
May 22, 2025
having read a pirated version from the nineties to which were added a few things about the anti wto protests in Genua, the Zapatistas and questions surrounding the possibilities of the internet; anarchy a graphic guide is to be treated as a ideological propaganda book and it is quite open about that. The author himself points out he was not setting out for strict objectivity and calls on the spirit of Dada as to what drove him, meaning it is meant to get people in action. However does it succeed on that front?
with an overview of what, according to Harper, constitutes the highlights of anarchist events, we start off with the preface of the free spirit, meaning religiously inspired peasant movements in England from the 13th century onward culminating with the famous digger movement during the English civil war, going forward to the French revolution where peculiarly Baboeuf and his society of equals is not mentioned, and on to the big four of anarchist thinking; max Stirner, Bakunin, Kropotkin and Proudhon. Afterwards we go through the history of Europe, north america and bits of Latin America where either individuals or movements make the anarchist mark and or cultural events, such as Dada, and comments on the big historical events such as WW1.
One can immediately e notice something; apparently nothing of note ever happened in Africa, the middle east or Asia. Off course timing is everything so event the reprint would not have the Rojava experiment and YPG movement or the wider commentary on the PKK and Ocalan rebranding from marxism to ideas of Murray Bookchin but still it is quite telling how eurocentric this book is and obsessed with individuals doing lone acts of terrorism.
A second thing to notice is that a lot of it is focused on failure or acts of individuals that seem to have had little impact beyond the immediate deed of a bomb thrown or a president shot. Now one could argue that including it is fair and honest and not pretend that it wasn't a thing in the 19th and early 20th century but I do think a missed chance was here to openly ask what those shootings accomplished. Harpers wants to focus on how the individual rose to the occasion and braved the system but one could argue and he himself notes it a few times, that it more often then not resulted in even stronger oppression or persecution. Likewise the social, labor, education and cultural movements dicussed in the book could have been a chance to talk about what impact it had because surely people attending these free schools must have had a different outlook then right? But we won't know from this book; so perhaps it is an open invite to question, investigate and study it at best.
Lastly, man the Harper really hates communists. I get it though, Lenin and Trotsky screwed over the anarchist in Russia and Ukraine; the Spanish communists turned against the Catalan anarchist movement underming their own side at a critical time in the Spanish civil war. Heck even in the Mexican revolution, although not going into that detail in this book, the small mexican labor units formed to fight against what they saw as rural bandits and ruffians led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Or how the French communist and socialist parties retreated into siding with the state during may 1968 and so on. I totally get the frustration and distrust however it does lead to a few peculiar ideas such as claiming che guevara because Castro and him could not get along on exporting the revolution? Furthermore the whole Cuban revolution is weirdly presented making it seem as if Batista and Castro did not face each other in a revolution.
Thing I did genuinely like, the art, that is simply amazing and given the title it should be. Secondly it it is well written accessible and I do think a good starting point for reading on and doing further research. However I can't shake the fact that the man is a puritan and only total end revolution and decentralized autonomous communities of strong individuals will satisfy him. I found it particularly glaring to dismiss the zapatista movement in the Mexican revolution as having failed whilst ignoring that the core reason of the movement had been achieved, namely the recognition of the communities traditional rights, no ownership of land by foreign investors and in Morelos the death of the Hacienda. Sure not the whole of Mexico had been transformed into a decentralized federalist anarcho syndicalist entity but to take from that and conclude; failure, is a gross disregard of what Emeliano Zapata fought for and won.
So does it succeed in motivating people in becoming anarchists? I don't think it would and would rather recommend either books on the zapatista movement both in the Mexican revolution as today or studies on what all those art and educational movements and or cooperatives have achieved despite the difficulties rather then keep on lamenting on failure to achieve a total transformation of the globe. I think political projects such as Rojava are noteworthy and proof that an anarchist project for autonomous communities can work given the backing of a strong cultural, social and educational network and solidarity that preceded it in response to state failure. I think in context of like north west Europe Anarchism is either a life style for artists, philosophers and a safe environment for people who can't cope with our post industrial consumer society and as a more radical set of ideas to confront state inaction in the face of environmental neglect.
I think it is worthwhile to read for anyone interesting in ideological books but don't expect an objective account.
with an overview of what, according to Harper, constitutes the highlights of anarchist events, we start off with the preface of the free spirit, meaning religiously inspired peasant movements in England from the 13th century onward culminating with the famous digger movement during the English civil war, going forward to the French revolution where peculiarly Baboeuf and his society of equals is not mentioned, and on to the big four of anarchist thinking; max Stirner, Bakunin, Kropotkin and Proudhon. Afterwards we go through the history of Europe, north america and bits of Latin America where either individuals or movements make the anarchist mark and or cultural events, such as Dada, and comments on the big historical events such as WW1.
One can immediately e notice something; apparently nothing of note ever happened in Africa, the middle east or Asia. Off course timing is everything so event the reprint would not have the Rojava experiment and YPG movement or the wider commentary on the PKK and Ocalan rebranding from marxism to ideas of Murray Bookchin but still it is quite telling how eurocentric this book is and obsessed with individuals doing lone acts of terrorism.
A second thing to notice is that a lot of it is focused on failure or acts of individuals that seem to have had little impact beyond the immediate deed of a bomb thrown or a president shot. Now one could argue that including it is fair and honest and not pretend that it wasn't a thing in the 19th and early 20th century but I do think a missed chance was here to openly ask what those shootings accomplished. Harpers wants to focus on how the individual rose to the occasion and braved the system but one could argue and he himself notes it a few times, that it more often then not resulted in even stronger oppression or persecution. Likewise the social, labor, education and cultural movements dicussed in the book could have been a chance to talk about what impact it had because surely people attending these free schools must have had a different outlook then right? But we won't know from this book; so perhaps it is an open invite to question, investigate and study it at best.
Lastly, man the Harper really hates communists. I get it though, Lenin and Trotsky screwed over the anarchist in Russia and Ukraine; the Spanish communists turned against the Catalan anarchist movement underming their own side at a critical time in the Spanish civil war. Heck even in the Mexican revolution, although not going into that detail in this book, the small mexican labor units formed to fight against what they saw as rural bandits and ruffians led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Or how the French communist and socialist parties retreated into siding with the state during may 1968 and so on. I totally get the frustration and distrust however it does lead to a few peculiar ideas such as claiming che guevara because Castro and him could not get along on exporting the revolution? Furthermore the whole Cuban revolution is weirdly presented making it seem as if Batista and Castro did not face each other in a revolution.
Thing I did genuinely like, the art, that is simply amazing and given the title it should be. Secondly it it is well written accessible and I do think a good starting point for reading on and doing further research. However I can't shake the fact that the man is a puritan and only total end revolution and decentralized autonomous communities of strong individuals will satisfy him. I found it particularly glaring to dismiss the zapatista movement in the Mexican revolution as having failed whilst ignoring that the core reason of the movement had been achieved, namely the recognition of the communities traditional rights, no ownership of land by foreign investors and in Morelos the death of the Hacienda. Sure not the whole of Mexico had been transformed into a decentralized federalist anarcho syndicalist entity but to take from that and conclude; failure, is a gross disregard of what Emeliano Zapata fought for and won.
So does it succeed in motivating people in becoming anarchists? I don't think it would and would rather recommend either books on the zapatista movement both in the Mexican revolution as today or studies on what all those art and educational movements and or cooperatives have achieved despite the difficulties rather then keep on lamenting on failure to achieve a total transformation of the globe. I think political projects such as Rojava are noteworthy and proof that an anarchist project for autonomous communities can work given the backing of a strong cultural, social and educational network and solidarity that preceded it in response to state failure. I think in context of like north west Europe Anarchism is either a life style for artists, philosophers and a safe environment for people who can't cope with our post industrial consumer society and as a more radical set of ideas to confront state inaction in the face of environmental neglect.
I think it is worthwhile to read for anyone interesting in ideological books but don't expect an objective account.
December 2, 2020
Such disappointment!
This is not a graphic guide. This is a rather large blog post fluffed up with graphics.
I liked the idea of woodcarving-like graphics. Yet, the drawings are quite ugly.
This is not about Anarchy. This is the dogma of one of many Churches of Marx, who advocates for a powerful government that won't be called government because it won't be Anarchism after all. It's the history written by the pigs in Animal Farm.
Finally, Harper is not one of the more refined ideologues, rather just another thug living in a world of wondering gods: Church, State, all are human like and show agency and desires.
This is not a graphic guide. This is a rather large blog post fluffed up with graphics.
I liked the idea of woodcarving-like graphics. Yet, the drawings are quite ugly.
This is not about Anarchy. This is the dogma of one of many Churches of Marx, who advocates for a powerful government that won't be called government because it won't be Anarchism after all. It's the history written by the pigs in Animal Farm.
Finally, Harper is not one of the more refined ideologues, rather just another thug living in a world of wondering gods: Church, State, all are human like and show agency and desires.
July 17, 2025
A mi es un libro que me gustado mucho para lo que es, que es una guía muy introductoria de las ideas anarquistas. Sí que es cierto que no dedica demasiado tiempo a explicar la teoría, a las ideas concretas, y quizá dedica demasiado tiempo a hablar de ejemplos concretos, pero yo no lo llamaría un problema.
Las ilustraciones están muy bien evidentemente dependen del gusto de cada uno, pero para mi gusto están perfectamente.
Admito que puede ser que me haya gustado tanto por mi cercanía ideológica con las ideas de esta gente pero qué más da. En general es un libro que le recomendaría a la gente leerse, sobre todo si tienes un interés concreto de la historia de movimientos en contra del gobierno. Yo personalmente he salido de la lectura con ganas de tirar un cóctel.
Las ilustraciones están muy bien evidentemente dependen del gusto de cada uno, pero para mi gusto están perfectamente.
Admito que puede ser que me haya gustado tanto por mi cercanía ideológica con las ideas de esta gente pero qué más da. En general es un libro que le recomendaría a la gente leerse, sobre todo si tienes un interés concreto de la historia de movimientos en contra del gobierno. Yo personalmente he salido de la lectura con ganas de tirar un cóctel.
April 13, 2023
It has illustrated pictures! - which absolutely adds to it's very light and digestible (but still richly nutritious) introduction to Anarchy. Great for anyone holding misconceptions about what anarchy is - which is often portrayed in the mainstream as barbarism, chaos, senseless, and hedonistic - rather Anarchy: A Graphic Guide details Anarchy's history, it's evolution as it ties to specific anarchist philosophers, and different forms of anarchy. Expect to get a deeper understanding of anarchist thought rooted in the idea of organizing society without political institutions or hierarchies. Additionally, often in leftist literature, Marxism is sort of taken as a default accepted philosophy. Anarchy: A Graphic Guide often challenges Marxism offering critiques and counter arguments against it (and in favor of leftist anarchism) that contrasts Anarchism and Marxism in ways that really gets into the meat of their differences. This is something I haven't quite yet encountered in other leftist literature.
November 24, 2023
Anarchy, A Graphic Guide is a small, short book packed with wonderful graphics that express the anarchist spirit and vision over the last 400 years. Short chapters that are easily digested which often provide new information about old events and always situating them in their history and current thinking.
September 4, 2022
Guía súper completa. Te habla del todo el movimiento, precursores, de España, Latinoamérica, Rusia, EEUU, feminismo, ecologismo…
Las ilustraciones son muy bonitas y la edición es chulísima.
Las ilustraciones son muy bonitas y la edición es chulísima.
December 31, 2023
A very compelling history of Anarchism, with beautiful graphics, and larger-than-life characters.
October 3, 2024
Wish I could recommend this to all my friends as a great introduction to anarchism, but it's decent at best...
July 29, 2025
fixome pensar muito e aprender sobre o anarquismo, do cal pouco coñecía. foi unha lectura q me apartou btt; se queredes aprender algo sobre anarquismo lédeo! outra recomendación d Roi q paga a pena.
June 20, 2007
The edition I've always seen has a different cover than the one shown here.
This book is a really super, accessible, easy to read history of different anarchist movements. It could easily be read by a junior high or high school student who thinks anarchy is all about getting wasted, smashing bottles, and engaging in fist fights. It could also be read by grandparents who think that anarchy is a pipe dream. This book could be helpful/useful to a wide variety of people.
I like the way the author inclueds groups and people that may not have self-identifed as anarchist and explains why he thinks they fit into the catagory.
A highly recommended anarchist primer.
This book is a really super, accessible, easy to read history of different anarchist movements. It could easily be read by a junior high or high school student who thinks anarchy is all about getting wasted, smashing bottles, and engaging in fist fights. It could also be read by grandparents who think that anarchy is a pipe dream. This book could be helpful/useful to a wide variety of people.
I like the way the author inclueds groups and people that may not have self-identifed as anarchist and explains why he thinks they fit into the catagory.
A highly recommended anarchist primer.
March 27, 2009
Very good Introduction, brief outline of principals and ideology. Basic outline of the history or anarchist movements and their significance. I thought that this book was quite informative, a recommendation for anyone who has preconceived notions of what anarchism is but are unfamiliar with the historical aspects. I would say obtain a copy somehow, not necessary for your collection, but certainly worthy of checking out at the library.
April 11, 2008
Meski halamannya 'sedikit' sekali, tapi benar2 seru buku ini! Untung udah ada teman2 yang menerjemahkannya dalam bahasa Indonesia
Literatur yg cukup lengkap sekali mengenai gerakan2 dan aktivitas2 ehemmmm... mantap dah!
Mao belajar sejarah yang lain? Ya ini!!!
Literatur yg cukup lengkap sekali mengenai gerakan2 dan aktivitas2 ehemmmm... mantap dah!
Mao belajar sejarah yang lain? Ya ini!!!
February 8, 2014
linocuts
April 1, 2012
penting terutama bwat media2 Indonesia yg salah kaprah mengartikan anarki sebagai tindak kekerasan.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews