Cool, unexpected read on the power of music with a literal revolution in Germany against authoritarianism and more from the grassroots on up. Worth sitting down with ASAP!

I never really had a punk phase. Emo was all the rage when I was a teen. But I do appreciate a good rabble-rouser and that's what the kids in this book are. This narrative focuses on the individual (but also quite mish-mased) stories of punks and outsiders and their fight for the right to exist how they choose in a society that chooses everything for them. I really enjoyed that the story was told through the participants of the movement, rather than just a general glossing over. There were a lot of participants with similar band names who did similar thing, though, and after a while they all kind of run together. Overall, I feel the important message of this book is the willingness to fight complacency in the masses. It's a message we can certainly treasure today.

I'm acquainted with a few people who believe in giving all the credit for the fall of the Berlin Wall to the influence of Ronald Reagan. I've never believed it was that simple. Finally, we get a more detailed account of what happened behind the wall, and it's a much more interesting tale. It seems that the influence of the Sex Pistols might have had more to do with it. Hosts of angry young people drew inspiration from them and started resisting through their appearance, through their music, and finally in the streets. - And a number of Lutheran deacons heard something reminiscent of the Psalms in their screams and supported them. Not as neat a picture, and undoubtedly more accurate. While at times I found the language a bit off-putting, I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is sure to be a go-to account of the years leading up to this transformational event.

Interesting but I couldn't relate to it. I obviously requested it by mistake; I thought it would be a different type of book.