RICHARD FALK MEMOIR: PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL - The Life of a Citizen Pilgrim

THE REMARKABLE LIFE STORY OF A LEADING AMERICAN PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL This political memoir reveals how Richard Falk became prominent in America and internationally as both a public intellectual and a citizen pilgrim.  "This intimate and penetrating account of a remarkable life is rich in insights about topics ranging from the academic world to global affairs to prospects for a livable society.  A gripping story, with many lessons for a troubled world." NOAM CHOMSKY "Richard Falk is one of the few great public intellectuals and citizen pilgrims who has preserved his integrity and consistency in our dark and decadent times. This wise and powerful memoir is a gift that bestows us with a tear-soaked truth and blood-stained hope."  CORNEL WEST Whether you are a peace activist or researcher, or you care about the earth and fellow human beings ,  Public Intellectual will enrich you intellectually and politically."                           VANDANA SHIVA "Richard Falk recounts a life well spent trying to bend the arc of international law toward global justice. A Don Quixote tilting nobly at real dragons. His culminating vision of a better or even livable future—a 'necessary utopia'—evokes with current urgency the slogan of Paris, May 1968: 'Be realistic: demand the impossible.'" DANIEL ELLSBERG During forty years at Princeton University, Falk was active in seeking an end to the Vietnam War, a better understanding of Iran, a just solution for Israel/Palestine, and improved democracy elsewhere. He also served as UN Special Rapporteur for Occupied Palestine. His books include This Endangered Planet, A Study of Future Worlds, Power Shift, Revisiting the Vietnam War, Palestine Horizon,  and  On Nuclearism Falk built a life of progressive commitment, highlighted by visits to North Vietnam where he met PM Pham Von Dong, to Iran during the Islamic Revolution after meeting Khomeini in Paris, to South Africa where he met with Nelson Mandela at the height of the struggle against apartheid, and frequently to Palestine and Israel. His memoir is studded with encounters with well-known public figures in law, academia, political activism and even Hollywood. Falk mentored the thesis of Robert Mueller, taught David Petraeus.   VIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS, EXCERPT AND NAMES INDEX His publications and activism describe various encounters with embedded American militarism, especially as expressed by governmental resistance to responsible efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and his United Nations efforts on behalf of the rights of the Palestinian people.   In 2010 Richard Falk was named Outstanding Public Scholar in Political Economy by the International Studies Association. He has been nominated annually for the Nobel Peace Prize since 2009.