Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street

While this book offers interesting tidbits about anarchist history and the daily affairs of Occupy Wall Street, it tries too many different things at the same time to succeed. It tries to be a sociological exploration of OWS, but reduces all interviews to soundbites that illustrate the writer's thoughts. It tries to review the history and varying forms of anarchism, but leaves enormous gaps and dismisses the types of anarchism that Bray isn't comfortable with. It proposes that anarchism can offer an inclusive, pragmatic and liberating framework for the left, but at the same time it deals bitter jabs to liberals, communists and other leftists, whom Bray ultimately wants to have aboard.

This all detracts from the book's coherency and, more importantly, from its ultimate message. In the final segment of the book, Bray addresses the build-up of parallel institutions that should be attractive to a broad segment of society while staying true to anarchist praxis. He talks about the tension between alternative culture, revolutionary change and mass appeal. If Bray's goal was to address the translation of anarchist thought into practice and into society, these are the topics he should have elaborated on.