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Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World Paperback – February 3, 2015

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 388 ratings

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An urgent and accessible handbook for peaceful protesters, activists, and community organizers—anyone trying to defend their rights, hold their government accountable, or change the world

Blueprint for Revolution will teach you how to
• make oppression backfire by playing your opponents’ strongest card against them
• identify the “almighty pillars of power” in order to shift the balance of control
• dream big, but start small: learn how to pick battles you can win
• listen to what people actually care about in order to incorporate their needs into your revolutionary vision
• master the art of compromise to bring together even the most disparate groups
• recognize your allies and view your enemies as potential partners
• use humor to make yourself heard, defuse potentially violent situations, and “laugh your way to victory”

Praise for Blueprint for Revolution

“The title is no exaggeration. Otpor’s methods . . . have been adopted by democracy movements around the world. The Egyptian opposition used them to topple Hosni Mubarak. In Lebanon, the Serbs helped the Cedar Revolution extricate the country from Syrian control. In Maldives, their methods were the key to overthrowing a dictator who had held power for thirty years. In many other countries, people have used what Canvas teaches to accomplish other political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.”
The New York Times

“A clear, well-constructed, and easily applicable set of principles for any David facing any Goliath (sans slingshot, of course) . . . By the end of 
Blueprint, the idea that a punch is no match for a punch line feels like anything but a joke.”The Boston Globe

“An entertaining primer on the theory and practice of peaceful protest.”
The Guardian

“With this wonderful book, Srdja Popovic is inspiring ordinary people facing injustice and oppression to use this tool kit to challenge their oppressors and create something much better. When I was growing up, we dreamed that young people could bring down those who misused their power and create a more just and democratic society. For Srdja Popovic, living in Belgrade in 1998, this same dream was potentially a much more dangerous idea. But with an extraordinarily courageous group of students that formed Otpor!, Srdja used imagination, invention, cunning, and lots of humor to create a movement that not only succeeded in toppling the brutal dictator Slobodan Milošević but has become a blueprint for nonviolent revolution around the world. Srdja rules!”
—Peter Gabriel
 
Blueprint for Revolution is not only a spirited guide to changing the world but a breakthrough in the annals of advice for those who seek justice and democracy. It asks (and not heavy-handedly): As long as you want to change the world, why not do it joyfully? It’s not just funny. It’s seriously funny. No joke.”—Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The title is no exaggeration. Otpor’s methods . . . have been adopted by democracy movements around the world. The Egyptian opposition used them to topple Hosni Mubarak. In Lebanon, the Serbs helped the Cedar Revolution extricate the country from Syrian control. In Maldives, their methods were the key to overthrowing a dictator who had held power for thirty years. In many other countries, people have used what Canvas teaches to accomplish other political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.”The New York Times

“A clear, well-constructed, and easily applicable set of principles for any David facing any Goliath (sans slingshot, of course) . . . By the end of
Blueprint, the idea that a punch is no match for a punch line feels like anything but a joke.”The Boston Globe

“An entertaining primer on the theory and practice of peaceful protest.”
The Guardian

“With this wonderful book, Srdja Popovic is inspiring ordinary people facing injustice and oppression to use this tool kit to challenge their oppressors and create something much better. When I was growing up, we dreamed that young people could bring down those who misused their power and create a more just and democratic society. For Srdja Popovic, living in Belgrade in 1998, this same dream was potentially a much more dangerous idea. But with an extraordinarily courageous group of students that formed Otpor!, Srdja used imagination, invention, cunning, and lots of humor to create a movement that not only succeeded in toppling the brutal dictator Slobodan Milošević but has become a blueprint for nonviolent revolution around the world. Srdja rules!”
—Peter Gabriel
 
Blueprint for Revolution is not only a spirited guide to changing the world but a breakthrough in the annals of advice for those who seek justice and democracy. It asks (and not heavy-handedly): As long as you want to change the world, why not do it joyfully? It’s not just funny. It’s seriously funny. No joke.”—Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation

About the Author

Srdja Popovic is a Serbian political activist and executive director of the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS). He was a leader of the student movement Otpor!, which helped topple Serbian president Slobodan Milošević. He has taught at the Harvard Kennedy School, NYU, and the University of Colorado, among others. He lives in Belgrade.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House (February 3, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812995309
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812995305
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.69 x 7.82 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 388 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
388 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and informative, providing useful insights and a blueprint for revolution. They describe it as an enjoyable and accessible read that is entertaining and engaging. The writing style is described as conversational and witty, making it easy to understand.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

48 customers mention "Education value"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and inspiring. They say it teaches through real-life examples and anecdotes. The book is easy to read, full of insights, and an enjoyable read for anyone. It inspires creativity and a desire to make a change. Readers mention the book is useful as a textbook for humanities classes focusing on civil disobedience.

"...Popovic conveys his hard-earned wisdom with hilarity & great storytelling, making the daunting endeavor of revolution seem wholly accessible to..." Read more

"...This book is relatable in so many ways, it speaks to me and gives me hope that I can create the changes I seek with other like minded people...." Read more

"...structured, covering fundamentals such as pillars of powers, to strategies and tactics. Quite brilliant, I must say...." Read more

"...thought processes he goes through while delivering his ideas are both clever and relatable. The ideas are beautiful in their ingenuity...." Read more

45 customers mention "Readability"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as fascinating, informative, and uplifting. The writing style is humorous and the stories are inspiring.

"...This is brilliant stuff, folks -- a manual for both the suburban mom trying to stop the megamall next door, and the activists aiming to topple a..." Read more

"...It's an engaging read, with stories of him and his team coaching activists from places like Ukraine, Egypt, and Syria...." Read more

"...As for writing style, the author takes a humorous approach in treating a most serious subject, making it easy to read...." Read more

"...n't trying to figure out how to cause a revolution, the book is pleasurable enough to read just on the merits of the writing style and understanding..." Read more

18 customers mention "Writing style"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and witty with unexpected humor. They appreciate the conversational tone and stories. The book provides excellent basics for those interested in using Revolution.

"...making the daunting endeavor of revolution seem wholly accessible to ordinary folks...." Read more

"...a humorous approach in treating a most serious subject, making it easy to read...." Read more

"...the book is pleasurable enough to read just on the merits of the writing style and understanding the importance of art and humor, in general...." Read more

"...Blueprint for Revolution is an enjoyable and accessible read for anybody, and is very inspirational and educational for someone who wants to do some..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2016
    Srdja Popovic knows what he's talking about. As one of the founders of Otpor!, he masterminded the nonviolence movement that eventually toppled the Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Later he and his colleagues consulted with the nonviolent movements in the Maldives, Egypt, and Burma. This book draws upon these frontline experiences: what worked, what didn't work, and how to do it better.
    Comedy works -- you can't laugh and be afraid at the same time, and oppressive regimes mostly want you to be afraid so they can control you. So create street theater that ridicules your adversary while being totally legal. Violence doesn't work. You're trying to hit a much bigger opponent at his strongest point. Also, all that dying makes it kinda unsustainable.
    Popovic conveys his hard-earned wisdom with hilarity & great storytelling, making the daunting endeavor of revolution seem wholly accessible to ordinary folks. Adhere to the holy trinity of nonviolent discipline, unity and planning, he says, and you will go far. Some choice quotes: "...ordinary people don't take to the barricades because things are bad. In order for your average citizen to really get engaged with an issue, he needs to think that it's unfair or wrong." "When you think of power, remember that exercising it comes at a cost, and that your job as an activist is to make that cost rise ever upward until your opponent is no longer able to afford the charges."
    This is brilliant stuff, folks -- a manual for both the suburban mom trying to stop the megamall next door, and the activists aiming to topple a ruthless dictator. Read it, live it, and make good stuff happen.
    -- Ali Binazir, M.D., M.Phil., author of The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible, the highest-rated dating book on Amazon for 4+ years
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017
    I liked this one enough to recommend it on my book recommendations email list. My interest in this book was piqued less by any interest in revolution, geopolitics, or activism, and more by my interest in psychology and persuasion. If you know anything about humans, you've certainly shaken your head at the "strategies" of activists lately. It appears to be a series of random actions and name-calling, driven purely by emotion, with no thought given to how those actions will influence anyone in particular.

    I believe I heard about this book from Arnold Schwarzenegger, on his second Tim Ferriss podcast appearance. He proposed that climate activists focus on air pollution rather than "climate change." The gist being that air pollution is currently killing 7 million people per year, and you can actually see the pollution in many places – outside my window included. It's easier to persuade people to fix something currently happening to them, rather than by getting them to worry about some unknown thing that might happen at an unknown point in the future.

    This book is written by Srdja Popovic, who was a founder of Otpor!, an opposition group that helped engineer the overthrow of Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević. It's easy to by inspired by the Egyptian revolution happening in Tahir Square, and ignore the years of small victories, coalition-building, and careful branding that preceded it. This, Popovic argues, is probably why the Occupy movement (which Popovic suggests should have been called a more inclusive "99%" movement) fizzled out in the U.S..

    It's an engaging read, with stories of him and his team coaching activists from places like Ukraine, Egypt, and Syria. He illustrates how to create change through humorous pranks, or by focusing strategically on something that affects a wide swath of people. For example, Otpor! released turkeys costumed as Milošević's wife so that news outlets would cover Milošević's police chasing them and looking ridiculous.

    He also tells stories of how focusing on cottage cheese helped fight wealth inequality in Israel, how Harvey Milk used dog poop to get people to care about gay rights, and how, as the subtitle suggests, rice pudding was used to launch a revolution in the Maldives.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2023
    I have begun my process to enact change for the betterment of America, I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend who is terrified of what this country is becoming. Being of humble origins I have been diligently researching how to create change and bring on revolution and thats when this book came to my attention. This book is relatable in so many ways, it speaks to me and gives me hope that I can create the changes I seek with other like minded people. I have no illusions that things will change over night or that every American will join my movement immediately because I know that is a dream but I do realize I am not the only one who sees the issues we are having in this country and can no long stand by and watch as our children's futures grow darker and darker. Rampant pedophilia, child abuse, malnutrition, homelessness, human trafficking, child abductions, molestation and school shootings make me fear for all the children of this country. If we continue on this path those children that actually make it to adulthood will be broken and traumatized individuals with no direction in life and for those who don't, they will leave behind grieving families that never recover from the loss and injustice of what happened. This will lead to a society of hopelessness and mentally weak individuals running our country even further into the ground. Thank you for this book, I hope I can apply these principles and key factors to my movement and some how make a difference for the better.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ahmed Nebli
    4.0 out of 5 stars paper quality good, content decent
    Reviewed in Germany on February 9, 2021
    Overall quality: very good: nice font size, good paper quality ( I wonder why other book publishers don't print on such paper quality).

    Content: It kind of left me skeptical about the author, he claims that he trained the group of people responsible for different revolutions in the world like Egypt for instance. I really don't think that this guy overestimates what he has done. The book promises a lot but delivers normal content.
  • Pablo Girault
    5.0 out of 5 stars BLUEPRINT SHOULD BE READ BY ANYONE LIVING IN AN AUTOCRATIC REGIME
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 20, 2018
    A great theoretical and practical guide to resist and win the revolution against apparently totalitarian power structures. Mr. Popovic wrote a practical guide that reads like a novel. Highly recommended.
  • Pau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excel·lent
    Reviewed in Spain on September 8, 2018
    Gran llibre sobre les revoltes pacífiques. Lectura obligada. Senzillament una gran reflexió. Per tots nosaltres un model a seguir. Bravo
  • Tanweer
    5.0 out of 5 stars exelent
    Reviewed in India on May 7, 2017
    remarkable book. this is a must read book. i need 20 more words so here it is .. lalala ... la...la..la no need some more.. here
  • hen3ry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very powerful book
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2015
    Let's face it, this world is a beautiful place but driven by a lot of screwed up people doing things most of us would love to change. Srdja Popovic shows us, from personal experience in Serbia and a host of other people's experiences, how to launch, conduct and maintain non-violent revolutions to make the world a better place. Thank you Srdja... This is an inspiring book.