Review – Bookspace Online

While I’m certain it hurts the credibility of the review when I lay it out like this, but my friend and fellow writer Charlie has launched his online version of his pop-up shop Bookspace which includes a fantastic review of my book, If Only The Names Were Changed.

Assuming you have some similar interests as I do, you will definitely want to check out his collection and purchase a few things for your TBR pile. I love how he’s broken down the categories and the books he carries. I also really appreciate that he makes it easy to select a local pick up option that saves Columbusites like myself paying shipping.

Anyhow, back to some kind words about my work from Charlie –

“Columbus-based writer Andrew Miller presents a scathing critique of his own life, examining everywhere he went wrong and how he got there, leaving no stone unturned. Addiction, abuse, death, heartbreak—like Hemingway said, one can easily imagine Miller sitting down to write, and simply bleeding.”

Read the full review and pick up a copy from Bookspace by clicking here.

 

My Syllabus: Violence Rules

I thought I’d wade into the current conversations going on regarding violence within the leftist, activist movement, and whether or not it is justified. Furthermore, is it a Machiavellian justification, the ends justify the means, or is it a Kantian necessity.

I recently saw this video posted up by a family member of a man explaining his take on why identity politics and intersectionality are wrong headed, and that the working class was lost to “liberals” due to paying any attention to that, to fully understand what I’m referencing I would recommend watching it: https://www.facebook.com/myiannopoulos/videos/840123842792179/.

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My Syllabus: Activism


For one of the most educated communities in the country I was about to learn just how gullible people can be when they focus only on their bank statements. This is a lesson that has been taught and re-taught over time, particularly with recent elections and political stances.

Several years ago I began writing commentary for the local newspaper and an NPR affiliate as a way to increase my activism and voice. This commentary focused primarily on local politics, and I retained the right to repost on the relatively new platforms of Facebook and Twitter, as well as my blog.

I work for the government to pay the bills, which makes being an outspoken, opinionated activist a risky endeavor given the lack of privacy afforded to public sector workers. Activism must always include risk – and recruiting activists to your cause will always mean inviting them to take a risk. I think it is important to be upfront about this fact, not to scare, but to open eyes to mitigation tactics. Let me use two separate actions I have been involved in to illustrate.

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My Syllabus Launch – Episode 1: International Workers Revolution

I launched a YouTube channel called My Syllabus this week. While I have no idea what I’m doing I want to figure out this medium and hopefully you’ll provide feedback as well so it gets better and more useful. To start I’m planning it to be an exploration of ideas that interest me, from poetry to politics, motorbikes to mischief.

Each topic I cover will include an essay I’ve written along with a collection of additional readings and links to online resources for you to explore, if you care to – in other words this is My Syllabus.

Thanks for your attention and participation.

Episode 1 Essay

My curiosity about international struggles is based around what it takes for the working class citizenry to finally say enough is enough and demand equality and justice. My interest is born out of how many tragedies of violence and disparity we’ve witnessed in the U.S. over recent years. Most spectacularly being those of primarily black males murdered by the police, and how even with overwhelming evidence and outrage not only was justice denied, but a general malaise seems to have beset people across all class and color lines. So much so that not only has neither a racial nor a class based movement swept the leaders who have upheld inequality and injustice, but ultimately we elected a white-nationalist huckster with fascist tendencies as our next President. Continue reading →