A Brief, Yet Helpful, Guide to Civil Disobedience Summary

The author begins by describing the two sides of a revolution: the oppressors and the oppressed. The oppressors, who enjoy happiness at the expense of the oppressed, want to maintain status quo. Allen describes oppressive behavior in humorous, if not entirely unrealistic, terms. The oppressed, wishing to enjoy the fruits of their own labor rather than be exploited by the oppressors, want change. The author cites several real-life examples of revolutions, adding humorous fictional details and embellishments. The author notes that, post revolution, the oppressed often become a new generation of oppressors.

Allen lists and describes several methods civil disobedience, or methods of resisting an oppressive regime without resorting to violence. First is the hunger strike, an attempt by the oppressed to shame their oppressors through willful starvation. If...