My new book: Revolutions: In Their Own Words, What They Really Say About Their Causes

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• History is usually written by the victors and academics.
• History is usually taught by the era (i.e., the rise and fall of the Roman Empire) or the event (i.e., World War 1).
• History is rarely taught by comparison of commonality (i.e., the Black Plague vs. the Spanish Flu).

 
When learning about history, especially topics like conflicts, wars, and revolutions, there might be little context and meaning of these historic events as related to others across time.
 
How can we examine these causes and the ideals being strived for across different time-periods and revolutions? How can we learn what they really were striving for without the bias of the victors or academics? What could be researched and how should it be examined?
 
Wouldn’t it be better to hear it in their own words?
 
As an Advertising and Marketing executive and history enthusiast, I came to understand that songs, poetry, and slogans of a revolution are not only more culturally reflective and relevant of their time, but easier to delve into than any historical treatise. They better describe and reflect a revolution’s true cause. Traditional history analysis often leaves out the personal and cause célèbre of the conflict. Slogans and the like, describe and reflect the populist expression of relevant ideals, beliefs, and morals of those fomenting a revolution for a particular cause.
 
This unique book presents a new way to look at history by providing a short, introductory background to the revolution being discussed, a collection of songs and slogans, and some comments and analysis to get you started in coming to your own conclusions about each revolution. All sources are carefully noted.
 
This book is also different in its structure, as it provides you with the rare opportunity to easily ‘compare and contrast’ the history and lyrics between different revolutions, in their own words, to better decide what they really mean, and reveal a more relevant picture and understanding of past and current revolutions. This reveals a more truthful and relevant understanding of past and current revolutions really were about.
 
Each chapter presents a short, introduction to each revolution being discussed, plus a collection of songs and slogans, and then some comments and analysis to allow you to study the true expressions of the cause, in their own original words, to be able to reach their own conclusions about each revolution.
 
Rather than the unsubstantiated rhetoric being shouted on campuses or presented by biased (left or right) media outlets, it is up to you to ask and find the true answers:

• Are their messages an uplifting call to their cause or do they enumerate the horrible things they wish to do to their enemy?
• Do they describe their vision for the future or the destruction of those who oppose them?
• Do they espouse the “why” they are forced to revolt or the hatred they feel towards those who they oppose?
• And then, importantly, what happened after they won? Or, if the revolution is currently ongoing, what would happen if they were to win?

 
The answers may surprise you.
 
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Praise for Revolutions: In Their Own Words
 
This very readable and interesting book is an important historical study comparing and contrasting revolutions. What is unique is the use of slogans and expressions used as tools to influence people and promote specific behaviors. I highly recommend this important book! — Dr. Lankin, Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Jerusalem

I found that Levine’s research first-rate. Includes items that other books in the same genre tend to overlook, including examples of revolutionary songs, slogans, national anthems, and even several rare poems. I highly recommend this book. – H. Moskoff, Director, Museum Heritage Projects (Vaticano); Film Producer & Investigative Journalist
 

Levine has provided a unique and new way to look at history. Using actual slogans, songs, and quotes, you hear what the revolutionaries want and how they say they will get it, in their own words. I strongly recommend this book as will provoke a better understanding and discussion of both history and current events. — Dr. Calvo, author, “The Middle East and World War III”
 
David Levine brings us some of the world’s most mesmerizing revolutions from a different perspective. In his interesting and scholarly researched book, he allows us to share the motivations that drove them. Compelling reading. – Dr. Sternberg, author of “Recipes from Auschwitz”

Along comes David Levine with a novel approach to looking at the underlying dogmas of historical liberation movements and revolutions. It is an interesting and comprehensive study. Levine compiles slogans and songs of a wide array of movements. While there are common themes, there are also stark differences. These slogans and songs are meant to motivate “the people” – it is fascinating to see what different groups consider inspiring. Bravo David Levine for a unique look at what initiated movements … and the cautionary tale that results from seeing how these played out in actuality in history. – Shalom Lamm, Chief Historian, Operation Benjamin