Joanne Harris's Reviews > Revolution

I agree, when educated, well-off and sophisticated men start to mumble in favour of revolution, while sipping a champagne I just imagine their reaction to the revolution if it ever happened. They would be hidding in a corner and calling for their mommies ;)

but he isn't that well educated. he didn't go to university, he didn't go to a posh school. which is part of the point he's making. he's seen both sides of capitalism. he's been unprivileged and now he is privileged. he says there's not much difference. if you watch his interviews about it, he does seem to genuinely give a dammed about the state of our society. he does believe that the people deserve to be treated fairly and to get the help they require from their government, because he knows what it's like to be struggling and to be in a position where you don't have any power. and now that he does have power through his celebrity status, he's trying to actually make a difference to people's loves by encouraging them to work together and help each other in forcing the government into something that actually benefits them.

All the profits from this book go to drug and alcohol recovery programs. I agree that he is living a comfortable life, but i also think he has lived enough to not be too concerned about giving it up. Read this book, still going to vote green alongside pushing for radical change. He has inspired a generation. Much love :)

Yes, the profits of this book are going to rehab programs. Just because he is wealthy doesn't mean he can't have a voice. If we are going to be angry about anyone, get angry about multinational corporations and right wing politicians. They are the true problem. I still vote and I don't agree with everything Russell says, but I admire him greatly for using his privilege and fame for putting these uncomfortable truths out there. Surely it's better than the majority of stars, who do nothing but provide scandal for tacky tabloids.

yeah kind of blaming Russell Brand for making money when he does it ethically by making people laugh. Concentrate on the message he was trying to make maybe? Did all those statistics about wealth inequality not annoy you?

Russell Brand is giving all of the proceeds from "Revolution" away, to what he does not necessarily consider charity, because he loathes charity. He will give it away in a way that empowers the people he gives it to, according to him:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peo...
"He is promoting his latest book, entitled Revolution, out on 23 October, of which proceeds "will go to creating social enterprises that are not for profit" and that "represent an alternative to some of the systems that we currently labour under".
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/20... "He received a six-figure advance for Revolution, but insists he won’t be keeping it. “I’m going to get a property in east London and set up a coffee and juice bar to be run by people in recovery from addiction.” So he’s going to give away his money? “No. I’m no longer interested in making money. And the money I get, I’m going to use for good. We need systemic change, not charity. I won’t be in charge. They’ll vote for how they want to run it.”
I think you are right about a lot of celebrities, but I think you are wrong about Russell Brand.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/russell...

point missed I see

I'm still waiting to see what he does with the money (so far, nothing at all). Meanwhile, the rest of have an election to look forward to...

http://www.comicrelief.com/sites/comi...

Nothing at all, eh? What about this? And this is the tip of the iceberg. Russell campaigns tirelessly for abstinence-based recovery and has held big fundraisers to that end. What have you done lately? Not as much as Russell, I'd wager.

If you did a bit of research, you would know Russell actually does keep his promises. He is a high profile entertainer, he wouldn't make such an extravagant promise without keeping it or the news hounds would never let him forget it. Russell does amazing work, he just does his best not to brag about it, as it is part of his philosophy not to. Joanne, what have you done to make the world a better place? Might be more productive to dwell on that than to tear somebody else down.

I don't generally wager, but if you did your own research, you'd see that all the money (actual money, rather than fund-raising) for my two cookbooks went to Medecins Sans Frontieres in Africa. I just haven't used it to raise my profile.

Well, there you go. I still think you are piling unnecessary hate on someone who has actually done a lot and continues to use his privilege and high profile to do good. It sounds to me like you haven't even been following his benevolent work at all, which is fine, but please don't pretend that you actually know, making out like he is a liar is pretty below the belt.

If you were a celebrity, would that undo your work? Is it only valid if you are living without privilege? The fact that you have written two cookbooks and can afford to give the money away would suggest to me that you aren't exactly struggling in poverty. So what?

I think you need to go back and read my review before you start making accusations. First, I don't think a three-star review counts as "hate" in any way; second, I haven't called anyone a liar. I said I was waiting to see what was going to happen to the proceeds of the book. I still am. Third, if you do read my review, you'll see that I'm not talking about money at all, but about the danger of encouraging people not to vote at a time when their only hope of replacing the current Government is to do precisely that. Now, I appreciate your strong sentiments, but your last couple of comments are descending into trolling. Please get back to reading books.

Joanne, when a govt is bought up by corporations, any candidate available to vote for is already bought and paid for so why bother to go vote for someone who is beholden to corporations and represents corporations and not the people?

I'd like to add that the £20 is simply to cover publishing and shipping costs. All additional profits are being donated to charity.

I might not agree with everything Brand say but even if the poor of UK did vote nothing would change coz fuck them all parties but don't ever compare Russell with Che.Che was UNIQUE.

Ruby, given recent circumstances, does your opinion of Mr Brand sway? I only ask as he has yet to be found guilty or not, so ate you standing by him?