Keynote
An emphatic argument about the dangers of compromise in art, politics, and everyday life
Book Title
On Compromise
Subtitle
Art, Politics, and the Fate of an American Ideal
Cover Image
- “[On Compromise] rigorously divests compromise of its honorable trappings, exposing an insidious American mythology, reiterated across history, in which an act characterized by stymied progress is gussied up as an indication of healthy politics, creative intuition, and heroic, sensible hearts. Ardently, and with meticulous, wide-ranging explication, Smith enjoins her readers to see beyond this mirage. . . . This is a capacious, yet stunningly cohesive project.”—Rachel Vorona Cote, Bookforum
Body
On Compromise is an argument against contemporary liberal society’s tendency to view compromise as an unalloyed good—politically, ethically, and artistically. In a series of clear, convincing essays, Rachel Greenwald Smith discusses the dangers of thinking about compromise as an end, rather than as a means. To illustrate her points, she recounts her stint in a band as a bass player, fighting with her bandmates about “what the song wants,” and then moves outward to Bikini Kill and the Riot Grrrl movement, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Poetry magazine, the resurgence of fascism, and other wide-ranging topics.
Smith’s arguments are complex and yet have a simplicity to them, as she writes in a concise, cogent style that is eminently readable. By weaving examples drawn from literature, music, and other art forms with political theory and first-person anecdotes, she shows the problems of compromise in action. And even as Smith demonstrates the many ways that late capitalism demands individual compromise, she also holds out hope for the possibility of lasting change through collective action. Closing with a piercing discussion of the uncompromising nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and how global protests against racism and police brutality after the murder of George Floyd point to a new future, On Compromise is a necessary and vital book for our time.
Smith’s arguments are complex and yet have a simplicity to them, as she writes in a concise, cogent style that is eminently readable. By weaving examples drawn from literature, music, and other art forms with political theory and first-person anecdotes, she shows the problems of compromise in action. And even as Smith demonstrates the many ways that late capitalism demands individual compromise, she also holds out hope for the possibility of lasting change through collective action. Closing with a piercing discussion of the uncompromising nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and how global protests against racism and police brutality after the murder of George Floyd point to a new future, On Compromise is a necessary and vital book for our time.
List Price
$16.00
Purchase at
Purchase at:
About the Author
Credit: Virginia Harold
Praise
- “Smith’s ingenious, omnivorous readings find evidence of what she terms ‘compromise aesthetics’ throughout the culture—from Barack Obama to autofiction.”—The New Yorker
- “Ranging widely in art, literature, popular culture, philosophy, and politics, Smith mounts an impassioned critique of compromising. . . . A thoughtful, defiant polemic that should provoke heated discussions.”—Kirkus Reviews
- “Greenwald Smith takes a commendably expansive view of the idea and practice of compromise, creating a nuanced look at a thorny subject. The result is a work of criticism as thoughtful as it is relevant.”—Publishers Weekly
- “Intoxicating. . . . On Compromise reminds us that illiberalism is not inherently restrictive; liberalism provides cover for much degradation and injustice. . . . Forget compromise: with this book, Smith has crafted a win-win proposition.”—Australian Book Review
