Class Conflict
The central idea woven through Steal This Book is the notion of a relentless class struggle within American society. Hoffman argues this conflict justifies resorting to criminal tactics. He acknowledges moral obligations, asserting in the book’s introduction, "Our moral dictionary says no heisting from each other. To steal from a brother or sister is evil. To not steal from the institutions that are the pillars of the Pig Empire is equally immoral."
The "Pig Empire"
By coining the term "Pig Empire," Hoffman points to those who wield economic authority. Declaring them adversaries, he advocates for combating this enemy by any necessary means, thus endorsing a range of antisocial actions. He portrays theft as a legitimate strategy to undermine an economically dominant enemy, offering various tactics to exploit international business giants like the telephone and airline industries. The book makes no distinction between levels of economic ownership, often targeting small shopkeepers as frequently as major corporations, encapsulating the class struggle as "them" versus "us."
Beyond Theft: Escalating Measures
Alongside promoting theft from financial entities, the book extends its advice to the realm of property destruction without personal gain, detailed in the section "Trashing." This segues into guidance on engaging in physical confrontations with the police and deploying explosives and firearms. Acknowledging the privileged classes’ police protection advantage, with their superior weapons and training, Hoffman suggests employing any available means, regardless of violence. All destructive methods are framed within the context of battling the wealthy elite.
Freedom
The essence of the book's target audience is a yearning to break free from societal shackles. During the vibrant and tumultuous late 1960s and early 1970s, "freedom" was more than a word; it was a fervent call to action. In the pursuit of liberation, countless individuals—primarily youth unburdened by commitments to the established order—abandoned conventional societal roles. They survived through a mix of communal living, receiving handouts, and occasionally pilfering. Driven by the quest for economic self-sufficiency, many young adventurers implemented Hoffman's strategies long before they appeared in print. For those seeking to escape the "bondage" of societal norms, this book held the allure of true emancipation.
This literary manifesto offers a pathway to financial liberation, guiding readers to discover places where they can live and dine for little to no cost. It includes extensive lists of social service organizations, particularly highlighted in a section aptly named "Liberate!" which examines four American cities as vivid examples. Hoffman delves into the basic tenets of survival and explores how to access life’s pleasures—such as entertainment and education—without spending a dime. Ultimately, the book is crafted to simplify existence for those who wish to sidestep the economic mainstream, refusing to surrender their spirits to the grind of employment merely to secure a comfortable living.
Safety
This book boldly acknowledges a reality that the youth of the sixties were inevitably drawn into the illegal escapades it chronicles. Instead of naïvely believing they would adhere to the law or that they deserved any misfortune from straying, Hoffman crafted a guide for those venturing onto the forbidden path, offering them a lifeline through the perilous world of the outlaws. This revelation sent shockwaves through establishment readers and critics, who perceived its main intent as promoting unlawful behaviors. However, one could argue persuasively that its true aim was safeguarding the young American rebels, already poised to engage in these illicit actions.
The practical guidance in Steal This Book unfolds with candid clarity, covering a spectrum from venereal disease insights and treatment locales to discerning which recreational drugs pose harm and to what extent. It offers self-defense maneuvers, first-aid strategies for injuries sustained in altercations and protests, and dietary advice for those cooking on a shoestring budget. In 1971, when most of these practices were condemned socially and outlawed legally, such information was as rare as it was essential, leaving a generation of societal dropouts vulnerable and exposed without it.
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