An empowering and practical set of seven principles to effect actual change for the better in the world around us.
It's easy to feel dispirited by the world around us. We need change but as one person alone, it can all seem far too daunting. What can one person alone achieve? Where to begin?
How to Resist reminds us that all great social change movements in history have been organised by ordinary people coming together, being brave and changing the course of history. Whoever and wherever we are, if we want to effect change, the first step is to look at ourselves. We need to think about what we care about, what motivates us and how we want to be remembered. We need to do more than react against others: we need to look forwards.
With illuminating stories and clear procedures, change seems genuinely achievable. Matthew Bolton, who created and led the successful campaign in Britain that led to millions of people in the UK being given the Living Wage, calmly and clearly shows us how together, we can effect positive change in the world around us.
About the Author
Matthew Bolton, Deputy Director of Citizens UK and Lead Organiser for London Citizens, has built a nationwide alliance of thousands of community campaigners who have driven two of the most effective, strategic and widest-reaching campaigns in the UK of the past two decades. He led the UK Living Wage campaign, which has won over £200 million for 150,000 low-paid workers and persuaded the Government to introduce the 'national living wage', benefitting millions more.
The Refugee Welcome and Safe Passage campaign has secured entry for over 1,100 vulnerable Syrian children, including hundreds from the 'jungle' camps of Calais. Matthew coaches community organisers across the country, and is a Trustee of the London Community Land Trust affordable housing provider. He lives with his wife and young son in South London.
Industry Reviews
An amazingly inspiring book coming at just the right moment. A leading light in an invaluable organisation, Matthew Bolton really knows how to make stuff happen - and he wants you to know too. You might have heard that things don't have to be this way - here's the official guidebook to changing them -- Marina Hyde
Matthew is one of the great thought and action leaders of his generation. This book will give people the power to change their communities -- Tessa Jowell
Populism is the most important political development of our time and How to Resist makes a powerful call for a populism of mass democratic participation. We've got to put power back in people's hands and this vital guide tells us how. It's a must-read -- Steve Hilton
If anyone knows how to do social change, it's Matthew Bolton who has been at the heart of London Citizen's successful Living Wage campaign. He's a smart, sophisticated operator and his book imparting nuggets on how to take on the system will be eagerly pored over by people who are keen to make a difference but don't quite know how to go about it -- David Cohen, Campaigns Editor and Chief Feature Writer, London Evening Standard
With expertise and a track record that is compelling, Matthew offers tools for citizens to become more powerful and stand up to vested interests of the market and state. This book offers a vision and a method to revitalise our democracy -- Philip Blond, Director of Res Publica, author of 'Red Tory'
The Living Wage is perhaps the most successful grassroots campaign of the last decade and in How to Resist, Matthew gives us the key lessons and tactics behind the impact. This vital book will help turn the political energy of today into lasting change in communities and constituencies up and down the country -- Polly Toynbee, Guardian
There's a huge appetite right now for radical change and How to Resist can equip a generation of politically engaged young people with the practical tools to organise and campaign -- Paul Mason
I want to congratulate you on the brilliant way, and the ruthless way, that you bend us politicians to your will, and you get us to deliver -- Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London, to Citizens UK
I talk about the Big Society; you are the Big Society -- David Cameron, then Leader of the Conservative Party, to Citizens UK
If you're worried about the state of the world, Matthew Bolton's brilliant How to Resist shows how each of us can do our bit to fight populism -- Rohan Silva * Observer *
If there's anyone worth listening to about the politics and strategy of protest, it's Matthew Bolton. After all, this is the man who led the hugely effective campaign for the living wage, and here he sets out a persuasive case for being proactive, rather than moaning about the state of the nation on social media. How to Resist is genuinely a "how to" guide ... inspiring stuff * Observer *
[Bolton's] pragmatism is welcome ... Democracy is too important to leave to other people * Evening Standard *
Perhaps it isn't you that needs to change but the world. Matthew Bolton, who led the campaign for a living wage, here lists seven principles for those who want to do more than just rant on twitter, showing how to transform from armchair warrior to activist -- Five Books to Solve All Your Problems * Evening Standard *
