The Society I Live in Is Mine

The Society I Live in Is Mine collects social commentary ephemera by Paul Goodman, including letters to the editor, essays, and speeches both published and unpublished in newspapers and magazines. Much of the content is written to address the general public[2] with the intent to urge others to become more alert and intervening citizens by his own example.[3] Goodman describes the collection as "angry letters on public morals and politics"[4] written to "influence the general consensus".[3] He is appalled by how few people self-regard as citizens and instead view society as machinery of authorities in which they participate. Goodman intends to prove that by becoming heard, people can more fully participate in and enjoy their society.[5]

The range of topics covered in his correspondence has no strict categorization[5] but reflects the range of civic problems that interest him.[5] Goodman's general position is that of a "community anarchist": He believes in reducing supreme power (sovereignty), increasing individual initiative, and experimenting in topics such as education and disarmament.[3] Though he writes mostly from a liberal perspective, Goodman makes some arch-conservative points in the name of diminishing sovereignty,[5] notably his position against nation-states and for "personal liberty and local initiative".[1] As one reviewer put it, the collection's only unifying theme is "the mind of Paul Goodman", reflecting his positions as an anarchist and pacifist, and his advocacy for sexual freedom, libertarian education, and face-to-face communication in small communities. His range of positions include: abolishing suburbs,[1] abolishing advertising,[6] rallying civil disobedience and peace marches in response to war,[1] dividing cities into village neighborhoods, offering informal apprenticeships for adolescents, encouraging sex,[6] reducing school administration, and experimenting with small classes and amateur teachers.[7][8]

He spends particular focus on education[4] and the "waste of the young".[9] Goodman advocates for freedom for teachers and students despite living in an era of opposition to progressive schooling.[4] He argues against school standardization as a path to student achievement and believes that American society will be wiser and freer for more greatly distributing the authority to explore personal initiative and make mistakes. In this way, he argues against schools as institutions to contain dropouts and would rather provide them with another way to live decently.[9] Goodman argues against literacy, which he sees as having "no practical importance" in societal decision-making, used mainly to advertise and campaign to individuals.[4]

The book includes many letters to publications and public officials, and some speeches and reviews.[3] His public letters tend towards larger societal problems: to the Federal Communications Commission chair, to a university on advertising, to the New York State Commissioner of Education on good teachers blamed for the bad decisions of administrators, and to the United Nations Secretary General on citizen demonstrations.[5] His proposals are not always pleasing; the text contains notes disclosing where his recipients did not print or acknowledge his letters.[5] Other notes comment on the general effect of the letters.[3] Where his letters went unpublished, Goodman blames the editor's judgment or courage.[1]

The author, around the time of publication

Horizon Press published the book in hardcover on April 4, 1963.[10]

• Full text at the Internet Archive