Complaint
From Minor Moan to Principled Protest
Julian Baggini
Profile Books
ISBN: 978-1-84668-057-1
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File Under: Philosophy, Complaint Department
The basic argument made in this book is that there are good complaints and bad complaints. There is that familiar Margaret Mead quote "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."Julian Baggini would object to this quote and tell us that complaint is the only thing that ever has. He gives good examples of how good complaint have lead to change. Giving the Civil rights movement in the United States as an example that essentially began as a complaint.
The problem as he sees it is that we spend too much time on the incorrect type of complaint and not on the types of complaint that can actually help change. Through most of the book he outlines the types of complaint that most follow. Again, his basic argument is not that we should not complain, it is that we are not complaining in the right way.
This is a short book, only 143 pages with the index, but it is not an easy read. I had to put it down a few times when reading and re-read a few passages to make sure I understood what he was saying. I am not saying the book is not worth reading, I am just letting you know. What it does have going for it is when Baggini uses examples it becomes clear where he believes the fallacy in the complaint comes from. I must admit, I saw a bit of myself in some of what is referred to as mistaken and impossible complaint.
It is an unusual book about an unusual topic. It may be a bit of an intellectual exercise, but it will get you thinking about yourself and your thought process. I hope that it has helped me refine and become more aware of my complaint process and will hopefully make me that much more effective when I need to make the big complaint.
Dave
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