Direct Action is the highly entertaining, narrative quasi-fictional history of the Livermore Action Group, or LAG, a highly prolific anti-nuclear political collective that gathered together in the early 80’s to protest Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, specifically, and a laissez-faiere culture that could support a weapons technology with the capacity to obliterate life-as-we-know-it, in general.
I have to admit I’m still fascinated, weeks later, with the process of Consensus decision-making, the combination of radical spirituality with radical politics and the fact that the rag-tag group of vastly disparate individuals described in this book managed to work together as diligently and loyally as they did.
Lavishly illustrated with a bit of eye candy on every page or so, the novel was a quick and delicious read even at 700 pages+.
(I have to admit, however, that since I was carrying this book in my pack to and from work while using my bicycle for transit, I was really glad when I reached the end!)
