A Liveable Future is Possible presents a series of interviews with Noam Chomsky conducted by C.J. Polychroniou between 2021 and 2023. The conversations revolve around global threats to humanity: ecological collapse, nuclear war, the erosion of democracy, and explore what can and should be done to ensure a more just and sustainable future.
The book’s format is familiar: questions followed by long, dense answers from Chomsky, rich with references to contemporary events, historical analogies, and systemic critiques. It reads less like a spontaneous exchange and more like a curated collection of Chomsky's updated thoughts on pressing global issues. The dominant tone is one of urgency, but also of clarity and coherence.
That said, for those already familiar with Chomsky's positions (particularly his long-standing critiques of U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, media manipulation, and environmental inaction), this book offers little that is conceptually new. Its value lies instead in how it contextualizes these enduring concerns within recent developments: War in Ukraine, the rise of authoritarian populism (especially in the U.S.), and the failure of political elites to take meaningful action on the climate crisis.
There is no silver bullet. The “liveable future” envisioned is conditional, precarious and, in Chomsky’s view, increasingly at risk due to collective apathy and elite irresponsibility. For readers new to Chomsky, the book may serve as an effective primer. For long-time followers, it’s more of a timely but skippable refresher.
