Presented in its first-ever English edition, Think to Better Act is a collection of speeches by a leader of the revolutionary struggle against Portuguese colonialism, Amílcar Cabral, delivered to the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde & Guinea-Bissau). This party would grow to be a weapon of the masses, organizing and empowering them to achieve liberation by any means necessary.

Through his words, Cabral provides key lessons and inspiration to the leaders of the Party: analyzing historical turning points like the foundation of the Organization of African Unity, making connections to the occupation of Palestine—even reminding his comrades to be timely and tidy, all in the service of honing them, making them better able to serve the people and guide them to victory. The resulting book gives us a glimpse into the PAIGC’s strategic orientation and the theory of organization needed to defeat imperialism, as well as the humanity and discipline of the people on the frontlines of struggle.

Think to Better Act includes interventions previously available to English readers, like Cabral’s famous “Unity and Struggle,” retranslated for a new edition, but also debuts speeches never before seen in English.

Volume 1 contains new translations of Cabral’s better-known speeches including “Unity and Struggle” and “Starting with the Reality of our Land. Being Realists,” as well as a debut English translation of his welcome address. Volume 2 contains speeches that have never been translated into English, including a question and answer session between Cabral and his comrades.

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These astonishing volumes are about the many dimensions of consciousness. In encouraging cadres to think in order to act better, Cabral underscored the necessity to reflect on practical challenges by way of theoretical concepts. What makes acting *better*? Being ready. At one point Cabral compared study (of enemies as well as ideas) to preparation before entering a dark room. Millions of comrades presently stand at the doors of dark rooms. Cabral's lectures both sharpen and expand awareness—reminding us what we bring to struggle and how we can always, individually and collectively, continue to prepare. A must read for our times: these lectures are part of what “abolition is emancipation in rehearsal” means.

—RUTH WILSON GILMORE, author of Abolition Geography

​​The translation of Amilcar Cabral’s 1969 PAIGC seminar speeches are an opportunity to think the meaning of revolution anew. National liberation is never an easy task. It takes the kind of discipline Cabral marshals in these candid conversations with comrades at a critical moment in their struggle. With radical honesty, he addresses the challenges but also the triumphs of the people’s struggle to drive the Portuguese colonialists from the lands of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde. Discussing everything from military science to religion and the origins of humanity, to the practical necessities of food production and communication, Cabral demonstrates the range necessary for aligning our philosophies with what the people require, and in so doing offers a history of our struggle to undo the colonial system in Africa; a history of what it took to get us this far. It is a necessary reminder that in our most vexed times, we might re-start with the basics—study, honesty, commitment, love. This is Black radicalism.

—JOSH MYERS, author, Cedric Robinson: The Time of the Black Radical Tradition

Amilcar was a towering intellectual and one of the most important revolutionaries of the 20th century. Born and raised in West Africa, his profound influence extended globally. Please read this important book and understand why his life and legacy continue to resonate.

—GERALD HORNE, author of African Americans and a New History of the USA

Amilcar Cabral, a visionary leader and transformative educator, believed that all aspects of the struggle were important and victory could best be achieved through consciousness-raising educational sessions, studying and work. He emphasized the importance of unity, the total involvement of women, collective leadership, and building solidarity with like-minded African leaders and anti-imperialist countries. His speeches provide an analytical framework for an assessment of the struggle, self critique and lessons learned as necessary strategies for building a “Revolutionary Democracy”.

—PATRICIA RODNEY, author of The Caribbean State, Health Care and Women