In the book, "Basics for Peace, Democracy, and Social Progress" long time Communist Party, USA Chair (1959-2000) Gus Hall sharpens his pen on such subjects as the crises in medical care, shortages, inflation, the steel industry, racism, and many more. This collection of articles covers the mid to late 1970's. A few of the articles are very specific to that era. However, this does not mean they are no longer valuable. Indeed, one of the better articles, "What Really Happened In Afganistan" deserves as wide an audience and is as important today as when it was written. Some articles are timeless, such as Hall's writings on "May Day" which are filled with important history and colorful anecdotes. The authors look back at life as a 14 year old lumber jack in Minnesota is great working-class journalism. The inclusion of an article titled "But Is That Enough" takes its title from the last line of a poem penned by Pope John Paul II which Hall praises for the questions it raises and makes the book itself an important historical document. Hall's writing is neither stilted by ideology nor heavy handed. This collection of commentaries is written in a penetrating and often quite clever style. Any student of history should add this to their bookshelf and any current events afficianado, political junkie, or Sunday morning talk show viewer will find it to be an intellectual challenge to the convential wisdom.