They often ask me when I started to consider myself anarchist. I'm not sure. I can't remember any specific moment when I made a decision on the matter. It was something I began to realize at a rather slow pace in my late teenage years, that out of all the political philosophies, anarchism was the one that made the most sense.

In retrospect, however, I would say that in my personal history, even at that early age, it was unusually easy to come to such a conclusion. Anarchism, after all, is quite different from most political philosophies.

For most, the burden lies in proving that their vision for society is desirable: That it would be better to live under socialism, liberal republicanism, or Christian democracy, rather than under any system they consider their main opponent. Anarchists do not face this problem.

Almost everyone would prefer to live in a demilitarized world without cops and bosses, in which everyone, having secured their basic needs, would be free to pursue the things they decide are most important to them. They just do not believe that such a world is achievable.

[Excerpt from the text of the preface]