A Rebel Life profile picture

A Rebel Life

Education makes machines which act like men and produces men who act like machines. ~Erich Fromm

About Me

In this, his first novel, Peter Kalafatis tells the gut wrenching story of his younger brother's death from a drug overdose. Growing up in Brooklyn in a working class environment from Greek immigrant parents, this book explores the socioeconomic and urban conflict in the home, family, and community, while combining the readability of a novel with the educational content of a political tract.
www.ARebelLife.com
"Energy which fizzes and snaps at every turn. Kalafatis’s language is violent and forceful, expressing an intense and visceral anger. The voice lying underneath this anger, however, is tender and filled with softened emotion, particularly discernible when evoking memories of his brother. There is absolutely no doubt that this is an authentic narrative voice, rough and rasping but also poetic and sophisticated." - 3:AM Magazine (UK)
"With its caustic journaling of a bum’s life, reminds me very much of Bukowski (but I bet lots have made that connection)...Interesting stuff, honest and powerful." - Incendiary Magazine (Netherlands)
"An important contribution to understanding the causes and consequences of youth rebellion and violence." - Book Pleasures (Canada)
"contains observations of how the American dream isn't as it appears, and how the less affluent are swallowed whole by the system." - Good Times Magazine (NY, USA)
"This is one of those books you won't put down once you've picked it up. Dealing with death, drugs, capitalism, classism, homelessness and violence this book is defnitely worth checking out since it's a true story lived by the author himself." - Mutiny Zine (Sweden)
"There's a great passage were he gets stabbed and lies bleeding on the street, scared, but excited because this will get him a reputation. That sums it up really. If you haven't been through that you were never a punk." - Summer of Hate (Sweden)
"Peter’s narrative and writing style not only allow the reader to get a vivid picture of what’s happening, but to feel every bit of emotion he did in the stories." - The Punk Vault (Illinois, USA)
"The ending is brilliant, when he finally gets his revenge in an unexpecting way." - ASICE (Dutch)
"For those who feel that they havn't had enough good choices in life, this should be a booming affirmation. For those who came up in the punk rock/ hardcore squat scene, this should be a sad trip down memory lane. For those who like a tear jerker or a revenge novel, this has all of the best elements of both. You can cry and get mad reading this book." - Neo-Zine (PA, USA)
"Through the haze of rage and grief that kind of tragedy must inspire, Peter recounts the events that lead to his brother’s demise to explain why he refuses to accept that Archie was to blame for his own death." - Razorback (Texas, USA)
"The letter that Peter wrote on the last part of the book for his son is actually inspirational." - NB Zine (Philippines)
"A Rebel Life" is a true story about life and the continuous battle against the system." - eMPTY Zine ( Romania)
"Peter Kalafatis is one of those writer who we stumble upon and thank God for all the trauma that he's been through, otherwise we might not have such fascinating stories to interpret." - Voices Magazine (Colorado, USA)
"I really do think the author is on to something, at least to some extent, with his accusations of the wealthy keeping the working classes from better education and opportunities" - Ear Damage (Alabama, USA)
"A smart rebellion, the book is tinted with sociopolitical analysis that might seem extreme to some, but it is an interesting read to anybody with an open mind." - Herlaka (Texas, USA)
"A Rebel Life' is an excellently crafted novel that tells a compelling story, but more importantly throws a spotlight on the disgusting and inherent inequalities of the capitalist system, demands class-consciousness, and strongly argues that until equality has been achieved, "there can be no war but the class war". - Free Society (Canada)
" To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement as the book I received had absolutely NOTHING to do with what my original perception was. No...this was something different...something more fierce, yet still loaded with deep heartfelt emotion and even a bit of educational value. What I received was a book with meaning , substance, and a message which we all should heed and take to heart." - Metal Beer Horror (New Jersey)
Interviews
(AEA) Magazine Interview - March 2008
Free Society Interview - Nov 2007
Ear Damage Magazine Interview - July 2007
More Punk Than You Zine Interview - March 2007
More reviews and interviews

My Interests


visitors



For International & U.S. Sales

Dedication
This book is dedicated to my brother Archie Kalafatis who died from a drug overdose April, 22 2005 at the age of 34.
With all love and respect to my little brother, this book is for you.
-Peter

Book Excerpts

Excerpts from A Rebel Life book chapters

1) My last words
2) Angry and in the streets
3) Gods dream
4) The gun or the pen
5) Dream of a ridiculous man
6) In another world
7) My brother's dream
8) SIB for life
9) Guilt is a motivator
10) Crucified Pete
11) The rich mans circus
12) My brothers justice

Widgets



"Here in the hallow depths of my mind, manifestations form to further my insanity down a path lined with the bloodof rebels. Sadness paralyzes me into an awakened comatose state. The worst day in my life ended and I prayed to my delusionto rest my heart from this deep anger that grips it."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich



"Here in the hallow depths of my mind, manifestations form to further my insanity down a path lined with the bloodof rebels. Sadness paralyzes me into an awakened comatose state. The worst day in my life ended and I prayed to my delusionto rest my heart from this deep anger that grips it."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich



"As the streets formed my essence it has left an overwhelming need for revenge and justice hidingin the folds of my being. My hope for justice is now personal and individual, but with whom? And more importantly,how?"

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich



"As the streets formed my essence it has left an overwhelming need for revenge and justice hidingin the folds of my being. My hope for justice is now personal and individual, but with whom? And more importantly,how?"

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich



Our stupidity is inherited mindlessly through each passing generation, reinforced through ourneighborhoods, directed by our educational system, and exploited by the ones among us who love living in the master’shouse.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich



Our stupidity is inherited mindlessly through each passing generation, reinforced through ourneighborhoods, directed by our educational system, and exploited by the ones among us who love living in the master’shouse.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich

I'd like to meet:

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Movies:


For International & U.S. Sales of the book from Amazon.com

Heroes:

This book, A Rebel Life is dedicated to my brother Archie Kalafatis who died from a drug overdose April, 22 2005 at the age of 34.This book is a response to the people that think it is only his fault that he died. To think he and I and many others are miraculously born with the knowledge to choose the correct path of enlightenment, is just another way the rich manipulate the working class to wait for their rewards in Heaven. We lived our lives with blinders on, paid for by the wealthy, and manufactured by our brothers. We were born into this unfair system with realistically limited choices, and the illusion of unlimited possibilities. In the end, the great lie is that we are how we are because of our choosing, and the great truth in this unfair system, is that the more money means the more choices.My brother stayed true to his beliefs and didn't conform to a system that destroys individuals and he paid the ultimate price. This is one of the only choices of the working class; to conform or die. I conformed and he died.He was right.With all love and respect to my little brother, this book is for you.Hardcore for life,-Peter
Excerpts from A Rebel Life book chapters1) My last words 2) Angry and in the streets 3) Gods dream 4) The gun or the pen 5) Dream of a ridiculous man 6) In another world 7) My brother's dream 8) SIB for life 9) Guilt is a motivator 10) Crucified Pete 11) The rich mans circus 12) My brothers justice

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They have manipulated the middle classes to fight each other when they are the real enemy. They are the few that have the most. Our differences in a world without the wealthy can be settled for the greater good. It is the rich that have us radicalized our ideologies to create confusion and separation. If we simply eliminate hording wealth and this parasite class, then the world will become a real Democratic, free, and equal society. Until then, no war but the class war.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


They have manipulated the middle classes to fight each other when they are the real enemy. They are the few that have the most. Our differences in a world without the wealthy can be settled for the greater good. It is the rich that have us radicalized our ideologies to create confusion and separation. If we simply eliminate hording wealth and this parasite class, then the world will become a real Democratic, free, and equal society. Until then, no war but the class war.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Maybe, I needed to lay dormant like the other giants and sow the seeds for the complete destruction of this vampire class. Or, maybe, I needed immediate gratification by finding the richest neighborhood with some pig in the biggest house and lay my gun right down his throat. I’d tell him my compassion was left at my brother’s burial site as the trigger snapped."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Maybe, I needed to lay dormant like the other giants and sow the seeds for the complete destruction of this vampire class. Or, maybe, I needed immediate gratification by finding the richest neighborhood with some pig in the biggest house and lay my gun right down his throat. I’d tell him my compassion was left at my brother’s burial site as the trigger snapped."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Here in the hallow depths of my mind, manifestations form to further my insanity down a path lined with the blood of rebels. Sadness paralyzes me into an awakened comatose state. The worst day in my life ended and I prayed to my delusion to rest my heart from this deep anger that grips it."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Here in the hallow depths of my mind, manifestations form to further my insanity down a path lined with the blood of rebels. Sadness paralyzes me into an awakened comatose state. The worst day in my life ended and I prayed to my delusion to rest my heart from this deep anger that grips it."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


Personal responsibility under a manipulating set of rules is the ultimate in control warfare. The problem is not with the criminal or rebel. It is with the prime mover, the Rich.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


Personal responsibility under a manipulating set of rules is the ultimate in control warfare. The problem is not with the criminal or rebel. It is with the prime mover, the Rich.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Wealthy people have always been a small minority of well-educated and equipped human beings. They aren’t truly racist or nationalistic unless it serves their purpose. They have conquered nature and exist in another world apart from our own. Their living standards and education are the best. By and large they do not experience raw life as we do. They carefully and logically choose through their environment as we react emotionally within our terrain. Through generations, they have fashioned this world for themselves. We built it for their enlightenment and we’ve become simple operators of their machines. Our minds are not our own, if true equality doesn’t exist. When the playing field is equal, and we all have the complete ability to become enlightened, then, and only then can we be held responsible for our actions." - A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"Wealthy people have always been a small minority of well-educated and equipped human beings. They aren’t truly racist or nationalistic unless it serves their purpose. They have conquered nature and exist in another world apart from our own. Their living standards and education are the best. By and large they do not experience raw life as we do. They carefully and logically choose through their environment as we react emotionally within our terrain. Through generations, they have fashioned this world for themselves. We built it for their enlightenment and we’ve become simple operators of their machines. Our minds are not our own, if true equality doesn’t exist. When the playing field is equal, and we all have the complete ability to become enlightened, then, and only then can we be held responsible for our actions." - A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"The existence of the rich class should be destroyed. I will call it what it is, and at the hands of the beast, I am fully prepared to be consumed like my little brother because of my rebellion."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"The existence of the rich class should be destroyed. I will call it what it is, and at the hands of the beast, I am fully prepared to be consumed like my little brother because of my rebellion."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"I fought for that piece of the American pie my father always talked about, but seemed to crumble through my fingers and sour at the sight of truth. It’s the way it is, my old man would say. But we die on these streets, Pop, and our blood lines the golden path of Democracy—the institution for the pigs that hoard wealth. The rich are the real enemy; they’re the ones I should be fighting, but my kind, are united and then divided in an idiotic struggle that gained no ground because in the end, the workers still work and the rich are in control."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"I fought for that piece of the American pie my father always talked about, but seemed to crumble through my fingers and sour at the sight of truth. It’s the way it is, my old man would say. But we die on these streets, Pop, and our blood lines the golden path of Democracy—the institution for the pigs that hoard wealth. The rich are the real enemy; they’re the ones I should be fighting, but my kind, are united and then divided in an idiotic struggle that gained no ground because in the end, the workers still work and the rich are in control."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


I’m so tired of the traditions that keep us stupid. They want us to look backward for a false sense of strength and fall into their timeless class structure. But I looked forward to a new society, where the rich are an erased nightmare from the psyche of man.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


I’m so tired of the traditions that keep us stupid. They want us to look backward for a false sense of strength and fall into their timeless class structure. But I looked forward to a new society, where the rich are an erased nightmare from the psyche of man.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"As the streets formed my essence it has left an overwhelming need for revenge and justice hiding in the folds of my being. My hope for justice is now personal and individual, but with whom? And more importantly, how?"

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"As the streets formed my essence it has left an overwhelming need for revenge and justice hiding in the folds of my being. My hope for justice is now personal and individual, but with whom? And more importantly, how?"

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"This is a democracy of and for the wealthy; it has always been and always will be. Don’t be fooled by the proof they offer of the ones that started from nothing and have achieved something. They are just tokens for the masses. Delusions. Opiates. Real people don’t get rich, they just get by."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"This is a democracy of and for the wealthy; it has always been and always will be. Don’t be fooled by the proof they offer of the ones that started from nothing and have achieved something. They are just tokens for the masses. Delusions. Opiates. Real people don’t get rich, they just get by."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"I was so entrenched up to my neck in the shit of the rich man’s ignorance that I was simply a cog in his machine. I never lost my mind because I was born mindless like so many of my kind."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


"I was so entrenched up to my neck in the shit of the rich man’s ignorance that I was simply a cog in his machine. I never lost my mind because I was born mindless like so many of my kind."

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


Our stupidity is inherited mindlessly through each passing generation, reinforced through our neighborhoods, directed by our educational system, and exploited by the ones among us who love living in the master’s house.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


Our stupidity is inherited mindlessly through each passing generation, reinforced through our neighborhoods, directed by our educational system, and exploited by the ones among us who love living in the master’s house.

- A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich
A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich
A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich


A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich
A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich

limited print second edition
sold direct from All and None Press on the books Amazon page, lower than the retail.

My Blog

Engaging in true and meaningful revolutionary activity

I got this email some time ago, and the writer brings up some really important points on "engaging in true and meaningful revolutionary activity." What can an individual really do to change the world?...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:08:00 PST

Free Society Interview (Canada) Nov 2007

In a few sentences, present your case that your brother's death was murder. Murder is not only the unlawful killing of one human being by another; it is also a conscious system or policies that co...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Thu, 01 May 2008 12:45:00 PST

AEA (NY) Interview March 2008

Autoeroticasphyxium (AEA) Magazine Interview New York,  March 2008 Your publication A Rebel Life: Murder By The Rich is described as "the New York hardcore punk memoir of violence, drugs, gangs ...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:05:00 PST

Illegal Immigration- Up Close & Personal! by Trev Maviano

This story comes from the heart and I think people will enjoy it as it is well written. Don't be afraid to leave a comment and spark up a debate. You could also check Trev's page out here http://www.m...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:16:00 PST

"At the mercy of government funded health abuse" by anonymous

Here is another powerful story, this time about our faulty health care system. If you have stories about drugs, gangs or the working class situation, send them, it is great to read shared experiences....
Posted by A Rebel Life on Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:15:00 PST

"stressed out with everything" by Rich

I got this email from a friend that I think everyone would find interesting. He gave me the permission to post this as a blog. If anyone has true stories that deal with drugs, gangs and classism, I&rs...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:25:00 PST

Free Society review (Canada) November 2007

’A Rebel Life’ is the true story of a murder, presented in novel format, narrated by someone close to the victim, his own brother. In the course of telling the story of his brother’...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:16:00 PST

Ear Damage Magazine Interview - July 2007

So many people who grew up poor really don't really realize how poor they actually were until they get older and look back on it. What do you think it was that made you realize you were poor as you we...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:02:00 PST

Free Society Interview - Nov 2007

Free Society Interview In a few sentences, present your case that your brother's death was murder. Murder is not only the unlawful killing of one human being by another; it is also a conscious sy...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:00:00 PST

The Corporation: A 2003 Canadian documentary film (watch here)

The Corporation is a 2003 Canadian documentary film critical of the modern-day corporation, considering it as a class of person and evaluating its behaviour towards society and the world at large as ...
Posted by A Rebel Life on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:50:00 PST