The bestselling author of No Logo exposes the rise of disaster capitalism and destroys the myth of the global free market In her groundbreaking reporting from Iraq, Naomi Klein exposed how the trauma of the invasion was being exploited to remake the country in the interest of foreign corporations. She called it disaster capitalism. Covering Sri Lanka in the wake of the tsunami and New Orleans post-Katrina, she witnessed something remarkably similar. People still reeling from catastrophe were being hit again, this time with ...
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The bestselling author of No Logo exposes the rise of disaster capitalism and destroys the myth of the global free market In her groundbreaking reporting from Iraq, Naomi Klein exposed how the trauma of the invasion was being exploited to remake the country in the interest of foreign corporations. She called it disaster capitalism. Covering Sri Lanka in the wake of the tsunami and New Orleans post-Katrina, she witnessed something remarkably similar. People still reeling from catastrophe were being hit again, this time with economic shock therapy, losing their land and homes to rapid-fire corporate makeovers. In Blank Is Beautiful, Klein explores the deeply rooted impulse to erase what is inconvenient and start over from scratch. This journey takes her back to two formative experiments in the 1950s, both funded by the U.S. government. One was a covert university research project in Montreal that blanked the minds of psychiatric patients through sensory deprivation and electroshock-- the basis of torture techniques from Pinochet' s Chile to Guanta namo Bay. The other was a program that turned the University of Chicago' s economics department into a factory for developing world politicians. Guided by Milton Friedman, students learned to remake their countries as laissez-faire utopias-- but only after what was there had been wiped away. Tracing the imposition of these ideas in the decades since, Klein explodes the myth that the global free market triumphed peacefully and democratically. Instead, she argues, it has consistently relied on violence and shock, resulting in the rise of disastercapitalism.
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Canadian Naomi Klein opens one's eyes to the consequences of Milton Freedman's idea of Capitalism, i.e., unfettered world-wide free trade, plus privatization of almost all government functions, including much of the military, thereby leaving corporations as the real power behind government. Capitalism without a social conscience with respect to the worker bees, who work for slave wages, while the greedy ueber-rich get richer and richer. Prepare to be shocked by this excellently detailed history of Capitalism from the 1950's to the present.
Rita V
Feb 6, 2012
Understanding Today's World
The book "The Shock Doctrine" is the best account I have seen which explains the policy and developments that brought us to the state we find ourselves in today. It outlines the influence that the economic doctrine of Milton Friedman of the Chicago School has had on the growth of privatization, deregulation, and unfettered wealth of corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens, indigenous peoples, and the working class. The book traces developments starting in Chile in the 1970s and continuing through such widespread areas as Latin America, the Far East, Eastern Europe, and the United States (e.g., New Orleans after Katrina).
The Shock Doctrinet is greatly detailed and well researched. For me the content is understandable without much economic background. I have found it invaluable in interpreting current events and trends (even though it was published in 2007) and wish the author would publish a "sequel" to include developments since the book was first published.
I have recommended this book to a number of people and, as a matter of fact, bought this copy to give to a friend. It's well worth the time and effort to peruse this work!
juniper1pinon
Oct 14, 2011
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalim
If someone wants a view of the US govt and others involvement both locally and internationally to maniuplate populations and plan for world wide domination, this is an excellent foundation to which one could expand in many directions. While written on a complex and historic level, this book is an incredible read that walks the reader through sound, researched beginnings into current day events.
The players are listed and parts they played. In today's political and business climate, if you've followed along at all, this will help the piece fall together. Though, being open minded is helpful, the credibility of resources is very strong. Try it. Strenghten your own resolve.
Magicats
Jan 28, 2010
The most important book you'll ever read
In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein clearly and persuasively explains so much of what was always confounding, frustrating, and downright inexplicable, especially the reasons the U.S. almost always pursues immoral, unjust, and counterproductive foreign policies. Once you've mastered the principles Klein sets forth, the workings of the world are relatively simple to understand and predict. Buy several copies of this book, as you'll want to give it to the people who matter most in your life. No one who reads this book will ever look at the world the same way again.
billy101
Jan 15, 2010
Good book but......
I have expected much more from this book, I didn't finished yet to read it, and I don't think I will.
In my opinion is not very objective, seems to have a tendency against the capitalism for itself, and not for the real problems it brought. People and not the capitalism is the problem.
Even though is always good to read something different.....
