Good idea, but the book drags on a bit. ( )

Klein does not disappoint as she expands her reportage of global capitalism to span the entire history of Chicago school economics. Searing in her criticisms of laissez-faire ideology, she forges a vision for a new left in a new century ready to tackle the issues presented by the "victory" of the "free-market." ( )

A penetrating look at the evolution of corporatism, and it's current state in the world. Klein introduces the theory of a three staged shock process: disorientation (via poor economy, natural disaster, terrorist attack, etc.), followed by economic shock, which is finally enforced by a structural shock requiring citizen compliance.

An insightful read for anyone interested in the state of modern democracy, and the adverse effects of combining privatization, government deregulation and deep cuts to social spending. ( )

is it all true?
good reader ( )

The free market ideology of the Friedman school of economics as observed under Naomi Klein's microscope. What might look on the surface to be a miracle cure for all that ails the world economically under that microscope appears for what it is--a cancer causing agent. In the final pages of the Shock doctrine she points to some of Friedman's original adherents in the Southern Cone of South America dying in disgrace or going to prison. Pinochet, Videla, Massera, Bordabery, Sanchez de Lozada.

Her book shows how over the span of time between the early 70's and the present--Friedman's disciples have taken over the IMF, the World Bank and subverted the purposes of those institutions--breaking down the social safety networks whereever they've gone--with the mantra of privatization of public institutions, deregulation and cutting social programs and spending. It's an economic theory intent on making already wealthy people fabulously wealthy at the expense of middle and working class and poorer people--intent on exploiting and expanding the income gap between the haves and the have nots. It tends towards elitism, it tends toward racism as well. It is an idea that whereever it goes puts people out of work and undermines existing infastructure.

One might wonder what some of these so called highly placed economists who subscribe to these theories do on a normal day. It seems mostly that they pray for rain--better yet hurricanes, earthquakes, forest fires, tsunamis--best of all wars and civil wars. For they see in every kind of catastrophe and/or natural disaster an economic opportunity to enrich themselves and their multi-national corporate friends. That so many of these economists, politicians, bureaucrats and multinationals are at least nominally 'American' should give people here in this country of mine a lot to pause and think about. Well--we are finding out for ourselves right now the benefits of deregulated financial markets and it's mostly boo-hoo and how did this happen? We're also finding out that what is technically legal is not necessarily ethical and/or moral--a concept by the way which is completely abstract to the Chicago school of economist acolytes of Friedman's theories. To continue what the book points out time and again is that whenever disaster strikes a window appears for those willing to exploit others--that emergency situations can be used anti-democratically to justify most anything--from stealing the land of tsunami victims to selling off public energy and water companies to private for profit entities to changing already existing economic laws by which a country--any country goes about its business.

As well we cannot separate economics from politics. Friedman apparently thought that you could--for instance his theories which enabled the dictatorships of Pinochet and the Argentine generals had nothing at all to do with the disappearances and the torture of some of the most vocal critics (to say nothing of the thousands who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time) of those regimes. As it happens though without those original dictatorships, without the antidemocratic sneakiness his ideas would have never got off the ground. Klein's book as well focuses on Bush 2's invasion of Iraq and the subsequent occupation and the rampant corruption that followed in its wake. Whatever the opinion on the need for removing Saddam and his regime--the subsequent events of the occupation has darkened the reputation of the United States all over the world. That so many fall for the kind of bullshit that Bush, Cheney and Friedmanite friends peddled cannot sadly be denied. The Katrina disaster did have that one silver lining of waking a number of people up to the horrible nature of that administration though unfortunately by that point in time it was just beginning a second term and we had another 3 + years to finally be rid of them once and hopefully for all.

FWIW I don't necessarily like to read things that make me angry and that is exactly what this book does. What that means in a larger sense is probably not a lot as after all is said and done I am just one voice out of somewhere around 300 million other voices in this country and a lot of those 300 million voices still believe crap like 'markets will correct themselves on their own' and that 'money makes money makes more money'. A lot of them as well look up to our own homegrown elite of wealth and priveledge and down on those lower on the economic scale. A lot of people don't concern themselves with wage or wealth equality--are only ever intent on more. Real human attainment is not reaching such atmospheric heights as if you're looking down from a mountaintop on everyone far below you --what we should strive for is the realization of our connectedness to each other since as a species (except in the case of certain aberrant individuals) we share the same biology and all need as well some kind of emotional, spiritual and intellectual sustenance. A society isn't just for a few but is meant for all to share and take their part in.

Anyway as I said--it's not a happy look at (mostly american inspired) events that play out from the misuse of contemporary events but IMO a very necessary one. ( )