Scan barcode
a2lulu's review against another edition
4.0
Epic.
Some stats - the number of times the following words/phrases appear in the text:
* Indeed - 180
* Moreover - 59
* As we have seen - 38
* As we will see - 22
* to be sure - 20 (it really seemed like more than 20x)
Some stats - the number of times the following words/phrases appear in the text:
* Indeed - 180
* Moreover - 59
* As we have seen - 38
* As we will see - 22
* to be sure - 20 (it really seemed like more than 20x)
algorithm0392's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5. Started on the way to Puerto Rico and finished when I got home.
Incredibly well-argued and researched, if to the point of being a little repetitive at points. A fascinating tour of the history and influence of cotton, and the stunning influence it's had in shaping our global order and capitalist society — and raises the question "what is the cotton of today," as we undergo what feels like big economic transformation.
The type of book that elicits copious notes in the margins.
Incredibly well-argued and researched, if to the point of being a little repetitive at points. A fascinating tour of the history and influence of cotton, and the stunning influence it's had in shaping our global order and capitalist society — and raises the question "what is the cotton of today," as we undergo what feels like big economic transformation.
The type of book that elicits copious notes in the margins.
pappas's review against another edition
4.0
An important and relentlessly researched book. Somewhere in that very good but very long book is a well edited and excellent book.
aestass's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
In depth history of how cotton production affected the development of the modern world. Mostly readable for students, but included unnecessary technical details about cotton production that created too many tangents from the main narrative.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
kathiej's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited about this title, hoping to learn about how cotton affected us all. The author did tell about this but constantly restated what was previously stated over and over. I would have like to learned more about the plant (some was in the book) and how it was "picked" and more about slavery as related to cotton (again some in the book). This book was more about capitalism and economics of cotton than an actual "global history".
exlibris_neth's review against another edition
5.0
Beckert provides an economic view of world history, showing how societies and states have been entranced and allured by the "trees that bear wool," pushing for policies and developments that will help them profit from it, whether it's slavery or steam engines, tariffs or trade embargoes, international exports or outsourcing internationally. Though bewilderingly thorough, he never loses sight of that running thread of where production and consumption moves, from the "global south" to the "global north" and back again. As thorough as it is wide-ranging in scope, like any good material history should be.
silvej01's review against another edition
5.0
In telling the powerful and sad story of cotton across centuries and around the globe, Beckert describes the history of capitalism in all its ruthless detail. Furthermore, he shows that cotton is not simply a convenient tool - one commodity among many he might have chosen - to depict this sad history, but a key driver of slavery, exploitation of workers, colonialism, and capitalism as a whole. Despite some moments when one might feel somewhat bogged down in detail, the writing is mostly clear and engaging. It is one of those books that one finishes with a sense of gratitude and a feeling of having obtained a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of human history.
cdbaker's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book but I did not. Too detailed, not enough big picture. Definitely had some interesting and well done parts, but I rushed through it because I was bored.