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samarkandar's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent history of so much more than just cotton.
cbking's review against another edition
I was very surprised to learn that this was't Beckert's first book--the first 50 pages or so (all I could get through) read like a doctoral dissertation that had been turned into a book. Interesting topic but it didn't keep my attention for more than 10 pages at a time.
theellabelle's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly fascinating and very well researched look into the history of cotton as a global commodity. I never thought I'd be raving about an economic history of cotton but this was as good a work of serious history as I've had the privilege to read in a long time and a completely eye opening angle on a fabric we all use every day.
Will probably be reconsidering my clothing choices more carefully going forward too!
Will probably be reconsidering my clothing choices more carefully going forward too!
mitchf's review against another edition
4.0
A good history of a necessary topic, just not great. First and most importantly, it makes clear what the role of slavery was in the foundation of industrial capitalism. Essentially, it allowed the early industrialists in England and elsewhere to secure their cotton when no other area could. The mix of largely empty lands, plentiful labor and willing capital enabled settlers and plantation owners to move into the largely empty South and begin the large-scale production of cotton. Second, it explains the links between the need for labor, capital and the growing power of government to allow capital growth. The story of how contract and property law infiltrates every part of the colonial world is an amazing one. It may be the most important single aspect of European culture by its subtle and pervasive influence. Third, the concept of "war capitalism" for the earliest stage of economic colonialism is a useful idea. It does give an idea of the types of social institutions necessary for the creation of colonial empires.
But it does have some significant problems. There are times the analysis repeats itself in largely the same wording. The story of the growth of capitalism seems largely told at this point and white this particular aspect adds some detail, it doesn't reinterpret that story. There seem to be some significant aspects of this story that need further elaboration. The story of cotton after 1920 is disposed of in the last chapter but the explanation of how large retail business set the agenda for the capitalist machine needs to set out in fuller detail. Also, at a certain point, industrial innovation and capital would definitely grow into other fields, but we don't get much indication of when this point occurred. When exactly does growth in railroads, iron, steel or chemical industries become more important than cotton? I would guess somewhere around 1860 with the start of the Civil War, but I'm not sure given this book. There's also the problem of war capitalism. It seems to emerge whole without antecedent, but that can't be right. Still, on the whole, it's a good book on a necessary topic.
But it does have some significant problems. There are times the analysis repeats itself in largely the same wording. The story of the growth of capitalism seems largely told at this point and white this particular aspect adds some detail, it doesn't reinterpret that story. There seem to be some significant aspects of this story that need further elaboration. The story of cotton after 1920 is disposed of in the last chapter but the explanation of how large retail business set the agenda for the capitalist machine needs to set out in fuller detail. Also, at a certain point, industrial innovation and capital would definitely grow into other fields, but we don't get much indication of when this point occurred. When exactly does growth in railroads, iron, steel or chemical industries become more important than cotton? I would guess somewhere around 1860 with the start of the Civil War, but I'm not sure given this book. There's also the problem of war capitalism. It seems to emerge whole without antecedent, but that can't be right. Still, on the whole, it's a good book on a necessary topic.
lintu's review
See, it says I'm "finished" with this book, but I didn't complete it. It's excellently-written, convincing, important, etc., but if I see the word "cotton" one more time I might jump off a cliff.
darlenemarshall's review
4.0
Excellent history of the fabric that changed forever how we live, what we wear, how we furnish our homes. It also showed the seemingly inevitable growth of the slave economy and confiscation of Native American lands in the United States due to the twin industrialization factors of better mills in England and the cotton gin in the US.
irishcontessa's review
3.0
This book has a lot of really good information and is very well researched but the writing is incredibly repetitive.
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