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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
A labyrinthine mystery involving Post-Soviet oligarchs, real estate mafiosos and African strongman autocrats. Burgis does masterful investigative journalism exposing the sleight of hands conducted by these dubious parties. The only complaint I can lobby against this book, (though it is no fault of Burgis) is the difficulty of keeping track of the large dramatis personae. Fun, quick, but certainly not easy read.
I liked this book and appreciate what is doing. Unfortunately a lot of this sailed passed me due to my own lack of prior knowledge about some less well known political figures and unfamiliarity and confusion with the many of names. I listened to it on audiobook. The premise of the book is pretty easy so it was nice to just sit back and enjoy the ride. I definitely got some things out of this book but I dont think I got everything. It is worth your time though. The mass corruption we face in the world today is terrifying. The author argues that the privatization of power is the ultimate goal behind efforts to launder and steal money from the commonwealth of humanity.
Tough read. Terrifying evidence of international corruption in finance, politics, society...
It needed more editing to make it a tighter and more cohesive narrative.
As an anti-bribery and corruption professional, I was delighted to have the opportunity to listen to Tom Burgis in person when he was part of a panel discussion at the penningtvättsdagarna in Stockholm in May 2023. It was at that same event that he presented his book Kleptopia, and so I bought it and couldn't wait to read. I am beyond disappointed though. This book is close to illegible, what with 37 new characters being introduced in every chapter. I was hoping to learn about corruption schemes and what is going on behind the scenes, yet found myself juggling with an endless collection of names and a jungle of stories. While the research behind the book must have been impressive - and Tom did talk about that at the event - the end result is not. It is confusing and fails to get the message across. I found myself reading diagonally in the end, looking for bits and pieces where the story still made sense. A missed opportunity, because there IS a story there. It is just invisible because of the way it is told.
I stopped after about 100 pages. Sometimes nonfiction books are all theory with no compelling story behind them. This was the opposite. The author tried to tell four stories about dirty money but, like other reviewers, I found them hard to follow, as he jumped between them. I also felt like there was a lack of connective tissue between them, nothing that helped make a coherent argument about why this is happening (i.e., what are the societal incentives and disincentive?) or what ought to be done about it. Maybe this comes later in the book, but I'll never find out.
I don't generally give star ratings to books I don't finish. If I did, this would be two stars.
I don't generally give star ratings to books I don't finish. If I did, this would be two stars.
Oh, the privatization of power— what a world. Now, there are a lot - A LOT A LOT - of moving parts in Burgis’s Kleptopia, and I tried to keep up as best I could; thankfully, the author provides a cheat sheet for the cast of main characters.
First off, it’s funny to me how very little I know about Kazakhstan (*cough* Borat), and, yet, some citizens of this former Soviet member have produced the most egregious plots over money and power with transnational tentacles stretching all throughout the northern hemisphere and parts of Africa. Oof, and London— holy corrupt banking, Batman. One Swiss Bank BSI employee really does shine as a hero in this book even though his work never came to true fruition. And, of course, how could we ignore good ole Trump and, first, the whoring out of his name in real estate followed by his practicing of presidential policy so that he could “obliviously” help wash money for and barter with his autocratic and kleptocratic besties. You’ll finish this book enraged, more knowledgeable, and with an uncomfortable mixture of hope and hopelessness. It seems to me that Burgis could easily pen a sequel that focuses on kleptocracy’s soon to be marriage with ecofascism. What a world, indeed.
First off, it’s funny to me how very little I know about Kazakhstan (*cough* Borat), and, yet, some citizens of this former Soviet member have produced the most egregious plots over money and power with transnational tentacles stretching all throughout the northern hemisphere and parts of Africa. Oof, and London— holy corrupt banking, Batman. One Swiss Bank BSI employee really does shine as a hero in this book even though his work never came to true fruition. And, of course, how could we ignore good ole Trump and, first, the whoring out of his name in real estate followed by his practicing of presidential policy so that he could “obliviously” help wash money for and barter with his autocratic and kleptocratic besties. You’ll finish this book enraged, more knowledgeable, and with an uncomfortable mixture of hope and hopelessness. It seems to me that Burgis could easily pen a sequel that focuses on kleptocracy’s soon to be marriage with ecofascism. What a world, indeed.
Incredible? Yes
Well researched? Definitely
Depressing to know the world is this way? Massively
The book is so fascinating and really informative, to see the ties into the current world scenario is impressive and really informative. Normally I would love to read a book to learn how I can be better, but I am not sure I can be. The institutions need to be better and they better not fail the writer!
Good luck Tom
Well researched? Definitely
Depressing to know the world is this way? Massively
The book is so fascinating and really informative, to see the ties into the current world scenario is impressive and really informative. Normally I would love to read a book to learn how I can be better, but I am not sure I can be. The institutions need to be better and they better not fail the writer!
Good luck Tom
informative
slow-paced