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jsdrown's review
4.0
The took me a while to get through. Not because of it's length(672 pages), but because it infuriated me so much. The thesis of the book is that conservatives operating under neoliberal ideology pass unpopular laws during disasters. This is because people are distracted by the scale of loss and destruction around them. Usually this means Republicans tend to privatize against public interest. It It also goes into great detail in how governments use shock tactics like torture(techniques discovered by the CIA) to create a blanket of fear surrounding anyone who oppose the shock doctrine. I was horrified of just how little I knew of the 1973 coup in Chile. I actually had to put the book down and find other sources because I was in disbelief.
Reading this is pretty timely because Elon Musk was just in the news openly suggesting using The Shock Doctrine on Puerto Rico, which is reminiscent of how a the Bush administration privatized the New Orleans schools system during Katrina. But I guess the internet loves Musk because space travel and ignore pesky facts like the factory conditions of Tesla and his love of Union busting.
Highly recommended and I will go out of my way to read more Naomi Klein in the future.
Reading this is pretty timely because Elon Musk was just in the news openly suggesting using The Shock Doctrine on Puerto Rico, which is reminiscent of how a the Bush administration privatized the New Orleans schools system during Katrina. But I guess the internet loves Musk because space travel and ignore pesky facts like the factory conditions of Tesla and his love of Union busting.
Highly recommended and I will go out of my way to read more Naomi Klein in the future.
zoemariek's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was an interest look into the ideologies and historical moments that have led to so many of the disasters happening today. I think this is great starting point for how capitalism has so quickly devolved into fascism and the gutting of social programs within America. It’s a pretty bleak book, but I agree with the conclusion that community led movements and organizations are the best way forward and out of privatization.
dakotious's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Unfortunately still apt today