pinktide's review

5.0

Finally got around to reading this. I was pleasantly surprised at its density and spotlighting of things I didn't know much about. Especially interesting was the Cybersyn project. The writing was a little too cliché regarding the USSR, but made up for it in overall quality and great ideas to chew on
challenging informative reflective medium-paced
informative inspiring sad medium-paced

ericwarren99's review

4.0

Pretty good book the critisms I have are I understand what the point there trying to get across in the chapter ron the Soviet Union but they go about it in a weird way. They seem to be all over the place in there critisms. Other then that they talk alot about democratic planning but don't really say what they mean untill a little bit in the second last chapter but never really give any guideless for what constitutes democratic planning vs authoritarian.
informative medium-paced

Pretty good book the criticisms I have are I understand what the point there trying to get across in the chapter on the Soviet Union but they go about it in a weird way. They seem to be all over the place in there criticisms. Other then that they talk a lot about democratic planning but don't really say what they mean until a little bit in the second last chapter but never really give any guide for what constitutes democratic planning vs authoritarian.
criminolly's profile picture

criminolly's review

4.0

Engaging and interesting left wing economics book. Some of the theory is a bit heavy going, but it comes alive when talking about how big companies use centralised planning.
challenging informative slow-paced

alyssoflife's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 0%

Lost interest, had to be returned to library. Would come back to it
mishystars's profile picture

mishystars's review

4.0

Super interesting read even if you aren’t into economics (I’m not) and presents a compelling argument for how planning is already present & works in much of our market-based economy (such as corporations like Walmart) & could be utilized in a more democratic system.

Useful, but extremely elementary. Start here, for an accessible discussion of planning and markets under capitalism and socialism, but don't stop here.