A review by sksrenninger
Empire of Cotton: A Global History by Sven Beckert

4.0

An in-depth work of impressive scope; a staggering amount of research. I loved this book for its conversion of mercantilism (abstract, vague, foreign) into war capitalism, and the insight that reframe allows for. I also really enjoyed the lens on the rise of the US—I find the economic case for our country's center-stage position to be more satisfying than a purely values-based explanation. I couldn't quite put my finger on the author's underlying agenda here, aside from the value of being an informed consumer of capitalism, and that let me disconcerted.