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Consequences of Capitalism: Manufacturing Discontent and Resistance by Marv Waterstone, Noam Chomsky
mitrajiyan's review
3.0
Due to this being transcripts of classes taught by the authors, the reading experience wasn’t as smooth as it would have been if it was written as a stand-alone book. The lectures don’t really go into a lot of detail as I believe this is an first/second year class. Still, there are some interesting anecdotes and I overall enjoyed Chomsky’s parts a bit more.
Definitely an interesting and easily understandable read for a freshman PoliSci/Sociology student or anyone looking to learn more about late stage capitalism and the like.
Definitely an interesting and easily understandable read for a freshman PoliSci/Sociology student or anyone looking to learn more about late stage capitalism and the like.
kosr's review
5.0
An excellent series of chapters pulled from a number of lectures by Marv Waterstone and Noam Chomsky. Each chapter links into the next, starting with a chapter challenging prevalent common sense within the neoliberal, finacialised capitalism that the Western world (and other countries that have it forced down their throat) is currently residing under. Chapters proceeding after this tackle militarism, environmentalism and social movements. There's a framework that discusses marx and the 'M>C>M' model is used regularly to discuss resource acquisition and market penetration by military and government forces abroad, as such I would recommend this to anyone wanting to understand to some degree a Marxist viewing of our world as it is right now. There's also a short chapter at the end on covid - the virus had just started to spread at the time of printing - which is very insightful.
scottkovatch's review
5.0
Another well researched book. If you are a large C capitalist you might not want to read it.
noviii's review
3.0
Overall very unexpected for me:
1. Format is transcription of lectures.
2. Delved quite deep into history, especially US history.
3. Still related to no.3, content is quite US-centric.
I found myself enjoying reading Waterstone's part more.
1. Format is transcription of lectures.
2. Delved quite deep into history, especially US history.
3. Still related to no.3, content is quite US-centric.
I found myself enjoying reading Waterstone's part more.
jhdot's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up.
I struggled in the beginning with the style of this book. It is essentially transcripts from lectures they gave in a class they co-taught. As such, I feel as if a lot of nuance in delivery, inflection, sarcasm, etc. was lost. I got more used to it as I progressed through the book and it became easier to read.
They did address relationships and impacts of capitalism in a variety of fields that helped provide a useful lens for which to examine the world around us, particularly the US. They did address how capitalism and racism have been historically connected, although I feel as if the issues of racism came second-handed and they missed opportunities to go further. (Granted, the book is focused on capitalism and racism is not their area of expertise. Nevertheless, I would have like to see them go further)
I struggled in the beginning with the style of this book. It is essentially transcripts from lectures they gave in a class they co-taught. As such, I feel as if a lot of nuance in delivery, inflection, sarcasm, etc. was lost. I got more used to it as I progressed through the book and it became easier to read.
They did address relationships and impacts of capitalism in a variety of fields that helped provide a useful lens for which to examine the world around us, particularly the US. They did address how capitalism and racism have been historically connected, although I feel as if the issues of racism came second-handed and they missed opportunities to go further. (Granted, the book is focused on capitalism and racism is not their area of expertise. Nevertheless, I would have like to see them go further)