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mikewa14's review
5.0
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/a-history-of-capitalism-according-to.html
hammerintoanvil's review
5.0
I expected this to be a weak book phoned in for the Underground 150 celebration. It's actually a very witty examination of the economic crisis. O'Farrell uses some wonderful imagery.
frances__reads's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roxanamalinachirila's review
3.0
Amusing and interesting, written in an enjoyable, witty style. However, I can't help but feel that it could've been *more*. More details to the debate, perhaps? More of a plot?
It's ambiguous where it needs to be, keeping you wondering how it would end (and it's readable in one setting), but at the same time it feels somehow like too much of an 'in' book, for which you already have to be well-versed in the left-right debate. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it somehow felt as if I kept missing the punchline.
There were a few memorable images, though, which make it worth a read (though I'm not sure if they make it work the full price).
It's ambiguous where it needs to be, keeping you wondering how it would end (and it's readable in one setting), but at the same time it feels somehow like too much of an 'in' book, for which you already have to be well-versed in the left-right debate. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it somehow felt as if I kept missing the punchline.
There were a few memorable images, though, which make it worth a read (though I'm not sure if they make it work the full price).
susanj13's review
4.0
Another one of those witty British writings that I highly recommend. The author is travelling on the Jubilee line of the London Underground when he nods off and starts dreaming of a situation where he and the co-passengers are trapped in a carriage when the line gets suspended. The rest of the tale is about them trying to devise the best way to escape by debating the pros and cons of socialism and capitalism, facing upto ethical conundrums, witnessing a fistfight between Chomsky and Scruton and almost convincing Thatcher to walk away from being a Conservative! I personally thought it was a great metaphor for present times when we tend to get caught up in a bubble of our own ideologies, forgetting that there is a world out there filled with the opposite. Delightful read, part of a series of books released for each line to celebrate 150 yrs of the Underground. This one was particularly entertaining to me since I've spent most of my commute over the last few years on the Jubilee Line.
barrypierce's review
3.0
Very interesting little book, read it in one sitting. Puts forward some interesting arguements about Capitalism, leftist and rightists, and the private vs. the public sector. Read it for: Interesting facts about the Jubilee Line, a fist-fight between Noam Chomsky and Roger Scruton, and Maggie Thatcher having an epiphany.
renaesense's review
4.0
I found out about this book through one of Leena Norms' videos, and I'm glad I did.
Set in a dream where our protagonist is stuck on the Jubilee Line in a train that has come to a halt due to the collapse of Western civilisation. What a start.
This dream serves as a platform (get it?) on which discussions about the history capitalism in Britain, captured symbolically by the stops on the Jubilee Line. It's a discussion that also brings in concepts of political economy, and democracy among others. Don't be daunted! These concepts are covered in digestible chunks of conversation lasting at most 2 pages. The book is only 108 pages after all.
My favourite parts were the train announcements and when he encounters Noam Chomsky and Roger Scruton at each others' throats. (Is there an award for best mental image - comedy? Give it to O'Farrell.)
Set in a dream where our protagonist is stuck on the Jubilee Line in a train that has come to a halt due to the collapse of Western civilisation. What a start.
This dream serves as a platform (get it?) on which discussions about the history capitalism in Britain, captured symbolically by the stops on the Jubilee Line. It's a discussion that also brings in concepts of political economy, and democracy among others. Don't be daunted! These concepts are covered in digestible chunks of conversation lasting at most 2 pages. The book is only 108 pages after all.
My favourite parts were the train announcements and when he encounters Noam Chomsky and Roger Scruton at each others' throats. (Is there an award for best mental image - comedy? Give it to O'Farrell.)
samstillreading's review
4.0
The great thing about the Penguin Lines series is that it encourages me to read stories that are generally outside my comfort zone. I confess that I wouldn’t normally have picked up A History of Capitalism According to the Jubilee Line. On reading it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was clever, with more than a little bit of snark about our modern ways.
The author starts by mentioning the strangest dream he had about the Jubilee Line. It is a normal day on the Tube, with nobody speaking to each other and everyone fixed on their own thoughts. The everyday journey is disrupted by an announcement over the loudspeaker that there is a problem with the train, which is all due to capitalism. England is now in an economic downwards spiral and it directly affects these passengers. A tunnel under the Thames is collapsing and to escape the passengers have a choice to go left or right. Which is the correct way? The passengers begin to talk, then argue about the reason for the collapse and which way will be safest. It tests their ideologies, with a little help with some notable figures in history.
A History of Capitalism According to the Jubilee Line is slightly surreal, bizarre and overall good fun. I loved the economic and political concepts that made their way into the text and the inner turmoil as the narrator pondered whether he had been wrong all along in these political choices. It gives the reader something to ponder too. But luckily, it was all a dream…right? Or is it symbolism of what was to come?
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The author starts by mentioning the strangest dream he had about the Jubilee Line. It is a normal day on the Tube, with nobody speaking to each other and everyone fixed on their own thoughts. The everyday journey is disrupted by an announcement over the loudspeaker that there is a problem with the train, which is all due to capitalism. England is now in an economic downwards spiral and it directly affects these passengers. A tunnel under the Thames is collapsing and to escape the passengers have a choice to go left or right. Which is the correct way? The passengers begin to talk, then argue about the reason for the collapse and which way will be safest. It tests their ideologies, with a little help with some notable figures in history.
A History of Capitalism According to the Jubilee Line is slightly surreal, bizarre and overall good fun. I loved the economic and political concepts that made their way into the text and the inner turmoil as the narrator pondered whether he had been wrong all along in these political choices. It gives the reader something to ponder too. But luckily, it was all a dream…right? Or is it symbolism of what was to come?
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com