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missnicelady's review against another edition
5.0
Palast is the kind of journalist we need more (or, really, any) of these days -- fearless and angry but always set on uncovering the truth. His meticulous description of Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris systematically disenfranchising thousands of Florida voters before the 2000 election will break your heart.
fudge_jar's review against another edition
5.0
I'll start with the criticism.. This book is so full of jargon and euphemisms that I found myself losing the plot a good number of times. I wasn't a fan of the flow or the writing.
However, the information and perspective contained in these (proven and sourced) exposés is priceless.. Even over a decade later. Some of the information in here overlapped with what I read in Confessions of an Economic Hitman regarding the evils of privatisation practices and industry games to escape accountability.
I've found so many talking points and in a weird way, it's made me much more sympathetic to "gun-toting Americans". The media I consume tends to paint them as paranoid lunatics, but I see now they have good reason to want tools to defend themselves against their own government. This book takes equal shots at the corrupt left and the corrupt right, exposing all political parties for what they really are: self serving.
However, the information and perspective contained in these (proven and sourced) exposés is priceless.. Even over a decade later. Some of the information in here overlapped with what I read in Confessions of an Economic Hitman regarding the evils of privatisation practices and industry games to escape accountability.
I've found so many talking points and in a weird way, it's made me much more sympathetic to "gun-toting Americans". The media I consume tends to paint them as paranoid lunatics, but I see now they have good reason to want tools to defend themselves against their own government. This book takes equal shots at the corrupt left and the corrupt right, exposing all political parties for what they really are: self serving.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
3.0
Every chapter of this book left me feeling more and more depressed. I was happy to get to the next to the last page and read, 'I've got a stack of letters that read, "Your book is depressing." True, but only if you put your hands in your pockets, look at your shoes and whistle. You can shut the book and use the binding to scratch your nether parts or you can do something. Read, learn, join, holler, act. Sue something....If not, then don't come crying to me; I don't have time for the corporate abuse enablers....'
The appendix that follows has lots of resources for action. I don't know about you, but I'm starting today.
The appendix that follows has lots of resources for action. I don't know about you, but I'm starting today.
jone_d's review against another edition
3.0
I really didn't know if I was going to be able to make it through this book. Matt my old co-worker at the day care gave it to me when I left staff. The first chapter is about the purging of voters from the roles in Florida in the 2000 election. Not only does it feel a little middle of the decade, the author's tone made me feel like I am being yelled at. And he has this odd practice of reprinting articles that he wrote at the time in the book: as if to say look how smart I was. I imagine it is like reading a book by Bill O'Rielly or Rush Limbaugh.
But the book got better. I thought the chapter on globalization was particularly good. In part because it was a chapter length summerazation of what was wrong with neo-liberal globlization, that sited interesting examples of how these policies effected people. This chapter felt a little, middle of the last decade... but I think that is probably good, it is good to remember how maddening the soft economic agression of neo-liberalism was, now that maybe we are through with almost a decade of neo-conservative war mongering.
The other chapter that was really interesting was the one on utility de-regulation. I could take or leave the rest of the book. There is something about Palast's political perspective that I just find kind of annoying. It is this kind of self congratulatory progressive-ism that I guess is similar to Ralph Nader. Yeah I think that is it, it is the politics of consumer advocacy. There is no challenge to capitalism per se, it is more just consumers need advocates (journalists and lawyers) to help keep capitalism benign... and aren't we journalists, lawyers, and consumer advocates so cool, type politics.
oh well
But the book got better. I thought the chapter on globalization was particularly good. In part because it was a chapter length summerazation of what was wrong with neo-liberal globlization, that sited interesting examples of how these policies effected people. This chapter felt a little, middle of the last decade... but I think that is probably good, it is good to remember how maddening the soft economic agression of neo-liberalism was, now that maybe we are through with almost a decade of neo-conservative war mongering.
The other chapter that was really interesting was the one on utility de-regulation. I could take or leave the rest of the book. There is something about Palast's political perspective that I just find kind of annoying. It is this kind of self congratulatory progressive-ism that I guess is similar to Ralph Nader. Yeah I think that is it, it is the politics of consumer advocacy. There is no challenge to capitalism per se, it is more just consumers need advocates (journalists and lawyers) to help keep capitalism benign... and aren't we journalists, lawyers, and consumer advocates so cool, type politics.
oh well
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