1101982608
9781101982600
1101982608
3.82
6,088
Sep 2016
Sep 06, 2016
really liked it
23 Sept. 2017 - What a hoot!
I must admit that I have been a Dave Barry fan for a very long time. But for some reason, I have not enjoyed the pleasure 23 Sept. 2017 - What a hoot!
I must admit that I have been a Dave Barry fan for a very long time. But for some reason, I have not enjoyed the pleasure of reading much by him lately. As a long-time Cato supporter, a friendly development fella there sent me a signed copy of the book, since they had a few extras after Dave spoke at the Cato 40th Anniversary Gala. This book revived my interest in Dave because it was such fun, and had a bunch of great little libertarian inside jokes. I chuckled and belly-laughed out loud more often while reading this book than any I can remember.
His explanation of how so many strange people end up in Florida is classic. How he added in a great reference to so many Illinois Governors going to jail was just perfect - totally off the wall, but perfect.
Since I just returned from a week in Miami, the book could not have been more timely for me. Wish I had more time to spend touring some of the places and sights he described in the book. But then I think about the heat and humidity I just experienced there.... and I think, Nah, I can pass on that.
If you like Dave Barry humor, treat yourself again. You won't be sorry.
If you don't know Dave Barry humor, check out some of his columns, for free, on the internet, then get this book.
Highly recommended to put a smile on your face and a chuckle or much bigger laugh in the air. And who doesn't benefit from some good hearty laugh? ...more
I must admit that I have been a Dave Barry fan for a very long time. But for some reason, I have not enjoyed the pleasure 23 Sept. 2017 - What a hoot!
I must admit that I have been a Dave Barry fan for a very long time. But for some reason, I have not enjoyed the pleasure of reading much by him lately. As a long-time Cato supporter, a friendly development fella there sent me a signed copy of the book, since they had a few extras after Dave spoke at the Cato 40th Anniversary Gala. This book revived my interest in Dave because it was such fun, and had a bunch of great little libertarian inside jokes. I chuckled and belly-laughed out loud more often while reading this book than any I can remember.
His explanation of how so many strange people end up in Florida is classic. How he added in a great reference to so many Illinois Governors going to jail was just perfect - totally off the wall, but perfect.
Since I just returned from a week in Miami, the book could not have been more timely for me. Wish I had more time to spend touring some of the places and sights he described in the book. But then I think about the heat and humidity I just experienced there.... and I think, Nah, I can pass on that.
If you like Dave Barry humor, treat yourself again. You won't be sorry.
If you don't know Dave Barry humor, check out some of his columns, for free, on the internet, then get this book.
Highly recommended to put a smile on your face and a chuckle or much bigger laugh in the air. And who doesn't benefit from some good hearty laugh? ...more
Notes are private!
2
1
Sep 19, 2017
Sep 23, 2017
Sep 19, 2017
Hardcover
0840379943
9780840379948
0840379943
4.24
54
1953
Dec 1992
really liked it
2017 (read/listened) I did not read this book, but rather listened to one of the three essays: "The Revolution Was." The audiobook that I listened to
2017 (read/listened) I did not read this book, but rather listened to one of the three essays: "The Revolution Was." The audiobook that I listened to is from LFB.org, but as best I can tell, no longer available, and no other audio version is available either, hence why I am using the hard copy book edition noted above. The essay is actually available for free also, online here: https://mises.org/library/revolution-was
It is really too bad that the audio edition is not available, since he narrator, Matt Pritchard is fantastic.
Fascinating book. I loved the analysis of how the revolution in government was brought off during the Great Depression in the US. The mindset of the revolutionaries and the process by which the revolution occurred were beautifully described. Easy to see continuing parallels with more modern developments since then too.
Here are the chapter headings, which show you the key steps in the revolution:
Problem 1: To Capture the Seat of Government
Problem 2: To Seize Economic Power
Problem 3: To Mobilize by Propaganda the Forces of Hatred
Problem 4: To Reconcile and Attach to the Revolution the Two Great Classes Whose Adherence Is Indispensable, Namely, the Industrial Wage Earner and the Farmer, Called in Europe Workers and Peasants
Problem 5: What to Do with Business — Whether to Liquidate or Shackle It
Problem 6: The Domestication of the Individual
Problem 7: To Reduce All Rival Forms of Authority
Problem 8: To Sustain Popular Fair in a Spiral Increase of the Public Debt
Problem 9: To Make Government the Great Capitalist and Enterpriser
How the author filled in the content of each chapter is really worth the time invested in reading or listening.
That the revolution has had pernicious effects is certainly acknowledged by libertarians and some conservatives is not in doubt. But not nearly so much, if at all, by those of the left.
That the revolution was not as complete nor pernicious as the author thought should be acknowledged by all.
That there have been advances in liberty and justice, and retrogression of the revolution, since should also be acknowledged.
In other words, a sequel to this book, bringing the reader up to speed on how the predictions played out over the last 75+ years, could be very instructive and helpful. ...more
It is really too bad that the audio edition is not available, since he narrator, Matt Pritchard is fantastic.
Fascinating book. I loved the analysis of how the revolution in government was brought off during the Great Depression in the US. The mindset of the revolutionaries and the process by which the revolution occurred were beautifully described. Easy to see continuing parallels with more modern developments since then too.
Here are the chapter headings, which show you the key steps in the revolution:
Problem 1: To Capture the Seat of Government
Problem 2: To Seize Economic Power
Problem 3: To Mobilize by Propaganda the Forces of Hatred
Problem 4: To Reconcile and Attach to the Revolution the Two Great Classes Whose Adherence Is Indispensable, Namely, the Industrial Wage Earner and the Farmer, Called in Europe Workers and Peasants
Problem 5: What to Do with Business — Whether to Liquidate or Shackle It
Problem 6: The Domestication of the Individual
Problem 7: To Reduce All Rival Forms of Authority
Problem 8: To Sustain Popular Fair in a Spiral Increase of the Public Debt
Problem 9: To Make Government the Great Capitalist and Enterpriser
How the author filled in the content of each chapter is really worth the time invested in reading or listening.
That the revolution has had pernicious effects is certainly acknowledged by libertarians and some conservatives is not in doubt. But not nearly so much, if at all, by those of the left.
That the revolution was not as complete nor pernicious as the author thought should be acknowledged by all.
That there have been advances in liberty and justice, and retrogression of the revolution, since should also be acknowledged.
In other words, a sequel to this book, bringing the reader up to speed on how the predictions played out over the last 75+ years, could be very instructive and helpful. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Sep 05, 2017
Sep 08, 2017
Sep 08, 2017
Paperback
0857861220
9780857861221
0857861220
4.15
1,108
2011
Jan 01, 2011
None
Notes are private!
0
not set
not set
Jul 03, 2017
Hardcover
4.43
37,893
1978
unknown
really liked it
2017-June-17 This book is the 2nd part of the two book series and my thoughts after over about 40 years, from when I read the book, are not much diffe
2017-June-17 This book is the 2nd part of the two book series and my thoughts after over about 40 years, from when I read the book, are not much different from what I expressed in my review of The Winds of War, book one in the series.
I could add one vivid memory from Winds of War that was carried over into this book though. That was the "meeting" that the main character Admiral Henry had with Hitler before the war, at some diplomatic reception. The description Henry gave of Hitler from that meeting seemed pretty penetrating to me at the time. It was carried into this book not only with Henry, but also with his son-in-law (Winston?) Slote(?) a diplomatic corp. professional who was convinced early on about Hitler and Nazism's philosophical and historical roots, and so tried to get Henry's youngest son to read some of that philosophy and history to have a deeper understanding of the enemy. I'm a big fan of that type of thing, not wanting to think too shallowly about big powerful people and movements. "Know your enemy" is the catch phrase, that is so true. I can't remember all the books/authors that Slote recommended, but I believe that Nietzsche, Feuerbach and Hegel were on the list, if I am not mistaken.
I also loved the continuation of the (fictional) Ex-German General's (Armin von Roon) history of the war., which was sprinkled throughout this and the previous book, in line with the historical pace of the novel. Very clever, and very grounding, to give the German perspective on the war, timing, technologies, strategies, propaganda, ideologies, etc. ...more
I could add one vivid memory from Winds of War that was carried over into this book though. That was the "meeting" that the main character Admiral Henry had with Hitler before the war, at some diplomatic reception. The description Henry gave of Hitler from that meeting seemed pretty penetrating to me at the time. It was carried into this book not only with Henry, but also with his son-in-law (Winston?) Slote(?) a diplomatic corp. professional who was convinced early on about Hitler and Nazism's philosophical and historical roots, and so tried to get Henry's youngest son to read some of that philosophy and history to have a deeper understanding of the enemy. I'm a big fan of that type of thing, not wanting to think too shallowly about big powerful people and movements. "Know your enemy" is the catch phrase, that is so true. I can't remember all the books/authors that Slote recommended, but I believe that Nietzsche, Feuerbach and Hegel were on the list, if I am not mistaken.
I also loved the continuation of the (fictional) Ex-German General's (Armin von Roon) history of the war., which was sprinkled throughout this and the previous book, in line with the historical pace of the novel. Very clever, and very grounding, to give the German perspective on the war, timing, technologies, strategies, propaganda, ideologies, etc. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 1976
Jan 1976
Jun 26, 2017
Hardcover
0671786016
9780671786014
0671786016
4.38
57,730
Nov 15, 1971
Jun 01, 1973
really liked it
June 2017 - I read this book in the early 70s and have some pretty vivid memories even now.
The descriptions of the special German groups (Einsatzgrupp June 2017 - I read this book in the early 70s and have some pretty vivid memories even now.
The descriptions of the special German groups (Einsatzgruppen) tasked with exterminating the Jews during WWII are haunting. In particular, the main method of disposal/elimination cannot be forgotten.
Wouk's history book of the war, within the novel, written from a German Wehrmacht general's perspective (Armin von Roon), was an ever fascinating device that illuminated much about the war. I remember a particular "Editor's Note" (the "editor" was one of the novel's main characters, an American Admiral), something to the effect that "This is one of several instances where you might note that the General (von Roon) seems to be blaming the invaded country for the need for Germany to invade them." Clever.
This novel and it's sequel are truly grandiose in scope and power. The characters were very well drawn and compelling. I remember finding myself really rooting for the good guys and seeing reasons why the bad guys (partly) did what they did. Even though it was an historical novel, where everyone knows the outcome of the historical parts, Wouk was STILL able to create suspense - quite a skill.
Though I remember disagreeing with Wouk about various parts of the historical and emotional drift of the book, I still recommend it. I just wish he did not allow his focus on the Holocaust to have tainted so thoroughly his non-descriptions of the even larger horrors of the Soviet regime, which I remember thinking he drew far too sympathetically, due to the Russian people's suffering during the war. In reality they suffered not only due to Hitler's attack, but just as much or more due to Stalin's implementation of communist dogma, tactics and strategy - slaughtering or starving to death 10s of millions of his own people.
Highly recommended, as well as the sequel book: War and Remembrance. They are long, but worth it.
Re: the TV mini-series - well, not great. Perhaps if you watch them first, they might be an ok intro to the books. But do NOT read the books first and expect the mini-series to live up to the quality of the books. ...more
The descriptions of the special German groups (Einsatzgrupp June 2017 - I read this book in the early 70s and have some pretty vivid memories even now.
The descriptions of the special German groups (Einsatzgruppen) tasked with exterminating the Jews during WWII are haunting. In particular, the main method of disposal/elimination cannot be forgotten.
Wouk's history book of the war, within the novel, written from a German Wehrmacht general's perspective (Armin von Roon), was an ever fascinating device that illuminated much about the war. I remember a particular "Editor's Note" (the "editor" was one of the novel's main characters, an American Admiral), something to the effect that "This is one of several instances where you might note that the General (von Roon) seems to be blaming the invaded country for the need for Germany to invade them." Clever.
This novel and it's sequel are truly grandiose in scope and power. The characters were very well drawn and compelling. I remember finding myself really rooting for the good guys and seeing reasons why the bad guys (partly) did what they did. Even though it was an historical novel, where everyone knows the outcome of the historical parts, Wouk was STILL able to create suspense - quite a skill.
Though I remember disagreeing with Wouk about various parts of the historical and emotional drift of the book, I still recommend it. I just wish he did not allow his focus on the Holocaust to have tainted so thoroughly his non-descriptions of the even larger horrors of the Soviet regime, which I remember thinking he drew far too sympathetically, due to the Russian people's suffering during the war. In reality they suffered not only due to Hitler's attack, but just as much or more due to Stalin's implementation of communist dogma, tactics and strategy - slaughtering or starving to death 10s of millions of his own people.
Highly recommended, as well as the sequel book: War and Remembrance. They are long, but worth it.
Re: the TV mini-series - well, not great. Perhaps if you watch them first, they might be an ok intro to the books. But do NOT read the books first and expect the mini-series to live up to the quality of the books. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 1976
Jan 1976
Jun 26, 2017
Paperback
0932790062
9780932790064
0932790062
3.81
57
1972
Jan 01, 1979
None
Notes are private!
0
not set
not set
Jun 26, 2017
Paperback
1101874996
9781101874998
1101874996
4.35
36,008
May 22, 2015
Jun 23, 2015
really liked it
Very intense.
For anyone who has any interest in the drug war or just a can’t-put-down, hair-raising (to the max) story.
Re: Drug War:
It’s destructive Very intense.
For anyone who has any interest in the drug war or just a can’t-put-down, hair-raising (to the max) story.
Re: Drug War:
It’s destructive effects on society and thousands or millions of individuals.
The impossible nature of “winning” it.
The totally sincere, but none-the-less counterproductive efforts to win it by some.
Focused on Mexico and key southern US border towns geographically, but the US overall and the rest of Latin America and Europe definitely an important part of the story.
Excuses why I finished this book about 1 July but am only now (20 July) writing my review:
I’ve been busy - true, but not the whole truth.
I did not know what to say about the book - true, but again, not quite it.
I was not sure how I wanted to approach the review - very true.
Not sure I am doing this the best way right now, but hopefully it conveys some valuable info.
Comparisons:
The Godfather - at least the three part series movies, which I have seen (but not read the books).
Serpico - movie and/or book.
Breaking Bad - HBO series.
Full Disclosure:
I was given this book by a member of the group formerly known as LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) at a Cato Institute event where the author gave the keynote speech. I was very impressed with the author’s speech on the drug war and legalizing drugs and vowed to read the book, but it still took me about 2 years to get to it.
I have been interested in the drug war, it’s destructive effects on society and ways to end it via putting more resources into it or the opposite, re-legalization or decriminalization for about 40 years. That is a long time and little progress has been made in the real world on the best solution. But some progress actually HAS been made, and seems to be gaining ground, at least as far as marijuana is concerned.
Observations:
The book is not explicitly pro-legalization. It just tells a super-compelling story and about as realistic as it can get about the impossible nature of “winning” the drug war. It is all about the unintended effects of making some substances illegal that a large number of people will buy, grow/produce, sell, etc. regardless of it’s illegality, and how those effects actually destroy a growing chunk of civilized society. And the more resources and commitment is put into the war, the more civilization is destroyed.
All sorts of quirky, likeable, abhorrent, repulsive, compassionate, admirable, sad, amazing, disgusting, unbelievable, believable, cry-your-eyes-out pitiful characters are portrayed in the book. Winslow is a master at it. The main “evil” character is drawn in a way, much like The Godfather’s Vito Corleone, as a person who does things to protect and provide for his family that are fairly reasonable, given the perspective that violence is OK, as long as it is proportionate to the need for the result. Quite similar to the police justification for lethal force, don’t you think?
This book does not deal (much) with the older, classic mob controlled (in the US) vice crimes of prostitution, blue laws “protection” and gambling, as did The Godfather and Serpico. But the analysis could easily be seen as the same. When the government makes something illegal that there is significant demand for, people WILL still provide it and buy it, and there WILL be police/judicial/overall governmental corruption, much extra violence, many lives ruined and lost, and general breakdown of secure and civilized life.
Oh, BTW, there is a movie version, with the amazing director Ridley Scott, in the works. You might want to check out the book before it hits. The book has done well, but with the movie, it could be VERY big. I hope they both spur a much better discussion of the need to end the drug war by ending the illegality of drugs.
----
A note on my star ratings - I give very few 5 star ratings. Usually I only do it for a nonfiction book that just has just about everything right. Fiction I am much less easy about, since I know less about that form. This book was damn good, but had some leftist/statist biases of some of the sympathetic characters that was just a bit tough for me to swallow. Plus, the there was little to no discussion of the overall drug policies, so I feel too many readers will just get depressed by the book, instead of getting an inkling of the solution. Perhaps my review and perspective is far too literal. But I already said I prefer non-fiction. ...more
For anyone who has any interest in the drug war or just a can’t-put-down, hair-raising (to the max) story.
Re: Drug War:
It’s destructive Very intense.
For anyone who has any interest in the drug war or just a can’t-put-down, hair-raising (to the max) story.
Re: Drug War:
It’s destructive effects on society and thousands or millions of individuals.
The impossible nature of “winning” it.
The totally sincere, but none-the-less counterproductive efforts to win it by some.
Focused on Mexico and key southern US border towns geographically, but the US overall and the rest of Latin America and Europe definitely an important part of the story.
Excuses why I finished this book about 1 July but am only now (20 July) writing my review:
I’ve been busy - true, but not the whole truth.
I did not know what to say about the book - true, but again, not quite it.
I was not sure how I wanted to approach the review - very true.
Not sure I am doing this the best way right now, but hopefully it conveys some valuable info.
Comparisons:
The Godfather - at least the three part series movies, which I have seen (but not read the books).
Serpico - movie and/or book.
Breaking Bad - HBO series.
Full Disclosure:
I was given this book by a member of the group formerly known as LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) at a Cato Institute event where the author gave the keynote speech. I was very impressed with the author’s speech on the drug war and legalizing drugs and vowed to read the book, but it still took me about 2 years to get to it.
I have been interested in the drug war, it’s destructive effects on society and ways to end it via putting more resources into it or the opposite, re-legalization or decriminalization for about 40 years. That is a long time and little progress has been made in the real world on the best solution. But some progress actually HAS been made, and seems to be gaining ground, at least as far as marijuana is concerned.
Observations:
The book is not explicitly pro-legalization. It just tells a super-compelling story and about as realistic as it can get about the impossible nature of “winning” the drug war. It is all about the unintended effects of making some substances illegal that a large number of people will buy, grow/produce, sell, etc. regardless of it’s illegality, and how those effects actually destroy a growing chunk of civilized society. And the more resources and commitment is put into the war, the more civilization is destroyed.
All sorts of quirky, likeable, abhorrent, repulsive, compassionate, admirable, sad, amazing, disgusting, unbelievable, believable, cry-your-eyes-out pitiful characters are portrayed in the book. Winslow is a master at it. The main “evil” character is drawn in a way, much like The Godfather’s Vito Corleone, as a person who does things to protect and provide for his family that are fairly reasonable, given the perspective that violence is OK, as long as it is proportionate to the need for the result. Quite similar to the police justification for lethal force, don’t you think?
This book does not deal (much) with the older, classic mob controlled (in the US) vice crimes of prostitution, blue laws “protection” and gambling, as did The Godfather and Serpico. But the analysis could easily be seen as the same. When the government makes something illegal that there is significant demand for, people WILL still provide it and buy it, and there WILL be police/judicial/overall governmental corruption, much extra violence, many lives ruined and lost, and general breakdown of secure and civilized life.
Oh, BTW, there is a movie version, with the amazing director Ridley Scott, in the works. You might want to check out the book before it hits. The book has done well, but with the movie, it could be VERY big. I hope they both spur a much better discussion of the need to end the drug war by ending the illegality of drugs.
----
A note on my star ratings - I give very few 5 star ratings. Usually I only do it for a nonfiction book that just has just about everything right. Fiction I am much less easy about, since I know less about that form. This book was damn good, but had some leftist/statist biases of some of the sympathetic characters that was just a bit tough for me to swallow. Plus, the there was little to no discussion of the overall drug policies, so I feel too many readers will just get depressed by the book, instead of getting an inkling of the solution. Perhaps my review and perspective is far too literal. But I already said I prefer non-fiction. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jun 19, 2017
Jul 2017
Jun 19, 2017
Hardcover
1536985414
9781536985412
1536985414
4.35
3,628
1914
Aug 09, 2016
liked it
Original review: 2017-July or August (but updated and greatly expanded 2020-04-10) -
Fascinating book.
I did not read the paperback, I listened to the Original review: 2017-July or August (but updated and greatly expanded 2020-04-10) -
Fascinating book.
I did not read the paperback, I listened to the LibriVox free audio recording from: https://librivox.org/the-titan-by-the...
The reader, Richard Kilmer, has a very mellifluous voice. Very easy to listen to, but his pronunciation of some words was pretty funny, being wildly off, and his pauses in strange parts of sentences placed a weird rhythm to the reading fairly often. But after a while, I got used to it and it did not bother me.
- If you like history, in particular late 1800s America, and specifically Chicago, this book will be quite interesting.
- If you have an interest in how local and state government, especially the politicians, actually saw and acted in their jobs in this period, this book is definitely for you.
- If you find the relationship between business and government important, and a serious cause of problems, this book will be an enigma, since it details the interactions so matter-of-factly.
Some issues that one should be aware of about the book or notice how the author deals with them:
1. The importance of honesty/integrity in business - the book is great on this point.
2. The venality of politicians (being open to bribes and concerned mostly with their own personal enrichment) generally. How exceptionally rare it was to have a politician who was motivated by higher values: the truth, philosophy, etc.
3. The personal (social/sexual) actions and values of the main character, and how they were often so at odds with the way he acted, with honesty and integrity, in his business. A huge dichotomy.
4. The type of businesses that the main character was involved in and made his fortune from (gas utilities and streetcar transit companies) - that required (according to commonly held ideas) "franchises" from the local government. What those "Franchise agreements or laws" did, was to allow that particular business to operate, AND excluded (via government force) other businesses from providing that service in that particular area - in other words, Government CREATION of a monopoly. Too many economists think this is a reasonable set-up, but they typically ignore what the book so brilliantly detailed - all the corruption/bribery/vote buying/etc. that this setup entails. Some economists of the free market persuasion demonstrate the history of actual cities that resisted giving franchises to any one particular business and simply allowed free market competition to prevail in providing whatever service that the consumers were willing to purchase, and the overall benefits of not having government franchises.
5. And similarly with Upton Sinclair, too few literary comments on the author bother to mention that he was committed to Socialism. Listening to this book, it was not clear at all that that was the case, whereas Sinclair's most famous book "The Jungle" had large sections of socialist propaganda, so one could not miss it. The reader has to go to Wikipedia's listing to find out:
"Dreiser was a committed socialist and wrote several nonfiction books on political issues. These included Dreiser Looks at Russia (1928), the result of his 1927 trip to the Soviet Union, and two books presenting a critical perspective on capitalist America, Tragic America (1931) and America Is Worth Saving (1941).[19] He praised the Soviet Union under Stalin during the Great Terror and the nonaggression pact with Hitler. Dreiser joined the Communist Party USA in August 1945."
6. The financial details of how certain business deals were structured were pretty lame. Any person with real business experience would know that the crucial details were NOT revealed. It has been about three years since I listened to the book, so can't remember exactly, but I remember being struck by this fact when I listened to it, and remember re-listening to certain sections to see if I missed the key details the first time - no I had not - they just were not in the writing at all. This is often a give-away as to the authenticity of some of the author's understanding of how deals are actually done - what business people really need to be willing to do the deals. Crucial information, money, returns, etc. so that both/all parties benefit. Business is a win/win deal, (or the deal does not get done) unlike most politics, which is win/lose.
7. The main character's obsession with sex is a fascinating part of the book. I am sure it got him more readers, who would vastly prefer that part to the talk of the plans, fortitude, creativity and amazing business deals described. But for me it was quite a sad distraction and show of bad character, not to mention at huge variance from many/most of the brilliant "Titans" of industry over the last 50 or so years who I have met, observed pretty closely or read about. These real titans are usually so intensely focused on their businesses, and sometimes families in addition, that having mistresses on the side and serial wives, would be the very last things they would ever do. There is also the belief that having mistresses and serial wives/divorces shows a lack of character and trustworthiness that could easily bleed over into their ability to do their beloved business dealings. Sure, some business titans don't hold to this kind of morality or world view, and they are legend, especially with respect to Hollywood portrayals! But I still posit that most probably do hold to a more bourgeois and consistent set of values and actual lifestyle.
7a. I should have read just a little further in the Wikipedia listing for Dreiser. They say that novelists write the best when they are writing autobiographically, well, let me tell you, this section is VERY close to what is in the book:
"Personal life:
After proposing in 1893, he married Sara Osborne White on December 28, 1898. They ultimately separated in 1909, partly as a result of Dreiser's infatuation with Thelma Cudlipp, the teenage daughter of a colleague, but were never formally divorced.[20] In 1913, he began a romantic relationship with the actress and painter Kyra Markham.[21][22]"
In 1919, Dreiser met his cousin Helen Patges Richardson (1894-1955) with whom he began an affair.[23] Through the following decades, she remained the constant woman in his life, even through many more temporary love affairs (such as one with his secretary Clara Jaeger in the 1930s).[24] Helen tolerated Dreiser's affairs, and they eventually married on June 13, 1944.[23] They remained together until his death on December 28, 1945, at the age of 74.[14]:399
If (and only if) you can absorb and appreciate the above, I still recommend this book for: economists, political scientists, historians, reformers and idealists concerned with cities and the crucial services that make them possible and incredible, and possibly should be required reading. It is not the last word on how utilities started out privately, as opposed to being creatures of government. But it does describe how the franchise system engendered corruption. It should provide readers with some great local color and descriptions of early crony dealings around the turn of the 19th-20th century Chicago.
Oh, Dreiser's writing was quite an experience. He was not considered a great writer for nuthin. ...more
Fascinating book.
I did not read the paperback, I listened to the Original review: 2017-July or August (but updated and greatly expanded 2020-04-10) -
Fascinating book.
I did not read the paperback, I listened to the LibriVox free audio recording from: https://librivox.org/the-titan-by-the...
The reader, Richard Kilmer, has a very mellifluous voice. Very easy to listen to, but his pronunciation of some words was pretty funny, being wildly off, and his pauses in strange parts of sentences placed a weird rhythm to the reading fairly often. But after a while, I got used to it and it did not bother me.
- If you like history, in particular late 1800s America, and specifically Chicago, this book will be quite interesting.
- If you have an interest in how local and state government, especially the politicians, actually saw and acted in their jobs in this period, this book is definitely for you.
- If you find the relationship between business and government important, and a serious cause of problems, this book will be an enigma, since it details the interactions so matter-of-factly.
Some issues that one should be aware of about the book or notice how the author deals with them:
1. The importance of honesty/integrity in business - the book is great on this point.
2. The venality of politicians (being open to bribes and concerned mostly with their own personal enrichment) generally. How exceptionally rare it was to have a politician who was motivated by higher values: the truth, philosophy, etc.
3. The personal (social/sexual) actions and values of the main character, and how they were often so at odds with the way he acted, with honesty and integrity, in his business. A huge dichotomy.
4. The type of businesses that the main character was involved in and made his fortune from (gas utilities and streetcar transit companies) - that required (according to commonly held ideas) "franchises" from the local government. What those "Franchise agreements or laws" did, was to allow that particular business to operate, AND excluded (via government force) other businesses from providing that service in that particular area - in other words, Government CREATION of a monopoly. Too many economists think this is a reasonable set-up, but they typically ignore what the book so brilliantly detailed - all the corruption/bribery/vote buying/etc. that this setup entails. Some economists of the free market persuasion demonstrate the history of actual cities that resisted giving franchises to any one particular business and simply allowed free market competition to prevail in providing whatever service that the consumers were willing to purchase, and the overall benefits of not having government franchises.
5. And similarly with Upton Sinclair, too few literary comments on the author bother to mention that he was committed to Socialism. Listening to this book, it was not clear at all that that was the case, whereas Sinclair's most famous book "The Jungle" had large sections of socialist propaganda, so one could not miss it. The reader has to go to Wikipedia's listing to find out:
"Dreiser was a committed socialist and wrote several nonfiction books on political issues. These included Dreiser Looks at Russia (1928), the result of his 1927 trip to the Soviet Union, and two books presenting a critical perspective on capitalist America, Tragic America (1931) and America Is Worth Saving (1941).[19] He praised the Soviet Union under Stalin during the Great Terror and the nonaggression pact with Hitler. Dreiser joined the Communist Party USA in August 1945."
6. The financial details of how certain business deals were structured were pretty lame. Any person with real business experience would know that the crucial details were NOT revealed. It has been about three years since I listened to the book, so can't remember exactly, but I remember being struck by this fact when I listened to it, and remember re-listening to certain sections to see if I missed the key details the first time - no I had not - they just were not in the writing at all. This is often a give-away as to the authenticity of some of the author's understanding of how deals are actually done - what business people really need to be willing to do the deals. Crucial information, money, returns, etc. so that both/all parties benefit. Business is a win/win deal, (or the deal does not get done) unlike most politics, which is win/lose.
7. The main character's obsession with sex is a fascinating part of the book. I am sure it got him more readers, who would vastly prefer that part to the talk of the plans, fortitude, creativity and amazing business deals described. But for me it was quite a sad distraction and show of bad character, not to mention at huge variance from many/most of the brilliant "Titans" of industry over the last 50 or so years who I have met, observed pretty closely or read about. These real titans are usually so intensely focused on their businesses, and sometimes families in addition, that having mistresses on the side and serial wives, would be the very last things they would ever do. There is also the belief that having mistresses and serial wives/divorces shows a lack of character and trustworthiness that could easily bleed over into their ability to do their beloved business dealings. Sure, some business titans don't hold to this kind of morality or world view, and they are legend, especially with respect to Hollywood portrayals! But I still posit that most probably do hold to a more bourgeois and consistent set of values and actual lifestyle.
7a. I should have read just a little further in the Wikipedia listing for Dreiser. They say that novelists write the best when they are writing autobiographically, well, let me tell you, this section is VERY close to what is in the book:
"Personal life:
After proposing in 1893, he married Sara Osborne White on December 28, 1898. They ultimately separated in 1909, partly as a result of Dreiser's infatuation with Thelma Cudlipp, the teenage daughter of a colleague, but were never formally divorced.[20] In 1913, he began a romantic relationship with the actress and painter Kyra Markham.[21][22]"
In 1919, Dreiser met his cousin Helen Patges Richardson (1894-1955) with whom he began an affair.[23] Through the following decades, she remained the constant woman in his life, even through many more temporary love affairs (such as one with his secretary Clara Jaeger in the 1930s).[24] Helen tolerated Dreiser's affairs, and they eventually married on June 13, 1944.[23] They remained together until his death on December 28, 1945, at the age of 74.[14]:399
If (and only if) you can absorb and appreciate the above, I still recommend this book for: economists, political scientists, historians, reformers and idealists concerned with cities and the crucial services that make them possible and incredible, and possibly should be required reading. It is not the last word on how utilities started out privately, as opposed to being creatures of government. But it does describe how the franchise system engendered corruption. It should provide readers with some great local color and descriptions of early crony dealings around the turn of the 19th-20th century Chicago.
Oh, Dreiser's writing was quite an experience. He was not considered a great writer for nuthin. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jun 14, 2017
Jul 28, 2017
Jun 14, 2017
Paperback
3.91
231,555
1852
Aug 05, 1999
it was amazing
June 2017 - Just finished listening to the LibriVox recording of this classic work.
https://librivox.org/uncle-toms-cabin...
Wow!
I can see why it caused June 2017 - Just finished listening to the LibriVox recording of this classic work.
https://librivox.org/uncle-toms-cabin...
Wow!
I can see why it caused such a stir and moved so many (in the north) to finally understand the evil of slavery, and in the south, to cringe and react vociferously, since it nailed the institution so clearly.
This book is really big - bigger than life characters, big effect on history, big setting - the geography it covers -not only the Southern US, but the North and Canada, as well as worldwide scope, a deep and intricate plot, yet not all unbelievable, and of course the political-ethical call to end slavery will be evident throughout, even though some of the slaveholding situations and people were drawn not unsympathetically.
Ever since I heard about this book in junior high, I wanted to read it. But it's size and the press of other assignments and desires kept me from accomplishing that goal... till now. I credit this Librivox organization and their making this fine recording available for free download with allowing me the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from the 20+ hours of listening to this book in my vehicle. My hats off to them.
Since I have been aware, the derogatory term "Uncle Tom" has been a too-oft used racial slur. This book adds huge insight for me into the injustice of the use of that term, on the vast number of occasions I have heard it used. Scorning someone by using the name of the incredible figure in this book, "Uncle Tom" seems to me to be a very pernicious and foolish thing to do. If more people actually read this book, I think they would understand that. But who actually reads this book these days? Not many, I would guestimate.
I highly recommend people read (or listening to, your choice) this important historical and fascinating book.
Note: Harriet Beecher Stowe's evangelical Christianity was very strong in the book, but did not bother this non-believer at all. Seemed quite appropriate for the time and the story. I even loved how she drew one non-believer's character, probably the most witty, and one of the most patient (to a fault) in the book. The melodramatic and Christ character aspects of the book were a bit too much, but considering all, I can certainly see why she did it. ...more
https://librivox.org/uncle-toms-cabin...
Wow!
I can see why it caused June 2017 - Just finished listening to the LibriVox recording of this classic work.
https://librivox.org/uncle-toms-cabin...
Wow!
I can see why it caused such a stir and moved so many (in the north) to finally understand the evil of slavery, and in the south, to cringe and react vociferously, since it nailed the institution so clearly.
This book is really big - bigger than life characters, big effect on history, big setting - the geography it covers -not only the Southern US, but the North and Canada, as well as worldwide scope, a deep and intricate plot, yet not all unbelievable, and of course the political-ethical call to end slavery will be evident throughout, even though some of the slaveholding situations and people were drawn not unsympathetically.
Ever since I heard about this book in junior high, I wanted to read it. But it's size and the press of other assignments and desires kept me from accomplishing that goal... till now. I credit this Librivox organization and their making this fine recording available for free download with allowing me the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from the 20+ hours of listening to this book in my vehicle. My hats off to them.
Since I have been aware, the derogatory term "Uncle Tom" has been a too-oft used racial slur. This book adds huge insight for me into the injustice of the use of that term, on the vast number of occasions I have heard it used. Scorning someone by using the name of the incredible figure in this book, "Uncle Tom" seems to me to be a very pernicious and foolish thing to do. If more people actually read this book, I think they would understand that. But who actually reads this book these days? Not many, I would guestimate.
I highly recommend people read (or listening to, your choice) this important historical and fascinating book.
Note: Harriet Beecher Stowe's evangelical Christianity was very strong in the book, but did not bother this non-believer at all. Seemed quite appropriate for the time and the story. I even loved how she drew one non-believer's character, probably the most witty, and one of the most patient (to a fault) in the book. The melodramatic and Christ character aspects of the book were a bit too much, but considering all, I can certainly see why she did it. ...more
Notes are private!
1
May 2017
Jun 13, 2017
Jun 13, 2017
Paperback
0851172458
9780851172453
0851172458
unknown
4.00
1
Aug 01, 1984
Jan 01, 1984
really liked it
June 2017 - I saw this on my bookshelf today and thought I should put in a little review for this really neat book. My thoughts are coming to me now a
June 2017 - I saw this on my bookshelf today and thought I should put in a little review for this really neat book. My thoughts are coming to me now after reading this about 30-35 years ago. As I remember, it is a wonderful history of the long effort and eventual success in repealing the "corn laws" in England in the 1830s. Those were the laws that forbade (or just taxed highly) imported corn (any grain, such as wheat, corn, barley, etc.) in England or Great Britain.
It is largely a story of the two incredible men, Richard Cobden and John Bright who formed, or at least were the most important leaders of, The Anti-Corn Law League, the organization that coordinated the campaign to repeal those dreadful laws. The title's "breadstealers" are those who favored those nasty laws, which, in essence kept cheaper foreign grain/bread from coming into the country and benefiting the poor.
Cobden and Bright were organizers (Cobden mainly) great orators (Bright mainly), writers (Cobden mainly) and Cobden actually became a successful politician to help push for the repeal. Their work used and expanded upon the pathbreaking work of:
- the French Physiocrats, ]
- Adam Smith,
- David Ricardo and
- all the other great classical economists
who saw and wrote so clearly of the follies of mercantilism and protectionist tariffs, of which the corn laws were perhaps the most egregious and damaging to the poor.
The success of their League's campaign and it's convincing the House of Commons to repeal these terribly repressive laws, and continuing a free trade policy in general throughout most of the rest of the 1800s, led to England's massive wealth increase and improvement in conditions of the poor.
Not only free trade policies, but also non-interventionist foreign policies of peace were advocated by Cobden and Bright. The latter point was new to me. England did not follow those policies nearly as closely, and hence embarked on further imperialist policies (joined by all major European powers), which eventually led to massive negative consequences, culminating in the debacle of WWI.
After all the time since I read this book, I have very positive memories of it and the importance of the topic. Especially with the rise of anti-free trade rhetoric and policies of Trump and the Democrats, this book should be required reading for anyone who wants a more abundant, prosperous and peaceful world.
11 Jan. 2019 - minor edits for clarity and grammar. ...more
It is largely a story of the two incredible men, Richard Cobden and John Bright who formed, or at least were the most important leaders of, The Anti-Corn Law League, the organization that coordinated the campaign to repeal those dreadful laws. The title's "breadstealers" are those who favored those nasty laws, which, in essence kept cheaper foreign grain/bread from coming into the country and benefiting the poor.
Cobden and Bright were organizers (Cobden mainly) great orators (Bright mainly), writers (Cobden mainly) and Cobden actually became a successful politician to help push for the repeal. Their work used and expanded upon the pathbreaking work of:
- the French Physiocrats, ]
- Adam Smith,
- David Ricardo and
- all the other great classical economists
who saw and wrote so clearly of the follies of mercantilism and protectionist tariffs, of which the corn laws were perhaps the most egregious and damaging to the poor.
The success of their League's campaign and it's convincing the House of Commons to repeal these terribly repressive laws, and continuing a free trade policy in general throughout most of the rest of the 1800s, led to England's massive wealth increase and improvement in conditions of the poor.
Not only free trade policies, but also non-interventionist foreign policies of peace were advocated by Cobden and Bright. The latter point was new to me. England did not follow those policies nearly as closely, and hence embarked on further imperialist policies (joined by all major European powers), which eventually led to massive negative consequences, culminating in the debacle of WWI.
After all the time since I read this book, I have very positive memories of it and the importance of the topic. Especially with the rise of anti-free trade rhetoric and policies of Trump and the Democrats, this book should be required reading for anyone who wants a more abundant, prosperous and peaceful world.
11 Jan. 2019 - minor edits for clarity and grammar. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 1981
Jan 1982
Jun 10, 2017
Hardcover
0915728265
9780915728268
0915728265
4.00
12
unknown
Apr 04, 2017
really liked it
May 2017 - This is the fourth of Payne's kayak adventure, humor and philosophy books, and I love it as I did the others. It is shorter, only 110 pages
May 2017 - This is the fourth of Payne's kayak adventure, humor and philosophy books, and I love it as I did the others. It is shorter, only 110 pages, so I read it in only two days.
Lots of fun, especially since I am a fan of most of the things that Payne likes about Thoreau, which he ties-in to the trip beautifully, not forcefully. I learned many new things about Henry David Thoreau as well as received clarification of some fuzzy points and joyful emphasis of some of the things I always liked about him and his writing.
It also was especially neat for me due to the location of the towns and rivers covered in northeast MA and southeast NH. I have been in or near all the towns mentioned, though never on the rivers. But anyone who knows the area will certainly appreciate and may well learn new insights about the geographic and historical references.
There are many parts of the book that also hit home for various other reasons:
1. There was a wonderful conversation with a very mature thirteen year-old homeschooler and expanded scene with his mother, brother and the environment. Precious!
2. An almost unbelievable coincidence with a dog, and then a college & department connection.
3. Many little humorous asides and observations. Always fun and one of the numerous joys about all of Payne's books.
4. The author's encounters with strangers, how and why he engages and the risks and rewards he takes is a theme throughout his kayaking books that is just marvelous. Perhaps it is just his "sense of life," but I love it and am very sad when I think about how too many are losing it.
5. The "Faith in Authority" chapter was fantastic. Simply wonderful. A strong theme in several of his books.
I could go on, but I don't want to spoil your enjoyment in this neat little book.
One warning - I found a few economic observations in the book that needed clarifications. As usual, the problems were probably related to the unclear or misleading path that mainstream economics took, as opposed to the clarity of terms and functions in society that Ludwig Mises and other Austrian School economists saw, dealing with entrepreneurs, capital, and the purposes that people pursue in their lives.
But this warning is minor compared to the pleasure, the poignancy, the adventure and the very solid and profound, yet easily digested observations that you will enjoy in this slim, but highly engaging volume.
-----
2020-03-02 Updated with an extra observation and tweak or two. ...more
Lots of fun, especially since I am a fan of most of the things that Payne likes about Thoreau, which he ties-in to the trip beautifully, not forcefully. I learned many new things about Henry David Thoreau as well as received clarification of some fuzzy points and joyful emphasis of some of the things I always liked about him and his writing.
It also was especially neat for me due to the location of the towns and rivers covered in northeast MA and southeast NH. I have been in or near all the towns mentioned, though never on the rivers. But anyone who knows the area will certainly appreciate and may well learn new insights about the geographic and historical references.
There are many parts of the book that also hit home for various other reasons:
1. There was a wonderful conversation with a very mature thirteen year-old homeschooler and expanded scene with his mother, brother and the environment. Precious!
2. An almost unbelievable coincidence with a dog, and then a college & department connection.
3. Many little humorous asides and observations. Always fun and one of the numerous joys about all of Payne's books.
4. The author's encounters with strangers, how and why he engages and the risks and rewards he takes is a theme throughout his kayaking books that is just marvelous. Perhaps it is just his "sense of life," but I love it and am very sad when I think about how too many are losing it.
5. The "Faith in Authority" chapter was fantastic. Simply wonderful. A strong theme in several of his books.
I could go on, but I don't want to spoil your enjoyment in this neat little book.
One warning - I found a few economic observations in the book that needed clarifications. As usual, the problems were probably related to the unclear or misleading path that mainstream economics took, as opposed to the clarity of terms and functions in society that Ludwig Mises and other Austrian School economists saw, dealing with entrepreneurs, capital, and the purposes that people pursue in their lives.
But this warning is minor compared to the pleasure, the poignancy, the adventure and the very solid and profound, yet easily digested observations that you will enjoy in this slim, but highly engaging volume.
-----
2020-03-02 Updated with an extra observation and tweak or two. ...more
Notes are private!
1
May 30, 2017
May 31, 2017
May 31, 2017
Paperback
0691131414
9780691131412
0691131414
3.91
473
1967
Apr 29, 2007
did not like it
I read this book in High School while I was taking economics or political science.
My memories are that the book was not well written, quite dull and f I read this book in High School while I was taking economics or political science.
My memories are that the book was not well written, quite dull and full of ridiculous critiques of basic economics and history.
The most ridiculous quote I remember from this book (or possibly from The Affluent Society, which I read not long afterward and may have confused with) was his statement that "that's the exception that proves the rule."
Think about that for a second.
Exceptions do NOT prove any rules. They don't do anything, except perhaps DISprove a rule. Yet here is an eminent prof. of econ. at Harvard, in his "classic" (best selling) work on American Capitalism telling people that the exception to his "rule" about American big business being able to control their markets, due to their size, and advertising power, such as Ford and it's somewhat stable "control" of 22-25% of the US auto market, could foist on the American public whatever new car model design it wanted, and the public would just buy it, regardless. The exception he was trying to not just belittle, but actually literally make into an extra reason why his "rule" was true, was of course the too obvious to ignore case of Ford's Edsel model, which flopped. People would not buy it. It was a huge loss for Ford. Everyone knew about it back then.
So, again, I urge you to think about the tactic that Galbraith used to turn this obvious contradiction to his bogus theory, into a rhetorical flourish that looked like it backed up his theory, hoping the audience just does not care about logic and facts.
The main thrust of the book was to push his idea that the "technocracy" his loosely defined term of the top management of private companies which control major technology was in charge of the economy and would continue to be in charge, since competition was a sham. This was written in the days (1967) of the Detroit "big 3" auto companies "controlling" about 80-90% of the auto market since WWII, in the days when IBM controlled a huge percent of the computer (mainframe) market, and a few other companies were also very predominant in their respective markets.
Any particular market can have a selective snapshot taken of it and appear to not have much competition or innovation and the present dominant companies look like they may never be dislodged. But that is not the way the world works. That is a false and misleading view of what is really happening and what forces are working to provide new and better value for the consumer. AND just as importantly, it does not explain the very negative effects of government intervention in the economy. Interventions take away value from the consumer, prevent new value from being created, lock-in the managements and corporate structures that then exist, and help slow down new and better entrepreneurs from changing things to satisfy unmet consumer needs and desires.
The biggest things MISSING from the book are:
1. A decent understanding of entrepreneurship, which serves the consumer and disrupts the fat, lazy, old, inefficient, too expensive or too chintzy companies and management. Galbraith totally missed the entrepreneurial competition that was brewing for the companies he was touting. He totally missed the importance of DEC, Data General, HP, VW, Toyota, Honda, etc. of the day. And he had no inkling of the vast further changes and improvements coming with Intel, Compaq, Dell, Apple, Microsoft, Sun, Nissan, Hyundai, let alone the bankruptcies of GM, Chrysler, etc. Just think how completely all these companies have or are being upended and their profits drained away by the newer breed of massive consumer services companies such as Google, Facebook, Uber, Amazon, etc.
2. A simple appreciation of what government actually is, what a negative force it is in society, if it goes beyond it's basic, important, yet necessarily restricted purpose - to keep the peace and adjudicate disputes. Galbraith exhibited virtually no knowledge of or appreciation for the fact that government is force. That taxes are TAKEN by the threat of (or actual us of) force. That the only proper use of that force is defensive: stopping or catching robbers, murderers, rapists, terrorists, etc. Stopping foreign enemies from attacking the country or fighting them if they do. Adjudicating disputes among parties who cannot agree and may resort to force if they don't have some third party to settle the matter if they can't.
All of these subjects can and should be explored in greater depth and clarity. Galbraith gave none of that, but just hot air about his fantasy world of "concentrated economic power."
If the reader is serious about finding out what the real forces are that make our lives better and worse, I highly recommend he/she read Ludwig Mises, Murray Rothbard, Friedrich Hayek and a growing host of others who have training and insights in what free markets are all about. ...more
My memories are that the book was not well written, quite dull and f I read this book in High School while I was taking economics or political science.
My memories are that the book was not well written, quite dull and full of ridiculous critiques of basic economics and history.
The most ridiculous quote I remember from this book (or possibly from The Affluent Society, which I read not long afterward and may have confused with) was his statement that "that's the exception that proves the rule."
Think about that for a second.
Exceptions do NOT prove any rules. They don't do anything, except perhaps DISprove a rule. Yet here is an eminent prof. of econ. at Harvard, in his "classic" (best selling) work on American Capitalism telling people that the exception to his "rule" about American big business being able to control their markets, due to their size, and advertising power, such as Ford and it's somewhat stable "control" of 22-25% of the US auto market, could foist on the American public whatever new car model design it wanted, and the public would just buy it, regardless. The exception he was trying to not just belittle, but actually literally make into an extra reason why his "rule" was true, was of course the too obvious to ignore case of Ford's Edsel model, which flopped. People would not buy it. It was a huge loss for Ford. Everyone knew about it back then.
So, again, I urge you to think about the tactic that Galbraith used to turn this obvious contradiction to his bogus theory, into a rhetorical flourish that looked like it backed up his theory, hoping the audience just does not care about logic and facts.
The main thrust of the book was to push his idea that the "technocracy" his loosely defined term of the top management of private companies which control major technology was in charge of the economy and would continue to be in charge, since competition was a sham. This was written in the days (1967) of the Detroit "big 3" auto companies "controlling" about 80-90% of the auto market since WWII, in the days when IBM controlled a huge percent of the computer (mainframe) market, and a few other companies were also very predominant in their respective markets.
Any particular market can have a selective snapshot taken of it and appear to not have much competition or innovation and the present dominant companies look like they may never be dislodged. But that is not the way the world works. That is a false and misleading view of what is really happening and what forces are working to provide new and better value for the consumer. AND just as importantly, it does not explain the very negative effects of government intervention in the economy. Interventions take away value from the consumer, prevent new value from being created, lock-in the managements and corporate structures that then exist, and help slow down new and better entrepreneurs from changing things to satisfy unmet consumer needs and desires.
The biggest things MISSING from the book are:
1. A decent understanding of entrepreneurship, which serves the consumer and disrupts the fat, lazy, old, inefficient, too expensive or too chintzy companies and management. Galbraith totally missed the entrepreneurial competition that was brewing for the companies he was touting. He totally missed the importance of DEC, Data General, HP, VW, Toyota, Honda, etc. of the day. And he had no inkling of the vast further changes and improvements coming with Intel, Compaq, Dell, Apple, Microsoft, Sun, Nissan, Hyundai, let alone the bankruptcies of GM, Chrysler, etc. Just think how completely all these companies have or are being upended and their profits drained away by the newer breed of massive consumer services companies such as Google, Facebook, Uber, Amazon, etc.
2. A simple appreciation of what government actually is, what a negative force it is in society, if it goes beyond it's basic, important, yet necessarily restricted purpose - to keep the peace and adjudicate disputes. Galbraith exhibited virtually no knowledge of or appreciation for the fact that government is force. That taxes are TAKEN by the threat of (or actual us of) force. That the only proper use of that force is defensive: stopping or catching robbers, murderers, rapists, terrorists, etc. Stopping foreign enemies from attacking the country or fighting them if they do. Adjudicating disputes among parties who cannot agree and may resort to force if they don't have some third party to settle the matter if they can't.
All of these subjects can and should be explored in greater depth and clarity. Galbraith gave none of that, but just hot air about his fantasy world of "concentrated economic power."
If the reader is serious about finding out what the real forces are that make our lives better and worse, I highly recommend he/she read Ludwig Mises, Murray Rothbard, Friedrich Hayek and a growing host of others who have training and insights in what free markets are all about. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 1972
Jan 1973
May 31, 2017
Paperback
0140285199
9780140285192
0140285199
4.00
2,940
1958
Jan 01, 1999
did not like it
This book was terrible.
I read it senior year in High School or Freshman year in College while I was taking intro economics courses and was amazed at h This book was terrible.
I read it senior year in High School or Freshman year in College while I was taking intro economics courses and was amazed at how Galbraith violated the most basic concepts in economics and logic.
The most ridiculous quote I remember from this book (or his follow-up book, The New Industrial State) was his statement that "that's the exception that proves the rule."
Think about that for a second.
Exceptions do NOT prove any rules. They don't do anything, except perhaps DISprove a rule. Yet here is an eminent prof. of econ. at Harvard, in his "classic" (best selling) work on American Capitalism telling people that the exception to his "rule" about American big business being able to control their markets. He said it was due to their size, and advertising power, such as Ford and it's stable "control" of 22-25% of the US auto market. He said they could foist on the American public whatever new car model design it wanted, and the public would just buy it, regardless. The exception to his rule that he was trying to not just belittle, but actually literally make into an extra reason why his "rule" was true, was of course the too obvious to ignore case of Ford's Edsel model, which flopped. People would not buy it. It was a huge loss for Ford. Everyone knew about it back then. It is a classic case of how big companies can FAIL and lose lots of money when some of their investments go bad.
So, again, I urge you to think about the tactic that Galbraith used to turn this obvious contradiction to his bogus theory, into a rhetorical flourish that looked like it backed up his theory and turned logic and facts on their heads.
The other thing I remember about the book, was the main thesis that because America was already so "affluent" (his term for wealthy), it could not only afford, but had a moral duty to, and would greatly benefit from, having the government spend more money on all sorts of public works (and "welfare" programs) projects, such as roads, public (government) education, etc. He claimed that the "public" sector (that is GOVERNMENT) was "starved" compared to the private sector.
His total disregard for the reason why America was so relatively wealthy - that it taxed and regulated the private sector less, not more, than most other countries - was a main reason for my rating of this book. And think about this too, do you feel like you pay too SMALL an amount in taxes? Do you feel that you get more than your coerced to pay in taxes, what you get out of them?
But that was, I believe, his purpose - to deceive people, or at least try to convince them of the "truth" he thought he knew, that government is the fount of most all good things (at least in his mind) and that leaving people the freedom to discover their own values, talents, dreams, and security was not worth talking about, let alone giving any credence to. ...more
I read it senior year in High School or Freshman year in College while I was taking intro economics courses and was amazed at h This book was terrible.
I read it senior year in High School or Freshman year in College while I was taking intro economics courses and was amazed at how Galbraith violated the most basic concepts in economics and logic.
The most ridiculous quote I remember from this book (or his follow-up book, The New Industrial State) was his statement that "that's the exception that proves the rule."
Think about that for a second.
Exceptions do NOT prove any rules. They don't do anything, except perhaps DISprove a rule. Yet here is an eminent prof. of econ. at Harvard, in his "classic" (best selling) work on American Capitalism telling people that the exception to his "rule" about American big business being able to control their markets. He said it was due to their size, and advertising power, such as Ford and it's stable "control" of 22-25% of the US auto market. He said they could foist on the American public whatever new car model design it wanted, and the public would just buy it, regardless. The exception to his rule that he was trying to not just belittle, but actually literally make into an extra reason why his "rule" was true, was of course the too obvious to ignore case of Ford's Edsel model, which flopped. People would not buy it. It was a huge loss for Ford. Everyone knew about it back then. It is a classic case of how big companies can FAIL and lose lots of money when some of their investments go bad.
So, again, I urge you to think about the tactic that Galbraith used to turn this obvious contradiction to his bogus theory, into a rhetorical flourish that looked like it backed up his theory and turned logic and facts on their heads.
The other thing I remember about the book, was the main thesis that because America was already so "affluent" (his term for wealthy), it could not only afford, but had a moral duty to, and would greatly benefit from, having the government spend more money on all sorts of public works (and "welfare" programs) projects, such as roads, public (government) education, etc. He claimed that the "public" sector (that is GOVERNMENT) was "starved" compared to the private sector.
His total disregard for the reason why America was so relatively wealthy - that it taxed and regulated the private sector less, not more, than most other countries - was a main reason for my rating of this book. And think about this too, do you feel like you pay too SMALL an amount in taxes? Do you feel that you get more than your coerced to pay in taxes, what you get out of them?
But that was, I believe, his purpose - to deceive people, or at least try to convince them of the "truth" he thought he knew, that government is the fount of most all good things (at least in his mind) and that leaving people the freedom to discover their own values, talents, dreams, and security was not worth talking about, let alone giving any credence to. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 1973
Jan 1974
May 30, 2017
Paperback
0985689803
9780985689803
B008A6Z35S
4.07
71
Jun 09, 2012
Jun 09, 2012
it was amazing
2020-06-09 - made a few additions and changes to the review and note that because of Covid-19 apparently starting in Wuhan, China and ongoing "issues"
2020-06-09 - made a few additions and changes to the review and note that because of Covid-19 apparently starting in Wuhan, China and ongoing "issues" between the US and China, I urge anyone interested in knowing more about China to check this book out.
10 June 2017 - Just finished this wonderful, beautifully written and very informative book.
It is a very intimate autobiography, that draws a picture of China (early 1960s - 1989) that will be hard for many Americans to relate to. The vastly different culture and civil, political and economic conditions between the two countries is perhaps an unfathomable disparity that I fear too few Americans will be able to appreciate. But if any story could do it, perhaps this poignant, poetic and positive story can.
I loved how the authors explained so gently the Chinese customs, words, and motivations that were vital parts of life, in ways that were humorous, ironic or just matter-of-fact neat for me.
The great blend of contrasting old customs, (pre-1949) good and bad, with the new government policies, (1949-1979) which did vast harm to so many, was fascinating for this reader.
The huge change that took place in China after Mao died in 1976, lessening some of the tyranny with the new policies by Deng Xiaoping, were shown to have made it possible for Margaret and so many fellow Chinese to survive and begin to thrive. From then till just recently they were allowed some more chances of personal autonomy and freedom and have given the world so much more of what they have had to offer. It is such a shame that the forces of repression have turned and China has begun the last few years to turn back toward tyranny. So many hundreds of millions escaped poverty in the interim period, but now are in danger of slipping back.
I only hope some readers will figure out that [the essentials of] Margaret's story is not an isolated one, but rather explains what made it possible for China to be the biggest/quickest poverty reduction success story the world has ever seen. That is NOT to say that China's policies over the last 40 or so years could not have been improved, or positive change (material and civil) could not have been greater or more extensive. But it is to say that the change in policies from persecuting the "rich" "landlords" in the most heinous ways (killing by starving, shooting, beating, etc. by the tens of millions, to lesser injustices) to allowing everyone a certain degree of equality before the law (and in the official culture) had, and continues to have, a very beneficial effect on all Chinese as well as the whole world. All have been enriched, materially and psychically, and not just in a small way, but immensely.
I underlined a multitude of passages and took many notes while I enjoyed reading this book. So much here for the open mind to explore.
But the bottom line is, if you like any of these categories of books, you should love this one:
- autobiography
- self help
- lyrical/poetic, beautiful writing
- what happened in China (~1960 - 1989)
- contrasting China and US cultural, economic, and political conditions in the 1960s - 90s
- many humorous stories and turns of phrase
- Basic philosophy contrasts that create poverty vs. wealth, oppression vs. freedom and injustice vs. justice
Just one more note - the title is VERY descriptive of the contents of the book. The title's two word phrase seemed strange to me at first, and I bet many Americans may also be perplexed. But rest assured, the meaning will come out plenty quickly and be repeated in many ways and different situations for the reader's benefit and enjoyment throughout the book. And that title points to one of the cultural differences between China and the US that shows how creative and fascinatingly individualistic (REALLY!) Chinese can be. I truly hope many people, not just Americans, but any people, will make the opportunity to read, enjoy and benefit from the wise, painful but funny and enlightening lessons in this book.
---------------
29 May 2017 - So far so great! Really gripping. Very hard to put down.
Met the author at the Recycled Book(store) Club in Campbell last Wed. when she appeared to answer questions about the book. Fascinating. Captivating. Started reading the book a few days later. ...more
10 June 2017 - Just finished this wonderful, beautifully written and very informative book.
It is a very intimate autobiography, that draws a picture of China (early 1960s - 1989) that will be hard for many Americans to relate to. The vastly different culture and civil, political and economic conditions between the two countries is perhaps an unfathomable disparity that I fear too few Americans will be able to appreciate. But if any story could do it, perhaps this poignant, poetic and positive story can.
I loved how the authors explained so gently the Chinese customs, words, and motivations that were vital parts of life, in ways that were humorous, ironic or just matter-of-fact neat for me.
The great blend of contrasting old customs, (pre-1949) good and bad, with the new government policies, (1949-1979) which did vast harm to so many, was fascinating for this reader.
The huge change that took place in China after Mao died in 1976, lessening some of the tyranny with the new policies by Deng Xiaoping, were shown to have made it possible for Margaret and so many fellow Chinese to survive and begin to thrive. From then till just recently they were allowed some more chances of personal autonomy and freedom and have given the world so much more of what they have had to offer. It is such a shame that the forces of repression have turned and China has begun the last few years to turn back toward tyranny. So many hundreds of millions escaped poverty in the interim period, but now are in danger of slipping back.
I only hope some readers will figure out that [the essentials of] Margaret's story is not an isolated one, but rather explains what made it possible for China to be the biggest/quickest poverty reduction success story the world has ever seen. That is NOT to say that China's policies over the last 40 or so years could not have been improved, or positive change (material and civil) could not have been greater or more extensive. But it is to say that the change in policies from persecuting the "rich" "landlords" in the most heinous ways (killing by starving, shooting, beating, etc. by the tens of millions, to lesser injustices) to allowing everyone a certain degree of equality before the law (and in the official culture) had, and continues to have, a very beneficial effect on all Chinese as well as the whole world. All have been enriched, materially and psychically, and not just in a small way, but immensely.
I underlined a multitude of passages and took many notes while I enjoyed reading this book. So much here for the open mind to explore.
But the bottom line is, if you like any of these categories of books, you should love this one:
- autobiography
- self help
- lyrical/poetic, beautiful writing
- what happened in China (~1960 - 1989)
- contrasting China and US cultural, economic, and political conditions in the 1960s - 90s
- many humorous stories and turns of phrase
- Basic philosophy contrasts that create poverty vs. wealth, oppression vs. freedom and injustice vs. justice
Just one more note - the title is VERY descriptive of the contents of the book. The title's two word phrase seemed strange to me at first, and I bet many Americans may also be perplexed. But rest assured, the meaning will come out plenty quickly and be repeated in many ways and different situations for the reader's benefit and enjoyment throughout the book. And that title points to one of the cultural differences between China and the US that shows how creative and fascinatingly individualistic (REALLY!) Chinese can be. I truly hope many people, not just Americans, but any people, will make the opportunity to read, enjoy and benefit from the wise, painful but funny and enlightening lessons in this book.
---------------
29 May 2017 - So far so great! Really gripping. Very hard to put down.
Met the author at the Recycled Book(store) Club in Campbell last Wed. when she appeared to answer questions about the book. Fascinating. Captivating. Started reading the book a few days later. ...more
Notes are private!
1
May 26, 2017
Jun 10, 2017
May 29, 2017
Kindle Edition
0451527631
9780451527639
0451527631
3.29
6,397
1888
Jan 01, 2000
did not like it
2017-05 I listened to the LibriVox recording of this book, narrated by Anna Simon: https://librivox.org/looking-backward...
I did NOT read this edition 2017-05 I listened to the LibriVox recording of this book, narrated by Anna Simon: https://librivox.org/looking-backward...
I did NOT read this edition of the book.
I had originally heard of this book in my High School American history class since the book was a bestseller when it came out in 1888 ("the third-largest bestseller of its time" according to Wikipedia) and touted as quite influential. The Wikipedia listing goes on to explain some things that are quite important for the prospective reader to know:
"It influenced a large number of intellectuals, and appears by title in many of the major Marxist writings of the day. ... It is one of the few books ever published that created almost immediately on its appearance a political mass movement".[2]
In the United States alone, over 162 "Bellamy Clubs" sprang up to discuss and propagate the book's ideas.[3] Owing to its commitment to the nationalization of private property and the desire to avoid use of the term socialism, this political movement came to be known as Nationalism — not to be confused with the political concept of nationalism.[4] The novel also inspired several utopian communities."
The Wikipedia article also notes the extensive number of books that came out afterwards in reaction and in sympathy of Bellamy’s work. And the precursor books, in particular: August Bebel's Woman in the Past, Present, and Future (1886).[15] were significant.
Before I offer some points of critique, I want to say that the ostensible sympathies of the author’s desire to improve the lot of the common man and woman are admirable: To increase the wealth, health conditions, social standing and respect for all men and women is a noble goal I wholeheartedly share. The comments I make below all share the goal stated, but simply point out the flaws of his thinking that do not coincide with the reality of the actual results when using his type of plan.
1. Bellamy demonstrated little realization of the progress that late 19th century American (and to a lesser extent, most EU countries too) civilization had actually made toward alleviating mass poverty. Bellamy repeated over and over how horrible conditions were in 1887 Boston (the book's setting) for the common man. But if one looks at history at all objectively, one would see that the conditions of the common man in Boston of 1887 were vastly improved from the conditions in Boston a century before, despite and especially considering there being vastly more people populating the city. (18k in 1790 ->448K in 1890 a more than 20 fold increase in population!!!). Though far from perfect, or as wealthy as we are today, the Boston of 1887 was a vastly bigger, wealthier and more full of opportunities area than ever previously. The reason that Boston (and the US as a whole) created so much growth, for so many people, was the success of the relative free market capitalism (even though it was far from perfect, and far from truly/totally free) that was its foundation.
2. The constant misinformed diatribes in the book against individualism, competition and private property vs. the totally out of touch with reality fictions promoting his ideas of (coerced) cooperation and communal control (dreamily) producing vast wealth for all could possibly be forgiven. This is considering the best critiques of his ideas would only come later via theory and actually looking at societies that implemented the basic plan. (However, there were actually many failures of the socialist/utopian societies/communities aplenty by the time this book was written.) My favorite primarily theoretical critique was the book "Socialism" by Ludwig von Mises, written 34 years later (1922) which thoroughly dispatched all the ideas I heard in Bellamy’s book and more. Though Bellamy was not listed in the Index of Mises' book, his ideas are all covered therein, and Bellamy's precursor mentioned above, August Bebel, was given much attention. The other damning critique is simply an objective look at the history of socialist societies.
- The countries and their lowest level citizens, which following the most free market (capitalist) path, with private property being key, all prospered greatly over the next century +.
- ALL the countries which tried to implement his ideas of communal/socialized property and control most closely exhibited the most hellish mass starvations, purges, enslavements and carnage that the world has ever seen.
Over the years, the apologists for socialism have tried to excuse the failings of the system (the socialist idea) via scorning one ruler or another for being a madman or implementing the idea foolishly. But the facts remain, that the closer any society tried to implement socialization of the means of production, the poorer and more tyrannical the society became. Here is a list of just some of the historical markers:
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR), (as well as its "captive nations" from 1945-89, such as the DDR, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.
- National Socialist (Nazi) Germany,
- People’s Republic of China, (especially under its founder, Mao)
- Democratic People’s Republic (North) of Korea, (especially under it's founder Kim Il Sung),
- Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge in Cambodia),
- "Republic of Cuba" - not only under Fidel Castro, but to this day.
but there were and are many more, including the terrible starvation, breakdown of civil society and exodus of ~1/4 of the population, occurring right now in socialist Venezuela!
3. The many misunderstandings and misrepresentations of how the free market actually provides more and better quality goods for all are legion in the book. The conflation of short-term and foolish or worse self-interest vs. enlightened self-interest and how, as Adam Smith put it: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.” And how the proof of the pudding is the actual provision of more and better goods and services for all, but especially for the poor and middle class, in places where private property is honored and protected.
4. “The labor question” as Bellamy belabored, was indeed serious in his day. Major strikes and organized labor violence and other actions even continued through the 1980s. But the causes of those problems were often the very “social” system (government controls) that Bellamy mistakenly thought the solution. Depressions, inflations, financial panics, mass unemployment, etc. were mostly due to government policies that undermined the beneficial workings of the market. For the reader who is truly interested in knowing more about this admittedly controversial statement, I recommend the following authors: Ludwig von Mises, Robert Higgs, Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard, Larry White, George Selgin, Christopher Silber and others.
5. Bellamy often used terms of war to describe capitalist free market interactions and nothing but sweet harmony to describe his socialist society. This is totally disingenuous and misleading to the nth degree. As I mentioned before, the actual results of socialist planning and controls result in starvation, degradation, and ruthless bloodshed. He rarely admitted the outright coercion involved in implementing his plans, though the premise is a must, that if someone in his dream society does not agree with the one overall plan, they will be coerced to “cooperate.” That is, people who have different, independent, unusual, creative, minority, or downright opposite ideas about what is the best way forward, will be forced to comply with what “society” wants. To put it bluntly, there will be NO freedom of action in his society. Conversely, his “war” terms to describe free markets are simply vicious caricatures of what is really happening in a capitalist society. If a clerk lies to you about a product, do you ever believe or do business with him/her/the company again? If a company does not treat you well in almost every way, do you not simply go to their competitor? Do private companies have the product or service guarantees, the quality service the new and amazing products you can trust, or does the Post Office, the DMV, the Army, Congress, the VA, the President or the IRS?
6. In Chapter 6 Bellamy actually levels, to some extent, with the reader by laying out his plan of “Universal Military Service” which solved “the labor problem.” So, the strife for various unions trying to get a better deal from their employers for the workers is replaced with one giant coerced draft of all workers into the military. Right. We know how that worked out during the Civil War, WW I & II, Korea and the VietNam wars. Or do you need to look those up? (See in particular "NYC Draft riots of 1863")
7. In chapter 7, Bellamy made this statement: “The government won’t maim and slaughter workmen by the thousand like the corporations did in your day (1880s).” There were indeed some vicious strikes that resulted in deaths and much property damage in the late 1800s. The causes of the violence are complex and not at all only due to just corporate management but not “thousands” maimed or killed by corporations. (See works by W.H. Hutt, Sylvester Petro, Charles Baird and others). But in contrast, the systems of socialization/nationalization advocated by Bellamy did not result in thousands maimed or slaughtered, but rather tens of MILLIONS, in the 20th century. (See the works of R.J. Rummel, Frank Dekötter, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Robert Conquest, Anne Applebaum, and the leftist authors of The Black Book of Communism.)
8. In chapter 8 Bellamy also gives a hint at the real nature of his system, when he focuses on the punishments for lack of performance & other anti-social behavior. No mention at all is given, of course, to the vast rewards that entrepreneurs & employees receive when they figure out and provide goods and services that consumers really want. Think Steve Jobs and his incredible creations of Apple products and services, or the amazing new services provided free or vastly better/cheaper by Google, Uber, Lyft, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, etc. etc.
9. The absence of Bellamy's understanding of the threat of centralized power is almost astounding. Some of his proposals that demonstrate this: a. doing away with juries and defense attorneys and giving all power to judges in criminal (and civil?) trials b. eliminating state (and local?) governments, with no discussion of federalism and division of government, and their important intermediary, countervailing and balancing effects, let alone considering the concept of individual sovereignty.
10. Bellamy's lack of understanding of the vital role of money - the medium of exchange, was similar to Lenin's. Lenin and the Russian people later learned pretty fast that, even in a modified socialist economy, money still provides the crucial functions of making trade, information transmission and rational calculation of economic plans possible. Without a real money in the economy, there is no rational calculation of value, of what projects are truly most important or least important. There is just chaos, destruction and violence.
11. I have mentioned above in various ways, but not straight on: Bellamy claims, over and over again that his society (socialist) is based on the superior ethical values of harmony, equality, public/communal property and cooperation and that it is therefore vastly superior to the existing (capitalist) society (in the late 1800s) that is based on greed, self-interest, competition, (virtual) war, etc. As I have tried to point out above, he has it virtually backward: it is the free market that is based on self-ownership, mutual respect, voluntary cooperation, contract and abhorrence of the initiation of force. For more on the ethical differences and actual outcomes (vs. dreams and fantasy world) between the two, I recommend Mises, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard and other libertarian thinkers.
12. I have listed just some of the ideas of Bellamy and authors who have given me insights about just how error filled or even deadly those ideas play out when attempted to be implemented in the real world. But I would like to recommend at least one additional organization that has a vast amount of resources for clear thinking on these issues: www.fee.org. I highly recommend them to the reader interested in the truth of these matters of solving problems of poverty, inequality, injustice, war and more, our continuing mutual goal. Again, we share these goals. We only differ on the appropriate means to achieve them.
The LibriVox narrator did a very good job. She has a nice European (German, Dutch, French?) accent, that is usually very easy to listen to. Some of her English pronunciations are curious. The one I remember most was how she pronounced the oft used word in the book "clerk" (as in a store clerk or salesperson) - "clark." She seemed quite sympathetic to the ideas in the book and put good emotion into the character's lines, despite some parts of the book being fairly dry explanations of the supposed mechanics of how the national socialist fantasies "were actually working" in the book's idea of what supposedly was going to happen in the 20th century. I invite readers to compare what actually happened in the societies in the 20th century that tried to implement those socialist ideas of Bellamy and others, and compare them objectively to the societies that went on a more capitalistic/free market path. Even though no country really came as close as they claimed to their respective goals, the different directions were clear and significant enough.
2022-06-28 - significant modifications made to the above review.
2024-03-21 - more modifications to improve clarity (hopefully) ...more
I did NOT read this edition 2017-05 I listened to the LibriVox recording of this book, narrated by Anna Simon: https://librivox.org/looking-backward...
I did NOT read this edition of the book.
I had originally heard of this book in my High School American history class since the book was a bestseller when it came out in 1888 ("the third-largest bestseller of its time" according to Wikipedia) and touted as quite influential. The Wikipedia listing goes on to explain some things that are quite important for the prospective reader to know:
"It influenced a large number of intellectuals, and appears by title in many of the major Marxist writings of the day. ... It is one of the few books ever published that created almost immediately on its appearance a political mass movement".[2]
In the United States alone, over 162 "Bellamy Clubs" sprang up to discuss and propagate the book's ideas.[3] Owing to its commitment to the nationalization of private property and the desire to avoid use of the term socialism, this political movement came to be known as Nationalism — not to be confused with the political concept of nationalism.[4] The novel also inspired several utopian communities."
The Wikipedia article also notes the extensive number of books that came out afterwards in reaction and in sympathy of Bellamy’s work. And the precursor books, in particular: August Bebel's Woman in the Past, Present, and Future (1886).[15] were significant.
Before I offer some points of critique, I want to say that the ostensible sympathies of the author’s desire to improve the lot of the common man and woman are admirable: To increase the wealth, health conditions, social standing and respect for all men and women is a noble goal I wholeheartedly share. The comments I make below all share the goal stated, but simply point out the flaws of his thinking that do not coincide with the reality of the actual results when using his type of plan.
1. Bellamy demonstrated little realization of the progress that late 19th century American (and to a lesser extent, most EU countries too) civilization had actually made toward alleviating mass poverty. Bellamy repeated over and over how horrible conditions were in 1887 Boston (the book's setting) for the common man. But if one looks at history at all objectively, one would see that the conditions of the common man in Boston of 1887 were vastly improved from the conditions in Boston a century before, despite and especially considering there being vastly more people populating the city. (18k in 1790 ->448K in 1890 a more than 20 fold increase in population!!!). Though far from perfect, or as wealthy as we are today, the Boston of 1887 was a vastly bigger, wealthier and more full of opportunities area than ever previously. The reason that Boston (and the US as a whole) created so much growth, for so many people, was the success of the relative free market capitalism (even though it was far from perfect, and far from truly/totally free) that was its foundation.
2. The constant misinformed diatribes in the book against individualism, competition and private property vs. the totally out of touch with reality fictions promoting his ideas of (coerced) cooperation and communal control (dreamily) producing vast wealth for all could possibly be forgiven. This is considering the best critiques of his ideas would only come later via theory and actually looking at societies that implemented the basic plan. (However, there were actually many failures of the socialist/utopian societies/communities aplenty by the time this book was written.) My favorite primarily theoretical critique was the book "Socialism" by Ludwig von Mises, written 34 years later (1922) which thoroughly dispatched all the ideas I heard in Bellamy’s book and more. Though Bellamy was not listed in the Index of Mises' book, his ideas are all covered therein, and Bellamy's precursor mentioned above, August Bebel, was given much attention. The other damning critique is simply an objective look at the history of socialist societies.
- The countries and their lowest level citizens, which following the most free market (capitalist) path, with private property being key, all prospered greatly over the next century +.
- ALL the countries which tried to implement his ideas of communal/socialized property and control most closely exhibited the most hellish mass starvations, purges, enslavements and carnage that the world has ever seen.
Over the years, the apologists for socialism have tried to excuse the failings of the system (the socialist idea) via scorning one ruler or another for being a madman or implementing the idea foolishly. But the facts remain, that the closer any society tried to implement socialization of the means of production, the poorer and more tyrannical the society became. Here is a list of just some of the historical markers:
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR), (as well as its "captive nations" from 1945-89, such as the DDR, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.
- National Socialist (Nazi) Germany,
- People’s Republic of China, (especially under its founder, Mao)
- Democratic People’s Republic (North) of Korea, (especially under it's founder Kim Il Sung),
- Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge in Cambodia),
- "Republic of Cuba" - not only under Fidel Castro, but to this day.
but there were and are many more, including the terrible starvation, breakdown of civil society and exodus of ~1/4 of the population, occurring right now in socialist Venezuela!
3. The many misunderstandings and misrepresentations of how the free market actually provides more and better quality goods for all are legion in the book. The conflation of short-term and foolish or worse self-interest vs. enlightened self-interest and how, as Adam Smith put it: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.” And how the proof of the pudding is the actual provision of more and better goods and services for all, but especially for the poor and middle class, in places where private property is honored and protected.
4. “The labor question” as Bellamy belabored, was indeed serious in his day. Major strikes and organized labor violence and other actions even continued through the 1980s. But the causes of those problems were often the very “social” system (government controls) that Bellamy mistakenly thought the solution. Depressions, inflations, financial panics, mass unemployment, etc. were mostly due to government policies that undermined the beneficial workings of the market. For the reader who is truly interested in knowing more about this admittedly controversial statement, I recommend the following authors: Ludwig von Mises, Robert Higgs, Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard, Larry White, George Selgin, Christopher Silber and others.
5. Bellamy often used terms of war to describe capitalist free market interactions and nothing but sweet harmony to describe his socialist society. This is totally disingenuous and misleading to the nth degree. As I mentioned before, the actual results of socialist planning and controls result in starvation, degradation, and ruthless bloodshed. He rarely admitted the outright coercion involved in implementing his plans, though the premise is a must, that if someone in his dream society does not agree with the one overall plan, they will be coerced to “cooperate.” That is, people who have different, independent, unusual, creative, minority, or downright opposite ideas about what is the best way forward, will be forced to comply with what “society” wants. To put it bluntly, there will be NO freedom of action in his society. Conversely, his “war” terms to describe free markets are simply vicious caricatures of what is really happening in a capitalist society. If a clerk lies to you about a product, do you ever believe or do business with him/her/the company again? If a company does not treat you well in almost every way, do you not simply go to their competitor? Do private companies have the product or service guarantees, the quality service the new and amazing products you can trust, or does the Post Office, the DMV, the Army, Congress, the VA, the President or the IRS?
6. In Chapter 6 Bellamy actually levels, to some extent, with the reader by laying out his plan of “Universal Military Service” which solved “the labor problem.” So, the strife for various unions trying to get a better deal from their employers for the workers is replaced with one giant coerced draft of all workers into the military. Right. We know how that worked out during the Civil War, WW I & II, Korea and the VietNam wars. Or do you need to look those up? (See in particular "NYC Draft riots of 1863")
7. In chapter 7, Bellamy made this statement: “The government won’t maim and slaughter workmen by the thousand like the corporations did in your day (1880s).” There were indeed some vicious strikes that resulted in deaths and much property damage in the late 1800s. The causes of the violence are complex and not at all only due to just corporate management but not “thousands” maimed or killed by corporations. (See works by W.H. Hutt, Sylvester Petro, Charles Baird and others). But in contrast, the systems of socialization/nationalization advocated by Bellamy did not result in thousands maimed or slaughtered, but rather tens of MILLIONS, in the 20th century. (See the works of R.J. Rummel, Frank Dekötter, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Robert Conquest, Anne Applebaum, and the leftist authors of The Black Book of Communism.)
8. In chapter 8 Bellamy also gives a hint at the real nature of his system, when he focuses on the punishments for lack of performance & other anti-social behavior. No mention at all is given, of course, to the vast rewards that entrepreneurs & employees receive when they figure out and provide goods and services that consumers really want. Think Steve Jobs and his incredible creations of Apple products and services, or the amazing new services provided free or vastly better/cheaper by Google, Uber, Lyft, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, etc. etc.
9. The absence of Bellamy's understanding of the threat of centralized power is almost astounding. Some of his proposals that demonstrate this: a. doing away with juries and defense attorneys and giving all power to judges in criminal (and civil?) trials b. eliminating state (and local?) governments, with no discussion of federalism and division of government, and their important intermediary, countervailing and balancing effects, let alone considering the concept of individual sovereignty.
10. Bellamy's lack of understanding of the vital role of money - the medium of exchange, was similar to Lenin's. Lenin and the Russian people later learned pretty fast that, even in a modified socialist economy, money still provides the crucial functions of making trade, information transmission and rational calculation of economic plans possible. Without a real money in the economy, there is no rational calculation of value, of what projects are truly most important or least important. There is just chaos, destruction and violence.
11. I have mentioned above in various ways, but not straight on: Bellamy claims, over and over again that his society (socialist) is based on the superior ethical values of harmony, equality, public/communal property and cooperation and that it is therefore vastly superior to the existing (capitalist) society (in the late 1800s) that is based on greed, self-interest, competition, (virtual) war, etc. As I have tried to point out above, he has it virtually backward: it is the free market that is based on self-ownership, mutual respect, voluntary cooperation, contract and abhorrence of the initiation of force. For more on the ethical differences and actual outcomes (vs. dreams and fantasy world) between the two, I recommend Mises, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard and other libertarian thinkers.
12. I have listed just some of the ideas of Bellamy and authors who have given me insights about just how error filled or even deadly those ideas play out when attempted to be implemented in the real world. But I would like to recommend at least one additional organization that has a vast amount of resources for clear thinking on these issues: www.fee.org. I highly recommend them to the reader interested in the truth of these matters of solving problems of poverty, inequality, injustice, war and more, our continuing mutual goal. Again, we share these goals. We only differ on the appropriate means to achieve them.
The LibriVox narrator did a very good job. She has a nice European (German, Dutch, French?) accent, that is usually very easy to listen to. Some of her English pronunciations are curious. The one I remember most was how she pronounced the oft used word in the book "clerk" (as in a store clerk or salesperson) - "clark." She seemed quite sympathetic to the ideas in the book and put good emotion into the character's lines, despite some parts of the book being fairly dry explanations of the supposed mechanics of how the national socialist fantasies "were actually working" in the book's idea of what supposedly was going to happen in the 20th century. I invite readers to compare what actually happened in the societies in the 20th century that tried to implement those socialist ideas of Bellamy and others, and compare them objectively to the societies that went on a more capitalistic/free market path. Even though no country really came as close as they claimed to their respective goals, the different directions were clear and significant enough.
2022-06-28 - significant modifications made to the above review.
2024-03-21 - more modifications to improve clarity (hopefully) ...more
Notes are private!
1
May 02, 2017
May 16, 2017
May 16, 2017
Mass Market Paperback
1560009276
9781560009276
1560009276
3.83
107
1994
Jan 30, 1997
it was amazing
2023-06-07 Before you read any further - Which 20th Century regime do you think was the TOP killer of it's own people? Write that down before you read
2023-06-07 Before you read any further - Which 20th Century regime do you think was the TOP killer of it's own people? Write that down before you read on to find out which one it really was... or how many others were also worse (higher on the list) than what you wrote down.
27 April 2017 - I read this important and too little read or referenced work about 10 years ago. I had bought the book 10 or so years before that, but never made the time to read it, though I had used it for looking up certain facts about death counts of various regimes during those years of wanting to read it but not making the time.
This book is invaluable to clearly show the order of magnitude of the horrors of various specific regimes/and general types of governments in the 20th century.
If you only check out the table of contents ordered by decreasing total deaths (and the #s are there, staring you in the face@ or any of numerous charts in the beginning of the book of the top murderous regimes of the 20th century, you will easily see the pattern and the REAL story of what types of organization of society (socialism/statism/authoritarianism vs. real democratic republics(not the fake ones that just use that term)/capitalism/freedom, are to be feared, and which not.
The book's exact numbers can certainly be disputed, no question. But their order of magnitude and approximate ranking seems to hold across a very wide range of scholarly study:
61+ million - Soviet Union
35+ million - Communist (Red) China ("The Black Book of Communism" basically flipped these top two)
20+ million - Nazi (National Socialist Workers Party - Hitler's) Germany
10+ million - Nationalist/Socialist China
The fourth one was a big surprise to me. I had always thought that the Chiang Kai-shek (Nationalist) regime was more democratic/pro-freedom than socialist/murderous Red China - BIG eye-opener. But still - a piker compared to Mao's communists or the Soviet Union's mass murderers.
Also, I recommend you check out the book, if only to see what other murderous regimes are on the "Top 10" list.
Edited/updated: 10 March 2019, 2022-05-03 ...more
27 April 2017 - I read this important and too little read or referenced work about 10 years ago. I had bought the book 10 or so years before that, but never made the time to read it, though I had used it for looking up certain facts about death counts of various regimes during those years of wanting to read it but not making the time.
This book is invaluable to clearly show the order of magnitude of the horrors of various specific regimes/and general types of governments in the 20th century.
If you only check out the table of contents ordered by decreasing total deaths (and the #s are there, staring you in the face@ or any of numerous charts in the beginning of the book of the top murderous regimes of the 20th century, you will easily see the pattern and the REAL story of what types of organization of society (socialism/statism/authoritarianism vs. real democratic republics(not the fake ones that just use that term)/capitalism/freedom, are to be feared, and which not.
The book's exact numbers can certainly be disputed, no question. But their order of magnitude and approximate ranking seems to hold across a very wide range of scholarly study:
61+ million - Soviet Union
35+ million - Communist (Red) China ("The Black Book of Communism" basically flipped these top two)
20+ million - Nazi (National Socialist Workers Party - Hitler's) Germany
10+ million - Nationalist/Socialist China
The fourth one was a big surprise to me. I had always thought that the Chiang Kai-shek (Nationalist) regime was more democratic/pro-freedom than socialist/murderous Red China - BIG eye-opener. But still - a piker compared to Mao's communists or the Soviet Union's mass murderers.
Also, I recommend you check out the book, if only to see what other murderous regimes are on the "Top 10" list.
Edited/updated: 10 March 2019, 2022-05-03 ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 2007
Jan 2007
Apr 27, 2017
Paperback
1103227629
9781103227624
1103227629
4.29
112
1893
Feb 02, 2009
None
Notes are private!
0
not set
not set
Apr 27, 2017
Paperback
0945466137
9780945466130
0945466137
4.24
50
Jan 01, 1993
Jun 28, 1993
really liked it
I read the editor's main essay on the fall of the Soviet Union a couple years ago. I have skimmed some of the other essays but not found time to finis
I read the editor's main essay on the fall of the Soviet Union a couple years ago. I have skimmed some of the other essays but not found time to finish them.
Yuri Maltsev's essay was very good, quite perceptive, as well as full of first hand data and analysis from his unique perspective of being "the last defector" before the lifting of the Iron Curtain. ...more
Yuri Maltsev's essay was very good, quite perceptive, as well as full of first hand data and analysis from his unique perspective of being "the last defector" before the lifting of the Iron Curtain. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Jan 2015
Jan 2015
Apr 27, 2017
Paperback
B00D2B2VSS
3.80
65
Sep 24, 2006
May 27, 2013
really liked it
April 2017 - I have heard so much about HL Mencken over the years, and read so little, that listening to this audiobook was quite an awakening. The la
April 2017 - I have heard so much about HL Mencken over the years, and read so little, that listening to this audiobook was quite an awakening. The language of Mencken is pretty incredible - it was estimated that he had a vocabulary of over 25,000 words and if this book is any indication, I certainly believe it.
He has opinions about just about everything. I kind of expected to be a bit more in sympathy with his evaluations of more people and ideas than I turned out to be. But that is OK, I certainly learned a whole lot from him and about him.
The language - amazing. Must be heard to be believed.
Erudition - even more amazing. What had he NOT read? (or at least had a strong opinion of)
People/books/ideas I want to pursue because of what he wrote:
- Theodore Dreiser - "Jennie Gerhardt", "The Titan", "Hoosier Holiday" and possible others such as "Sister Carrie" that he did not rate highly, but I had always heard was important by Dreiser
- more on how WWI set off a firestorm of anti-free speech and bad government and social behavior
-
His assessment of various writers, politicians and others, or issues that I loved (not the people necessarily, but the assessment!):
- William Jennings Bryan - Mencken's short description nailed him!
- Woodrow Wilson - repeated references skewer him beautifully
- Mark Twain - well, partially - he was tougher on Twain that I would be, but he had read much more of Twain than I have.
- Joseph Conrad - way deeper and more detailed than I think I will ever go
- Presbyterian, Baptist & Methodist preachers around the turn of the century - perhaps he used a bit too much hyperbole here, and repeated it too often. Surprising that there was no mention of Lutherans!!! And his description of Catholicism and priests was, in contrast to the protestants, way too positive to suit me, though I grant some of the observations, for sure.
- Lynchings - fascinating (I take it with a grain of salt, but it is a new perspective to me)
- crowds - I share his views to a large extent
He seemed too tough on:
- Edgar Allen Poe
- O'Henry
- average folks, though he did grant them more positive characteristics from time to time, but was especially tough on rural folks and town life (he was a cosmopolitan city boy)
Or not tough enough on:
- slavery and Jim Crow
His definition of morality (God's Law as interpreted by pastors) and his juxtaposition of it vs. honor (keeping one's promises) was fascinating, new to me, and somewhat irritating, since I don't buy it all, by any means. But then I remember his hyperbole and I sigh. I certainly believe in honor, as he defined it, but I put that in my "morality" bucket, whereas I don't put much that his definition of morality encompasses in that bucket. He did not either, of course, hence his repeated, and repeated and repeated some more scorn for "morality." See my rub? I'm fine with morality, as long as it only includes honor/keeping one's promises and adds the stipulation that one should not initiate force or fraud against anyone. Those are the two key points. But since his short chapter on "lying" included murder as subservient to that sin (believe it or not, a quite logical distinction) perhaps my 2nd part to morality (complements to Richard Maybury) is just redundant to Mencken? I highly recommend that chapter on "Lying", in any case. Worth hearing/reading several times since it is so logically tight and at odds with so much of what we have been taught.
Warning - the style of one of the three works, The American Credo, is quite strange. It has a very long preface - really the meat of the book - then just lists 869 usually odd (quite short) items he had noticed that some Americans believe. Some of the ideas are true, but most just WEIRD, if not downright stupid. He coined the phrase booboisie or "Boobus Americanus" to describe the hordes of unthinking, lazy, loutish Americans. He described his style for the book as one of "descriptive sociological psychology."
He used the term "libertarian" or "libertarianism" at least a couple times. Pretty neat from a book in the 1920s.
Some qualities of his that turned me off, at least to some extent:
- his arrogance that his judgements, strident as they were, were always right,
- his pessimism and negative characteristics highlighted so much more than hope and other positive characteristics,
- He did not seem sympathetic to the idea that women were, or should be treated equally to men, though he did acknowledge a wide range of competencies and possibilities for both sexes, countenancing a significant overlap - and this was not a major part of the book, so I may not even be absolutely correct about this.
If you have read this far, you surely ought to get the recording, or e-book, if you can.
There are tons of extra little gems that you will certainly be delighted, shocked, repulsed or humored by, such as his observations on: sex and hair color, actors, misc. foibles, zoos, men's clubs, and many, many more. ...more
He has opinions about just about everything. I kind of expected to be a bit more in sympathy with his evaluations of more people and ideas than I turned out to be. But that is OK, I certainly learned a whole lot from him and about him.
The language - amazing. Must be heard to be believed.
Erudition - even more amazing. What had he NOT read? (or at least had a strong opinion of)
People/books/ideas I want to pursue because of what he wrote:
- Theodore Dreiser - "Jennie Gerhardt", "The Titan", "Hoosier Holiday" and possible others such as "Sister Carrie" that he did not rate highly, but I had always heard was important by Dreiser
- more on how WWI set off a firestorm of anti-free speech and bad government and social behavior
-
His assessment of various writers, politicians and others, or issues that I loved (not the people necessarily, but the assessment!):
- William Jennings Bryan - Mencken's short description nailed him!
- Woodrow Wilson - repeated references skewer him beautifully
- Mark Twain - well, partially - he was tougher on Twain that I would be, but he had read much more of Twain than I have.
- Joseph Conrad - way deeper and more detailed than I think I will ever go
- Presbyterian, Baptist & Methodist preachers around the turn of the century - perhaps he used a bit too much hyperbole here, and repeated it too often. Surprising that there was no mention of Lutherans!!! And his description of Catholicism and priests was, in contrast to the protestants, way too positive to suit me, though I grant some of the observations, for sure.
- Lynchings - fascinating (I take it with a grain of salt, but it is a new perspective to me)
- crowds - I share his views to a large extent
He seemed too tough on:
- Edgar Allen Poe
- O'Henry
- average folks, though he did grant them more positive characteristics from time to time, but was especially tough on rural folks and town life (he was a cosmopolitan city boy)
Or not tough enough on:
- slavery and Jim Crow
His definition of morality (God's Law as interpreted by pastors) and his juxtaposition of it vs. honor (keeping one's promises) was fascinating, new to me, and somewhat irritating, since I don't buy it all, by any means. But then I remember his hyperbole and I sigh. I certainly believe in honor, as he defined it, but I put that in my "morality" bucket, whereas I don't put much that his definition of morality encompasses in that bucket. He did not either, of course, hence his repeated, and repeated and repeated some more scorn for "morality." See my rub? I'm fine with morality, as long as it only includes honor/keeping one's promises and adds the stipulation that one should not initiate force or fraud against anyone. Those are the two key points. But since his short chapter on "lying" included murder as subservient to that sin (believe it or not, a quite logical distinction) perhaps my 2nd part to morality (complements to Richard Maybury) is just redundant to Mencken? I highly recommend that chapter on "Lying", in any case. Worth hearing/reading several times since it is so logically tight and at odds with so much of what we have been taught.
Warning - the style of one of the three works, The American Credo, is quite strange. It has a very long preface - really the meat of the book - then just lists 869 usually odd (quite short) items he had noticed that some Americans believe. Some of the ideas are true, but most just WEIRD, if not downright stupid. He coined the phrase booboisie or "Boobus Americanus" to describe the hordes of unthinking, lazy, loutish Americans. He described his style for the book as one of "descriptive sociological psychology."
He used the term "libertarian" or "libertarianism" at least a couple times. Pretty neat from a book in the 1920s.
Some qualities of his that turned me off, at least to some extent:
- his arrogance that his judgements, strident as they were, were always right,
- his pessimism and negative characteristics highlighted so much more than hope and other positive characteristics,
- He did not seem sympathetic to the idea that women were, or should be treated equally to men, though he did acknowledge a wide range of competencies and possibilities for both sexes, countenancing a significant overlap - and this was not a major part of the book, so I may not even be absolutely correct about this.
If you have read this far, you surely ought to get the recording, or e-book, if you can.
There are tons of extra little gems that you will certainly be delighted, shocked, repulsed or humored by, such as his observations on: sex and hair color, actors, misc. foibles, zoos, men's clubs, and many, many more. ...more
Notes are private!
1
Mar 2017
Apr 15, 2017
Apr 26, 2017
Kindle Edition
0440993717
9780440993711
0440993717
3.60
36,368
Sep 01, 1981
Mar 2005
None
Notes are private!
0
not set
not set
Apr 24, 2017
Mass Market Paperback
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