How did we get to be halfway through December already? It’s crazy, just crazy. I am ready for my holiday vacation, that’s for sure! We are expecting as much as 10 inches/25 cm of snow between tonight and noonish on Saturday. It remains arctic here so the snow will be light and fluffy and easier to shovel.
I have a huge pile of books that just now fell over on top of Waldo. Everyone is okay but Waldo is giving me the evil eye. Cats are so good at that. I have the Solstice menu planned for next week, the one day a year I cook. You’ll just have to wait for the reveal on that one but dessert is a vegan cheesecake. And after an email newsletter from the urban farm store that supplies us all things chicken, I am considering adding some lovely metal art to the Dashwood’s abode:
The books that tumbled onto Waldo are mostly all about neoliberalism and economics for some joyful holiday reading *snerk*. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions. Here is what I have piled up:
- Neoliberalism: a Very Short Introduction by Manfred B. Steger and Ravi K. Roy
- The Birth of Biopolitics by Michel Foucault. 1979 lectures delivered at the College de France
- Facts are Subversive: Political Writing from a Decade without a Name by Timothy Garton Ash
- The Establishment and How They Got That Way by Owen Jones
- Economics: The User’s Guide by Ha-Joon Chang. This one covers a bunch of different economic theories and looks quite useful
- Capitalism: A Ghost Story by Arundhati Roy. This one seems like more of an indictment but that’s ok, I like Roy, but maybe not the one to read for a foundational understanding.
- Powers and Prospects: Reflections on Human Nature and the Social Order by Noam Chomsky. Like Roy, probably one to read after a bit of general reading.
- Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang. Two books by Chang! But he seems to be really good and this one couldn’t be more on point with the current political climate if it tried.
- Living in the End Times by Slavoj Zizek. This one is about what global capitalism has brought us to. Pretty ominous and even the blurb is scary.
- Economix: How Our Economy Works (And Doesn’t Work) by Michael Goodwin. A graphic novel format to explain the history of economic theory!
- Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E.F. Schumacher. A nice counterpoint and alternative vision.
So there they all are. I am going to start with the Very Short Introduction for a whirlwind tour of the basics. Then I think I will go for the graphic book and then figure out what’s next after that.
Pingback: A Capitalism and Neoliberalism Book List | So Many Books | John Oliver Mason
Wow! Let us know when you get to the heavy stuff (and, yes, Zizek is scary!)
Pedro David
LikeLike
Will do Pedro David! I do plan on reading the Foucault and I will definitely let you know about that. And I will try and get to the Zizek too because once I have a better grasp of how we got to where we are, I think it’s a good idea to understand where we might be going.
Say, have you read Piketty’s Capital and is it worthwhile (such a fat book!)?
LikeLike
Ha! I love the metal work. What a book list – I shall definitely use that for inspiration. At the risk of adding to Waldo’s woes, I’m reading a brilliant book at the moment called “Postcapitalism” by Paul Mason. It’s incredibly interesting, and a brilliant introduction to Marxism, long-wave economics, and the impact the internet is having on capitalism.
LikeLike
Waldo and Dickens primer on Capitalism For Cats might be very enlightening and their insights on Neoliberalism (Global Purring) eagerly looked forward to. Good luck with the reading!
LikeLike
Ian, ha! If only neoliberalism were about global purring we’d all be a lot better off. We should just all bow to our cat overlords and beg for mercy 🙂
LikeLike
widget, the more I look at the sign though the more the rooster’s feet freak me out because they look kind of like hands! Thanks for the tip on the Mason book. I have added it to my library list!
LikeLike
Understanding capitalism and how economies work is one of the keys to understanding the world. Hence these books look interesting and important.
Your list looks like it contains a lot of diverse views. That is a very good thing.
LikeLike
Brian Joseph, sadly, I think you are right. I have been trying to avoid anything more than a basic understanding of it but I think those days are about to end. I tried for diversity though I stayed clear of Thomas Friedman and his ilk since I think people like him are part of the problem.
LikeLike
Great list and happy reading! 😀 I found the Roy book really, would also rec WOC criticism cause honestly the dude take on capitalism and neoliberalism is um lacking.
LikeLike
Thanks Bina! I have read Roy before and do like her very much. She offers a great perspective and critique. She’s not so great though at providing a lot of historical and theoretical background so that is something I am working on. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, enjoy the background reading!📚😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
The books toppled over? Is this same pile on your table next to your bed, which you were planning to read through the year and check them off your list? Just asking! LOL! I found a lot of interesting things to think about in Foucault and Chomsky, especially the former who is I feel quite ground breaking even if you do not agree with him all the way! Roy…well I will let you decide! Should I send you a Agatha Christie or something as a present for light reading. Just pointing out that this is a season of joy!! Waiting for you menu plan to get some more foodie hits on my menu!! Have oodles of fun!
LikeLike
cirtnecce, heh this is a new pile! It is sitting on the corner of my reading chaise kind of leaning against a pillow and Waldo made the mistake of getting too close 🙂 Chomsky is great, I have read him before and I have read Roy too who I also like. Both of them have definite opinions with which I tend to agree, but it is also good to get many viewpoints so I can form a good foundation for myself. Heh, thanks for the offer of Christie! I do have some lighter reading planned too otherwise I think my head might explode!
Part of Solstice dinner involves puff pastry and we couldn’t find any pre-made so it appears I will be learning how to make it from scratch. This could go brilliantly or be a complete disaster!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are making puff pastry??!!! How awesome are you!! I am sure it will be great!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to hear your many conclusions once you have read all these books! Economics and capitalism is one of those huge areas (Israel/Palestine situation is another one) where I feel like I don’t know anything about it and I also feel too daunted to even begin reading about it. So I’m going to depend on you to help me find the best books to introduce me to the field and become smarter about it.
LikeLike
Jenny, we’ll see how it goes! I just hope my head doesn’t explode or it all gets so depressing I spiral into despair. I have some lighter reading on hand as antidote just in case! Will definitely be sure to post as I learn new things!
LikeLike
Looks like an interesting list–and sadly these days–a useful one, too. I look forward to hearing which of these is really worth taking a peek at!
LikeLike
Danielle, economics is something I never really wanted to know about but it keeps popping up these days in all kinds of contexts and has become unavoidable. Sigh.
LikeLike