Library books
Well it's been just over a year since my last post. Maybe that's about right for me, or maybe there is some fundamental and general constant that governs these things - after all that's the frequency of the much maligned Christmas 'round-robin'- although I have managed to start a couple of posts, but didn't get them into good enough shape to make it out of draft form. Anyway, I digress already...
I actually want to write about some books I've been reading - from the library of course - the first of which is The Selfish Capitalist by Oliver James. It is a companion to another book of his that I read a while ago, called Affluenza and in fact covers the same ground but with references to academic work rather than case studies of individuals, so in the former you get some quantitative evidence to support what he is saying, whereas in the latter you just have to take his word for it - which allows him to write in a more accessible fashion.
Take his word for what you may ask?! Well, it is James' assertion that the form of capitalism we have in the English speaking western nations is ruining our lives and leading to widespread 'distress' as James puts it, which basically covers everything from stress to depression to suicide. None of what he says really came as news to me, but he does put the case in a well ordered and interesting (if voyeuristic in Affluenza) way, and he does confirm a lot of what I take for granted as common-sense (though of course, it's really not so common)
The essential point he makes is that the stimulation of consumption is the driver of our economy and that it is taken as a given by most people that a growing economy is a good thing, ergo, that consumption is a good thing. He goes on to point out though that the process is out of control, that the public are bombarded with marketing messages and that this leads people to have unachievable aspirations causing them distress.
So what good is all this? Probably, if you are bothering to read my blog then you are already thinking along the same lines as James anyway. If you're a waverer, then maybe reading his book will help you to see that it is OK not to go along with societal norms. If you're already a convert and care about the rest of society, buy the book, remember how he uses some of the arguments for use in future discussions, then pass it on to someone who you don't think would read it except on your recomendation.
Another book I've just read is Pratt a Manger by David Nobbs which is an easy going novel about a late middle-aged chef with a complicated family life who becomes a celebrity. Strangley I would say that there are as many lessons to be learned from this book as there are from the James books, but they come from the way Nobbs has thought through and illustrated the consequences of the actions of his protagonists. The book also contains a gag that really (...no, really...) did make me LOL - WARNING SPOILER COMING - when one of the characters outlined his idea for a gay version of Dad's Army, with the inevitable catch-phrase "They do like it up 'em"
Finally, I am now reading The Fight For Fordhall Farm which shows yet another example of how capitalism can ruin lives. In this case third generation farmers were being evicted from their organic farm because the land had become so financially valuable that the owner wanted to sell out to developers for a huge profit rather than continue to take a moderate rent. Fortunately, in this case, the good guys won. More inspirational stuff.
I actually want to write about some books I've been reading - from the library of course - the first of which is The Selfish Capitalist by Oliver James. It is a companion to another book of his that I read a while ago, called Affluenza and in fact covers the same ground but with references to academic work rather than case studies of individuals, so in the former you get some quantitative evidence to support what he is saying, whereas in the latter you just have to take his word for it - which allows him to write in a more accessible fashion.
Take his word for what you may ask?! Well, it is James' assertion that the form of capitalism we have in the English speaking western nations is ruining our lives and leading to widespread 'distress' as James puts it, which basically covers everything from stress to depression to suicide. None of what he says really came as news to me, but he does put the case in a well ordered and interesting (if voyeuristic in Affluenza) way, and he does confirm a lot of what I take for granted as common-sense (though of course, it's really not so common)
The essential point he makes is that the stimulation of consumption is the driver of our economy and that it is taken as a given by most people that a growing economy is a good thing, ergo, that consumption is a good thing. He goes on to point out though that the process is out of control, that the public are bombarded with marketing messages and that this leads people to have unachievable aspirations causing them distress.
So what good is all this? Probably, if you are bothering to read my blog then you are already thinking along the same lines as James anyway. If you're a waverer, then maybe reading his book will help you to see that it is OK not to go along with societal norms. If you're already a convert and care about the rest of society, buy the book, remember how he uses some of the arguments for use in future discussions, then pass it on to someone who you don't think would read it except on your recomendation.
Another book I've just read is Pratt a Manger by David Nobbs which is an easy going novel about a late middle-aged chef with a complicated family life who becomes a celebrity. Strangley I would say that there are as many lessons to be learned from this book as there are from the James books, but they come from the way Nobbs has thought through and illustrated the consequences of the actions of his protagonists. The book also contains a gag that really (...no, really...) did make me LOL - WARNING SPOILER COMING - when one of the characters outlined his idea for a gay version of Dad's Army, with the inevitable catch-phrase "They do like it up 'em"
Finally, I am now reading The Fight For Fordhall Farm which shows yet another example of how capitalism can ruin lives. In this case third generation farmers were being evicted from their organic farm because the land had become so financially valuable that the owner wanted to sell out to developers for a huge profit rather than continue to take a moderate rent. Fortunately, in this case, the good guys won. More inspirational stuff.
posted by Jon Brooke at 9:37 pm
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