Rating: 
Summary: finally one to bind them all...
Review: as an environmentalist, i could see that big corporations were behind much of the political pressure to overexploit our natural resources. as a friend of people interested in international human rights and labor law, i knew that big business was somehow involved. however, it was not until i read naomi klein's "no logo" that i understood how these disparate movements have found a common enemy, thus binding them together in their battle against evil. overdramatic? perhaps. but "no logo" is shockingly level-headed. this is not a melodrama like "fast food nation", but a carefully researched and well-constructed book about how big corporations have taken away our public spaces and public voices. the writing is clear and klein's story carries its momentum all the way to the bibliography. is there finger pointing? you bet. but klein goes beyond the usual hand-wringing theatrics, and actually documents campaigns that have succeeded in reforming some unethical business practices. if you're a nader fan, then this good citizenship stuff is old hat. but even if you thought that bush stole the show from pat buchanan, you should read this book. it appeals to our common humanity and offers a dose of reality prozac to pull us out of the collective helplessness.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tale of MNC Domination
Review: Whether you're a high schooler just taking interest in the plight of today's Multinational Corporations, or a member of the black-bloc fighting the front lines in Quebec City, this book is a must read. Klein takes aim at the brand phenomenon by dividing her book into four effective parts; NO SPACE, NO CHOICE, NO JOBS, and NO LOGO, going deep into the brief, yet storied history of the brand phenomenon, telling us why "superbrand" corporations dominate our economy today. Klein has basically taken everything you need to know about the anti-corporate movement, sprinkled it with some personal experience and great writing style, and has jammed it into one book that needs to be read by anyone even slightly concerned with the growing dominance of today's Multinational Corporations. While the book is quite lengthy and tends to get quite extensive in terms of detail, her anecdotal use is magnificent. The use of superbrand corporations in those anecdotes, such as McDonalds, Wal-Mart and Nike will keep the average reader interested, instead of the theory x/theory y business which I tend to find quite tedious to read. It will be well worth it to invest your time in reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Read This Book
Review: I was handed this book by are, read it, was blown away and haven't seen it since. It goes around to people we know and they all come back raving about it. A brilliant read on what corprate culture has done to children, consumers, and the whole entire world.
Rating: 
Summary: Big Brother vs The Mommy State
Review: This book is certainly a fascinating read, provocative, and stimulating. Those factors in and of themselves make it worth reading, because in the least, it will challenge the reader (as it did with me) to re-evaluate his or her positions on a whole range of issues. This is true even if the reader ultimately rejects some, or all, of the author's arguments. However, I did find Klein's ability to trip over herself in an attempt to be politically correct, as well as her incessant middle-class, white guilt to be a bit much at times, and she presented a very one-sided argument. Klein paints a stark picture of the way consumerism runs, and if not for the last few chapters, it would be easy to come away from this book completely depressed and disillusioned with the human situation. Ultimately though, I still came away from this book with discomfort. I think this stemmed not from the corporate activity. I actually found Phil Knight to be the real Machiavellian hero of this book due to his deep and amusing understanding of human nature. My discomfort came from the glaring contradiction in Klein's philosophical and political ideologies. In the most basic form, Klein seems to dislike globalisation because it essentially impinges on the democratic freedoms of individuals. I agree to that extent (although it also does a lot of good for people). Personally, I think the form of globalisation portrayed in her book is an abomination. The situations described at all stages of the retail industry do seem cripple and stifle individual liberties, although in certain stages, people do have more of an avenue out. Also, not to be discussed here, but Klein cleverly side steps the entire issue that the plight of the third world may not be entirely the fault of colonialism and neo-colonialism, but based on anachronistic and stagnant cultural, religious and philosophical ideals and the tacit acceptance in these and corrupt political systems. That aside though, I'm not justifying the ugly face of globalisation. It is from here that we disagree though. Firstly, her continuous trumpeting of representative democracy seems to miss a couple of things. Firstly, representative democracy is like three wolves and a sheep deciding what is for dinner (or perhaps even three sheep and a wolf). By definition, it must be about the sacrifice of individual liberties to the will of the majority. I'm neither a wolf nor a sheep, so it certainly isn't to my benefit. That aside though, there is a parallel between this and the economics she describes. Those with less wealth have less economic representation than those with more, in much the same way as three wolves have more say as to the menu than one sheep. If Klein is to talk about true freedom, then she shouldn't dismiss corporations, yet advocate states. She loves the idea of government though (so long as it's "nice"). From my reading of her book, Klein seems to hate the intrusive and draconian arm of the multi-nationals, yet has no problem with the intrusive and draconian arm of governments in a whole range of areas ranging from political correctness, labour laws, protectionism, taxation, social security, and a whole grab bag of perennial libertarian favourite annoyances. After all, whether a corporation or a government dictates my life, if the decisions are not mine, what is the difference? The difference, of course, is that Klein (and the left generally) doesn't see socialistic governments as intrusive or draconian. They're moral of course! That is the whole point though- it's all about personal responsibility, and choice (ironically). I'm certainly no fan of Orwellian corporations and I'm no walking billboard (although, there's a fair degree of hypocritical, middle-class existence involved by patronising some corporations on a daily basis). Legislation and the tyranny of the utilitarian majority are no alternatives though, at least not if freedom is the aim. If Klein does value every person as capable of taking charge of his or her own life, then this must surely extend to all facets of an individual's life. Every individual should take charge of his or her own economics, social interactions and morality (often all in the one instance). Rights go with responsibilities though. The last thing we need is to be governed. We're not little kids in need of a governess. Of course though, I think most people really don't want individual freedom, and so whether it's church, state or corporation/logo, people need (and want) to give themselves over. For those of us who want freedom, the Mommy State is not an improvement on Big Brother, and that's why I found Klein's book ultimately unfulfilling.
Rating:
Summary: Decolonize your mind. Become Canadian(tm)
Review: OK, if you've read any of the other reviews here or on other sites, you've got the idea of what No Logo is about...all I'll say is that Klein connects the dots between corporate greed that feeds on our lack of identity and sells us one, the macroeconomics of free trade and the subsequent exportation of jobs, the exploitation of overseas workers in Dickensian conditions, the conversion of an entire generation of college grads to temp slaves....and the colonization of our cities and our minds with Brands(tm). Much as Douglas Coupland's earlier Shampoo Planet brought branding to the forefront by pointing out every trademarked word in everyday speech with ©, ™ and ® symbols...I guess it takes a Canadian of a certain age to notice this sort of thing- growing up just on the edge of our hyperbranded world, we evolved in more suspicious times, and got better antibodies to that sort of psychic infection. ...it rings true because it is happening everywhere. On the commercially successful, mildly trendy shopping street near me, formerly independent restaurants have converted to franchises, or were forced out of business by chain competitors opening right next door. The only non-chain spaces left are the niche markets: the natural-foods store, the ceramics café, the Ethiopian restaurant, the Belgian mussels place. Downtown, a popular science fiction bookstore/hangout that had a loyal following closed down because the big chains- Indigo and Chapters- could sell books well below what the indie store's cost was. But the chains are staffed with temp slaves; I doubt there will be lively debates about Heinlein around the cash register at the brightly-lit, maple-floored store where they are happy to take your money, but no-one's paid quite well enough to really care if you come back or not.... And I'm a university graduate, who's had a brief corporate career, but now I'm just another temp like everyone else. So this book rings especially true for me at the moment. Of course, these complaints seem rather trivial compared to what workers must endure elsewhere, as documented in No Logo. Young girls are literally overworked to death for the sake of fashion or cheap computers or whatever Western consumer whim we feel we must indulge. If anything, this book reinforces the notion of choice; but also that of responsibility. Personal responsibility, in choosing not to purchase sweatshop products whenever possible; community responsibility, in not allowing greed to despoil the places where we live; and corporate responsibility--there can be no excuse, no sophistry or spin-doctoring anymore for companies that deal with suppliers that mistreat and abuse their workforce, or for governments that permit this sort of exploitation. These are hard choices. It may mean doing without, or possibly paying more sometimes, for consumer goods. But as the Internet brought back letter-writing, maybe the anti-sweatshop crusade will teach us all how to sew, and use sergers and overlock machines....
Rating:
Summary: There's a better option in this vein
Review: This is the famous polemic written by a young Canadian journalist that gelled, if not started the anti-globalization movement. I have been on a globalization reading 'kick' this year, and I highly recommend that instead of this book, which is mostly negative about the impact of brands, multinationals, and globalization, Thomas Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree. The Lexus and the Olive Tree is much more objective, and addresses the positives as well as the backlash against globalization. Why is this important? If you're of the activist bent, he explains many successful examples of small concerns empowering themselves using the very same globalization to mobilize for a cause, e.g., to bring about the anti-land mine treaty. That, not this book is the book you should read to understand the current world.
Rating:
Summary: Kids and Logos
Review: Klein's book is very well researched. NO LOGO proposes that "LOGO consumer culture" is not a benign, unbiased social environment in which consumers buy freely what they value, based on their own ideas. People are influenced by the media, like it or not. Klein proposes that because we are so involved in buying/selling/accumulating/ and defining ourselves based on brand names and products (and all the feelings/values that come along with them), that we overlook the human cost economically and socially. Her anger at this passive/aggressive social structure is well founded, in my opinion. NO LOGO is trying to focus on observable consequences of a LOGO based culture. I see them everyday in my work so I found her book very engaging.
I teach middle school and see daily the effects of an advertising-saturated cultural environment. I see students whose cultural experience is defined by what they see on TV, what commercials (which would include music videos) advertise and make attractive. Many parents work long hours, so kids are left to define for themselves who they are and how their culture/society works. As NO LOGO points out, it is that advertising at so-called "tweeners" that has kids (girls specifically) 8,9, and 10 years old dressing like they are in high school. This reprehensable sexualization of todays children is directly the responsibility of advertisers on television and marketers of music. It is also a grim comment about many of today's parents that they allow their children to dress and behave in these ways. But, because of this sexy, our product = beauty/happiness media world, it is extremely difficult not to give in. The resonsbility for what goes out on the airwaves is primarily the advertisers/corporate responsibility, as well as the parents, but not the other way around.
NO LOGO asks us to recognize the consequences of perpetuating an "everything can be bought" society. Kids are learners, not definers of their world. Kids learn what the adult world teaches them. As children's minds are sold to the highest bidder, the stakes of this delusion grow more grave. Naomi Klein would probably agree that corporations are not all inherently evil or destructive. It's a matter of scale. Klein asks that we all hold corporations accountable for their actions. It is hardly a debatable point. I applaude Klein's work trying to raise consciousness of what the real consequences of a LOGO culture are.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing read about our consumer culture
Review: This book is more than about how 'brand bullies' do their best to convince people that spending more money on a product automatically equals quality and status. (which it doesn't when you know how it's made) It is also about a fundamental changing attitude in industry (such as it is) about how goods should be made and marketed. These changes in attitude have had a direct impact on our lifestyle, choices and urban landscape. The logic that "if we get other people to make the goods (dirt cheap contractors overseas) and we only sell the product and reap in the profits" doesn't sit well with keeping people employed in the home market with enough money to buy the goods on a sustainable basis. This book concentrates on the garment and fast food industries, but take a walk down your local shopping centre and it's easy to see the things the author is talking about. I've personally noticed small business being swamped by malls that force the rent to high for them to continue in business and as a result if you are not a chain brand you aren't in a mall. There's also the dramatic expansion of the predominatley american/international chain food brands taking up more of the urban landscape and eroding local culture. It's been sad to watch. This book is essentially a description of consumer and economic rationalisation gone mad, where the dollar means more than the community and building a better life for us all on a long term basis is not really on the agenda. If you found this book of interest you may also find "daughters of the Pacific" by Zohl de Ishtar of interest, as it covers the economic and social consequences of eroding culture in the interests of money etc.
Rating:
Summary: A great read, a wonderful find
Review: Superb, powerful impact, well written, hard to put down. A truly important book discussing today's society and the corrosive impact we all knew existed, but couldn't describe. Klein does - extremely well. She has the insider's knowledge, the perspective of one not infected, and the intellectual analysis which lets us mere mortals peek into the steel souls and hearts of today's boardrooms and corporate cabals. A book worth having. Don't lend it out! it will grow legs and disappear!
Rating:
Summary: A book that should be more widely read
Review: Despite having become modestly dated in its details (a updated edition or follow-up work would be welcomed), Naomi Klein's book No Logo remains an important work about the blurring boundaries between global business and global culture. Since its publication, much of the globalization furor directed at Kathy Lee, McDonald's, Nike, Shell Oil, Pepsi, and others has died down or been redirected at health, local impact (e.g., Wal-Mart stores) and other important but ancillary issues (take, for example, the movie Super Size Me). The fact that the noise has subsided does not, however, mean that the problems Ms. Klein cites have disappeared. More likely, the companies subjected to such scathing public rebuke have better learned how to play the game, managing their PR more effectively and hiding further and further behind layers of subsidiaries, contractors, sub-contractors, and locked factory gates. No Logo is a significant work, deserving to be much better known than it is. American consumers -- that is, all of us -- need to reach a much better understanding of how brand management has evolved into culture management, how Starbucks and Nike and Gap and The Body Shop and so many other companies are infiltrating our subconscious and controlling our cultural dialogues. No Logo still serves as an eye-opener for those who have been spending so much time at the mall that they have not yet seen what is going on around them. Sadly, No Logo is not the most approachable of books for the general populace. It is over-long and over-detailed, bogging down in topics that are probably exciting to radical activists (like billboard jamming) but are sleep-inducing to most readers. Like many people who are involved in activism, Klein sometimes loses the forest for the trees, giving us so much insider detail about causes and people we don't know that we lose interest in, and attention to, her real message. My rating of only four stars, while certainly positive, derives from Klein's tendency to preach too much to the converted and spend too little time educating the as-yet unconverted. The book is divided into four sections: No Space, No Choice, No Jobs, and No Logo. The first two sections, encompassing the first eight chapters, are well worth the price of the book by themselves. Readers will come to a new understanding of how the public spaces around them are being manipulated by mega-corporate messaging, how those corporations hide behind a public face of social consciousness, and how violently they respond when anyone seeks to question their self-proclaimed high moral ground. I would recommend these eight chapters as required reading for every third- or fourth-year high school student in America. Chapter 16, "A Tale of Three Logos," is also a fascinating account of less than admirable behavior on the parts of Nike, Shell, and McDonald's, definitely worth reading. I can only hope that Ms. Klein will someday revisit her subject matter again, perhaps to publish a more streamlined and updated version that will reach a wider audience. She deserves the audience, and the American public needs to hear her voice. Despite her understandable tendency toward one-sidedness (perhaps necessary in this case to avoid being drowned out by Nike and McDonald's commercials and Starbucks ads), Naomi Klein's No Logo is an important book that all consuming Americans should read.
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