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Summary: The Indonesian poster's claims are suspicious at the least..
Review: Especially considering the fact many people in that and neighbouring countries have been at the root of the anti-globalization movements. The most absurd line these ruthless corporations and their sympathizers throw out is that they're actually humanitarians, kindly helping these poor people survive with their high wages. They'll continually tell you (and perhaps believe) that those raising claims against them are poorly informed, overreactionary, or just plain stupid. This of course includes condemning similar complaints from well respected and established human rights watch dog groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch among others. For the work that is moved over seas, these companies lose the problems with labor unions and the local laws in western nations. They also have no pesky minimum wage laws to deal with and get away with paying people absurdly low wages to produce goods they'll NEVER be able to afford to buy themselves (unless the kind bosses decide to give some workers a free pair of shoes for a yearly bonus!) Worker alienation on steroids. Countries don't need the invasion of American corporations and factories, they need fair trade and support. They instead get bullyed around and often put in positions of tremendous debt to western/"global" financial institutions requiring them to have to sell their land, workers, and resources just to pay off the debts and the interest rates. And of course they'll have to use money gathered from taxes to pay of debts as well...no more public services here! So everyone suffers except those in power. This has nothing to do with the world being born into a natural state of eternal starvation in which the US and it's great, humanitarian companies are curing. It has to do with sabotage, greed, and lies. Back at home we see an increase in service, fast food, and buy-things-here type businesses as all of those who once worked with decent wages and belonged to some trade union in the jobs now moved overseas, are now free and desparate to work in humiliating and miserable bottom-rung-of-the-ladder type jobs. They of course have no union support now (well, there is the IWW which many workers are are unaware of unfortunately), and these jobs often start off with low pay and little gaurantee of serious wage increases. Those in power will hope you're dumb enough to believe that no nation in the world is capable of handling itself except the western capitalist nations. They want you to believe our interference is neccessary for their survival and not the reason of their current turmoil. Why would they not want you convinced of such things? It is in their best financial interests to make the greatest profits possible. There is already a good deal of great reviews on here. My comment is an addition to the topics discussed in the book and a response to a serious claim made by a previous "reviewer."
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Summary: Nike is posing
Review: The references to Nike in this book has caused great concern by managing employees of the company.The reviewer who has posted a prior comment may be from Nike, as he make the statement "don't buy this book." This is a Nike employee posing as an honest reviewer.
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Summary: Only half the story is told here
Review: I currently work for a competitor of Nike, but we share many of the same factories for our products. I can tell you that this book is extremely sloppy with the facts and is full of inaccurracies and false conclusions based on them. Probably one of the more frequent of these is her pointing out the (apparent) "discrepancy" between the wages earned by these workers and the cost of the shoes at retail in the U.S. The amount these people earn is completely in line with what the income levels are in these developing countries. Furthermore, most of them get housing, meals, health care and other benefits included - which considering the current economic conditions in Asia (deflation, hyper inflation, etc) are probably even more valuable than the base wage itself. But perhaps the most glaring fact she conveniently omitted is that the labor is only one of so many costs associated with the life of the shoe - materials, transporting them overseas and insuring them, payments to the factory owners (their profit), storage costs here and overseas, distribution costs, and of course all the administrative costs are significantly greater than the labor of the shoe. This is true in any industry. So the people who built your car made a combined wage of only $600 and yet you paid $35,000 for it? Isn't that outrageous? Of course not. Don't bother buying this book. It's just jumping on the bandwagon of the current hot trend to demonize the US companies who "exploit" overseas labor. You're not getting the full picture. I see these people every day here in Indonesia. They are so grateful they have good jobs in these factories. To them, the recent "concern" we spoiled Americans seem to have in their "plight" is a curiosity.
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Summary: Inspiring! Handbook for the new anti-globalization movement
Review: Naomi Klein has written a well-researched, comprehensive overview of the New World Order, dominated by brands like Nike, Starbucks and McDonalds. Backed by detailed statistics as well as onsite reporting, she captures the essence of the pervasive brand-building pushed globally by the transnationals, including the very real human and environmental costs. What I really appreciated was her extensive coverage of the growing resistance to the "brand bullies" in so many different forms. I read most of this while in Washington DC recently protesting the IMF and World Bank (A16). As a long-time activist as well as historian, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in educating themselves about globalization-related issues.
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Summary: Beyond Amazing! A Jammer's Bible
Review: This is one of my favorite books of all time. It exposes so much and is intriging, gripping, and powerful throughout. I loved it. It changes your views on everything you knew was real and right. I am blown away. I have totally different views of everything - including Amazon. Please excuse me while I read this book over and over.
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Summary: A Guideline for Shopping With Conscience
Review: This book changed the way I think about my environment. I notice every single billboards, and advertisements now. It even gave me the urge to deface some big chain conglomerates that put my favorite bookstores and record stores out of business. This book is quite insightful, especially with the way the chapters are laid out. It walks the reader through the process of advertisements, buying, as well as the day in the life of garment/shoe workers. It made me aware about the impact of every single purchases I make, and the ripple effect it creates. This ranks among the most important books I've ever read.
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Summary: Read the tale of three logos
Review: The chapter that describes protest actions against McDonalds, Nike and Shell will leave you absolutedly outraged at the arrogance of multi-national corporations. Klein shows the disassociation between brands and manufacture of products has lead to hideous abuses of the environment, workers and freedom of speech, including outright corporate-sponsored murder to silence critics. After reading this book you will feel ashamed to wear clothing that displays brand names, ashamed to shop at branded stores and ashamed to eat at branded restaurants. You will understand why modern anarchists are attacking seeminly harmless franchise outlets. Klein shows that the price you are really paying for cheaper prices and convenience is your rights as a citizen in a democracy.
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Summary: Just try not to be a victim of the "brand bullies"!
Review: Nike, McDonalds, Wal-Mart, et al. want to become the new governments, and Naomi Klein tells us just how they are going about it: buying "exclusives" in schools and universities for big money, tailoring elementary school curriculums that promote not just consumerism but outright greed, all while Third World children make the goods under inhumane conditions. Klein exposes the insidious and not so insidious methods that keep us coming back for more. Far more than an expose', it's a scary trip inside the deluded minds of the corporate giants. Tragic and yet often laugh-out-loud funny, "No Logo" isn't for the easily offended, but if you are willing to take the risk, Klein succeeds brilliantly at entertaining as well as enlightening all of us victims of the bullies. I found it almost impossible to put down despite its length. Here's hoping her next book is a follow-up of this one!
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Summary: A well-balanced treatment of culture jamming
Review: I'm just finishing this book and while reading it, I've been very impressed by Naomi Klein's very balanced treatment of culture jamming amidst the incredible growth in "branding" during the 1990s. She steers clear of using a lot of consultant-speak that permeate other contemporary media critiques (there is no discussion of dataspheres and meta-memes here) nor does she come off as some perma-activist who ascribes all of the worlds ills to international capitalism. She describes the branding phenomena and explains lucidly why it tends to go overboard and what the very real result on peoples lives are. This books is a GREAT read and is recommended to anyone whose heart sinks when they see another Starbucks open on their street or can't stand to watch another obnoxious GAP commercial.
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Summary: Well researched and thought provoking
Review: This book is the perfect combination of observation and research well blended to yield a readable text. While I find myself less aggressively anti-brand, I think the author is very fair in her assessment of current brand ubiquidom. I found her thoughts on how marketers utilize white fetization of the black gangster life and a inner city desire for extreme upper class sports such as sailing especially interesting. This book is a must read for those interested in marketing and the current state of pop culture.
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