The Shock Doctrine
by Naomi Klein · first published 2007
36% recommend51% neutral13% critical
Why HN recommends it
Well-referenced account of how crises and disasters were used to push through free-market policies, with examples from Chile, the USSR and elsewhere; suits readers wanting a critical view of Chicago-school economics.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism is a 2007 book by the Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein. In the book, Klein argues that neoliberal free market policies (as advocated by the economist Milton Friedman) have risen to prominence in some developed countries because of a deliberate strategy of "shock therapy". This centers on the exploitation of national crises (disasters or upheavals) to establish controversial and questionable policies, while citizens are too distracted (emotionally and physically) to engage and develop an adequate response, and resist effecti
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…the country. As a result, according to the Rettig Commission, approximately 3,000 people are known to have been killed, 27,000[1] were incarcerated and in a great many cases tortured." [1] Reading "The Shock doctrine" by Naomi Klein opened my eyes. She would disagree with you on the "halfway-to-Cuba socialism": "As for the argument that Friedmanite policies are the reason Chileans live in "houses of brick" instead…
on “The plot against France” ↗…disrespect was 'dealt with' in various arguably really rather negative ways. I am certain that corruption also remained a problem throughout. For references and discussion of this phenomenon, see The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0141024534/
on “What a Rotten World It Can Be: Report Says Three-Fourths of World Is Corrupt” ↗Then I'd suggest The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. That book is reference city.
on “War Is a Racket by General Smedley D. Butler (1933)” ↗The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein and The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes were both great.
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗…modern networking. I was already familiar with the basics of the OSI stack, but this explained a lot of newer ideas, optimizations, and HTTP2. Really comprehensive guide to how the internet works. 3: The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein): A history of how the CIA has shot down democratic regimes to enforce small-government-free-market policy in developing countries when these policies are rejected in polls. Explains a lot…
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗I'm surprised no one has commented on this thread that The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein (leaving her strong political leanings aside) provides an excellent overview of the shock therapy as it was applied to the USSR and other nations. It was by far the most disturbing book…
on “Gorbachev: Perestroika Lost” ↗Never said the premise was wrong; rather the author substitutes a thorough explanation on how and why this stuff happened with humblebragging. For Indonesia, The Shock Doctrine goes into much a much more detailed discussion of the IMF bailout.
on “Japan's ninjas heading for extinction” ↗…them have been non-fiction. Using this year to learn things outside of technology has been time very well spent for me. Here are some of my top books this year. - Currency Wars, James Rickards - The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein - What Technology Wants, Kevin Kelly - The Art Of Happiness, Dalai Lama - Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen - The Four Agreements, Miguel Ruiz - Man's Search For Meaning, Viktor…
on “Ask HN: book suggestions in non-tech fields (e.g. psychology, philosophy…)” ↗Not just Hitler. Naomi Klein (of No Logo fame) wrote an excellent book about it, called The Shock Doctrine [1]. She lists numerous examples in the last 50 or so years how convenient, but shocking events were used as excuses to implement controversial laws, that often either limited freedoms or made the life…
on “First US appeals court hears argument to shut down NSA database” ↗…support dictators! Free market principles at their finest!" - My made up quote for Milton Friedman, Jack Lew, and all the rest of those cronies. Anyways, I'm at work, so I can't look up sources, but "Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein is a great read about this sort of thing.
on “Greece to Default on $1.73B IMF Payment” ↗Ever read "The Shock Doctrine"? It lays out how the rich cause and exploit catastrophe to consolidate and strengthen their holdings. https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Doctrine-Rise-Disaster-Capitali...
on “Leaked Brexit Document Predicts 'Catastrophic Collapse' of U.K. Infrastructure” ↗Read The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. It basically lays out the idea that there are groups with legislation like this already prepared just waiting for an opportunity to get it pushed through. It's pretty shitty behaviour…
on “FBI releases 9/11 investigation document that scrutinized Saudis” ↗Shock Doctrine is the only explanation of 9/11 the Documentary: https://youtu.be/B3B5qt6gsxY And the book by Naomi Klein https://naomiklein.org/the-shock-doctrine/
on “Newly published 9/11 footage [video]” ↗Quite some overlap with others here, but to add some of my own favorites: - The Shock Doctrine by N. Klein - The Anarchist Banker by F. Pessoa - Collapse by J. Diamond - Thinking, Fast and Slow by D. Kahneman - a few books by Noam Chomsky EDIT: nearly forgot: - Brave New World by A. Huxley
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗Shameful way to capitalize on the recent Westminster attack. See Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine" for more.
on “UK Home Secretary says encryption on messaging services is unacceptable” ↗