Rick Simonson

The Shock Doctrine 'Live'
September 24, 2008

A year ago right now, the big author speaking occasion on our calendar - the one that had us fielding inquiries from activist groups and independendent media people, that had people asking if there'd be space at the big off-site venue - was Naomi Klein coming to town for her then newly-published book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.

It was a great evening, quietly powerful in how Ms. Klein read and spoke with an understated eloquence and passion - understated  in a  way that there was room in what she said for you to think as you listened, for her words to genuinely sink in - not skip along on the surface, however agreeable the views were. The standing ovation she received at the end felt also as if it came from a deeper place than many audience responses, the already-converted choir doing a rah-rah, go-team thing.

The response Naomi Klein and her book received that evening and as the year since have passed, with The Shock Doctrine selling very well (for us) all the way through its hardcover life, came from seeing how much deep work went into the book. She immersed herself in the Milton Friedman economic ethos, went where view of us would have the stamina to 'tread,' then carefully, thoughtfully, thoroughly, traced this doctrine's application to people and their economies around the world over the last thirty-plus years.

The power of the book builds as the course of what happens becomes more current and, finally, closer to home: the policies enacted after 'shocks' came to the U.S. - after 9/11, after Hurricane Katrina.

Now in paperback from Picador, The Shock Doctrine stands as the best book I know for explaining the context in which the present bailout proposal being forwarded by President Bush, Treasury Secretary Paulson, and Fed head Bernanke comes from. Things are suddenly dire - action is needed immediately. Power to be ceded: give it to them, they know best: it is their assurance.

People at our store (Elliott Bay) seem to have grasped the timeliness - now - of this book. Though it's been a bestseller for us, it's gone up a few notches since the current scenario started unfolding.

Comments regarding this, and suggestions of other apt titles are welcomed. As informative as it is to be tracking various news sites and blogs during a day, it is so vital to get the larger picture and deeper background that a book like The Shock Doctrine imparts.

Posted by Rick Simonson on September 24, 2008 | Comments (0)