Fulminata reviewed The value of nothing by Raj Patel
Review of 'The value of nothing' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
An interesting deconstruction of the Capitalist idea that the markets are a cure-all elixir that can fix anything.
The author spends most of the book pointing out instances where markets have failed, and suggests examples where modern commons have been more successful. He does not make the mistake of suggesting that all markets should be replaced with commons, but rather suggests that different problems require different solutions.
My favorite quote from the book:
"There are two novels that can transform a bookish fourteen-year-old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish daydream that can lead to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood in which large chunks of the day are spent inventing ways to make real life more like a fantasy novel. The other is a book about orcs."
