The Capitalism Papers: Fatal Flaws of an Obsolete System

If you have read other books about capitalism and its impact on the environment, much of what this author talks about is not new. But he is one of the few writers who actually names the system of capitalism, instead of just calling it the “free market”. The Capitalism Papers is a very cogent analysis of the impact of capitalism on the environment and the deep class divide the causes. The author provides adequate evidence for why capitalism is indeed an "obsolete system."In the last chapter of the book, he devotes some recommendations for a mixed capitalist economy, but I think ultimately we need to name that system as well, because once you start nationalizing and privatizing the means of production, you are basically setting up a socialist economic system. And quite frankly there's nothing wrong with that. We need to study the mistakes of applied socialism and other countries, and explore how it could be done better as an alternative to capitalism.

There are too many people consuming too many resources to sustain our capitalism economic system. That provocative thesis is the one that Jerry Mander hammers home for 11 depressing chapters. In Chapter 12, he offers some alternatives and partial solutions to the problems.This book is very well-written, persuasive, and quite sobering. After exposing the enormity of the environmental and social problems we face, his solutions and suggestion seem unfortunately feeble. Mander is blunt, intelligent, and convincing on the problem. Why then is he so tentative about the solutions? In particular, it seems quite obvious that the Earth does not have the long-term carrying capacity needed for our current human population levels. Yet he only devotes one short paragraph to the problem of overpopulation.Despite that odd oversight, this is a great book. I only hope that it helps start a national (and international) conversation about taking the next steps needed to avoid a complete catastrophe.

Mander has produced another timely, important and highly relevant critique of contemporary culture.This book should be read by every literate citizen of the former USA and by most citizens of the EU as well.Capitalism is based on a fundamentally flawed proposition. Market and most important, resources are not infinite.We are already seeing the consequences of this failed proposition all around us AND the planet is already suffering the consequences of the abusive nature of that fundamentally flawed system. IF we are to have any future at all we must act to correct the path we are on and we must begin by becoming aware of the problem, by sharing what we learn with others so we can reach a critical mass of informed and concerned citizens who will work to make the problems known AND begin to work toward NEW solutions.We HAVE to do this and we must do it soon. It may already be too late. It IS already too late for all the extinct species who have been wiped out (decimated) by rampant uncontrolled capitalist expansionism.Enough of me.... READ THIS BOOK! ...and then, pass along the info.

A nice book, but at this juncture in history, living in a capitalist nation that lacks basic health care for its citizens, a crumbling infrastructure, a pathetic education system, etc. he's just sort of stating the obvious. I know intelligent 20 year old kids who can itemize the failures off the top of their head. I liked In the Absence of the Sacred much better.

Much of this I'd recognized and discussed with my younger daughter over the years...I wish the print had been a little larger but VERY MUCH a MUST READ for chronological both history and less-known details.

This book is well written. I love the truth in it. The author chose an interesting name. I recommend it and am happy to have it in my library.

Mr. Mander brings considerable expertise to bear in making his case that the capitalist system is today the major contributor to the many ills that plague our society. The essential nature of modern capitalism is a blind unreasoning cumpulsion for unrelenting pursuit of profit at virtually any cost. This is so because capital fueled corporations exist only as paper entities compelled by our legal system to return a profit, not to promote or even notice any societal value, human virtue or consequence of its actions.Examples abound in Mr. Manders book of the tremendous damage done to our planet, our societies and ourselves at the hands of the modern capitalist corporation. It is a very powerful book and a very convincing case for the need for radical change if mankind is to survive the reign of the captialist corporate state.

This book describes so accurately the purposes and nature of global corporate capitalism that i hope that many people read it. It is clear that an alternative to global based captialism in which wealth is so obscenely skewed towards the few at the expense of the many is needed for a variety of reasons. We need a egalitarian economic system based on social justice, fair distribution of wealth, and environmental sustainability. It starts with a redefining of what wealth actually is. This book is brilliant.

Probably one of the best books ever written on Capitalism. If you've ever wondered why you are still a wage or a salary slave or why the rich get richer whilst the vast majority get poorer, this is the book for you. Once you begin reading Jerry Mander's prose it will be like a very bright light has just been remotely switched on inside your head. You will rage, you will be enlightened. You will wonder why we've all put up with it for so long - the control of the many by the few. Jerry Mander's book might change your life forever. It will certainly give you a whole new outlook on why the economic structure of the world might be destined to go to hell in hand-basket - if it isn't radically overhauled very soon. RJH.

Whilst I agree it is a most wonderful book, I give only four stars because I was not convinced by the final section on what to do about capitalism. This is a shame, but I suspect it is the hardest part of any critique. The analysis (which is the bulk of the book) is 100% accurate and Jerry Mander's prose is as ever, a model of clarity and holds my interest throughout. Therefore I wholly recommend this book, except for the end section which is 66.6% convincing.

easy to read and clearly written

Jerry mander did it again, a super book!