Book Review: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein

There are no words to say. This book made me rethink what I know and understand about history and economy. Also, how economic and political situations influence individuals, governments, and local and global policies. Reading this book took longer than I expected as it was packed with detailed recounts of the past events starting from the seventies. More than often I had to stop reading because I needed to take a break and process what I read, and on other occasions, I stopped to discuss with my husband and a mere comment extended to long discussions about history, economy, politics, the current state of global affairs, and human psychology.

Naomi Klein has done massive research to back up her opinions and while I disagree with some of her statements like that Keynesian economics would salvage the situation, I’m in awe of the scope of the book and her courage to speak up.

While I read the book, I experienced a few “out-of-body experiences.” I felt numb, sad, angry, and not present about all the injustice done in the name of profit. Profit for the few. And now I wonder what to do?

In the past, the disaster brought people together. It strengthened communities, and the rebuilding mended the deep wounds left behind, but if what Naomi Klein writes is true, those communities are left to shocked while their homes and lands are pillaged and when they wake up they find a bill waiting for them and no place to go to or a way to build their lives again. I hate we sit in silence and let this happen, wishing it not to be true and shutting our eyes for the reality.

In a way, I would have been a happier person without reading the book, but I rather know than be ignorant of others’ suffering. And like Naomi Klein wrote the more people know about these disaster/shock tactics, the more they are able to prevent it from happening in their neighborhood.

The book is something everyone should read and then make up their own mind what to think about Chicago School economics and their influence on the global scale.

Thank you for reading!