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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This seemed like it should have been a 20 page article... not so much in the way of originality, but if you haven't read anything on corporate responsibility or related things, this might be a good intro to the topic.
dark
sad
medium-paced
This book was a surprisingly vital read. I have known that corporations are pulling the strings of our government these days, but I had no idea just how little I understood how they were run and how tightly controlled they are by laws that literally force them to screw over public health&safety, the environment, worker well-being, and "the public good" in order to maximize shareholder profits.
I knew that's the M.O. of corporations, but I thought that it was horrible, sh*tty CEOs & shady over-ambitious business people responsible for it, and I figured that (in addition to regulations), getting decent humans into these corporate positions could drastically change the world for the better, by caring about "the public good" in addition to profits. I had no idea that there were such robust laws in place that actually prevents good folks from doing exactly that, AND how the WTO is a tool of the corporations to prevent governments from passing laws to regulate corporations in any way that would mitigate their negative effects on the public/environment that would impinge on their profits.
And I didn't have any idea how many of the legit-sh*tty business people truly considered it IMMORAL (!) for a CEO to try to protect the public or the environment if it would prevent so much as a single dollar of profit from the company & shareholders. IMMORAL! Wow.
I found this book well written and easy to read(/listen to), and very important for understanding the basics of corporations and their history, laws, and norms, and how that effects our democracy (spoiler: as corporations function now, they nearly entirely undermine the whole democratic process). It was also an important reminder of how vital regulations are, and how patently absurd the corporations claims that they can self-regulate are-- especially in light of the fact that they literally and legally CAN NOT self-regulate in any way that might cost a few extra bucks!
I knew that's the M.O. of corporations, but I thought that it was horrible, sh*tty CEOs & shady over-ambitious business people responsible for it, and I figured that (in addition to regulations), getting decent humans into these corporate positions could drastically change the world for the better, by caring about "the public good" in addition to profits. I had no idea that there were such robust laws in place that actually prevents good folks from doing exactly that, AND how the WTO is a tool of the corporations to prevent governments from passing laws to regulate corporations in any way that would mitigate their negative effects on the public/environment that would impinge on their profits.
And I didn't have any idea how many of the legit-sh*tty business people truly considered it IMMORAL (!) for a CEO to try to protect the public or the environment if it would prevent so much as a single dollar of profit from the company & shareholders. IMMORAL! Wow.
I found this book well written and easy to read(/listen to), and very important for understanding the basics of corporations and their history, laws, and norms, and how that effects our democracy (spoiler: as corporations function now, they nearly entirely undermine the whole democratic process). It was also an important reminder of how vital regulations are, and how patently absurd the corporations claims that they can self-regulate are-- especially in light of the fact that they literally and legally CAN NOT self-regulate in any way that might cost a few extra bucks!
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Good analysis of a corporation, but, ultimately, the end was a little bit of a let down as he is very focused on "what we can do now" and how to limit the corporations power. And fails to take seriously the idea of no corporations existing at all.
I didn't love this book at first but only because it talks about a lot of things I already knew - no huge new revalations. I really enjoyed the discussion of the effects of advertising and marketing on kids though - really interesting in the field of parenting and I'd like to read more on that. A good read, but not mind-blowing.
Liberal lukewarm corporate responsibility dreck. Oh if only CEOs were nice people exploitation and ruinous environmental damage of corporations would magic away.
Part of the required reading for one of my Anthropology classes. Would recommend to anyone with a general interest. I personally had no interest at the beginning, but Bakan did a good job of drawing you in and creating an interest.
Short book (213 pages including end notes) but hard to finish because it sucked. a bunch of pointless facts and "stats" about how corporations have been screwing people over for years... like people don't know that already. but what ruined this book for me is the recurring theme about calling the corporation a "psychopath" and using that stupid angle over and over to explain why corporations do "bad" things. i felt like i was being talked down to or something as i read the book. people run those companies no matter how much one tries to personify companies and corporations.. yet "bakan" not once calls out ceo's/executives for their unethical behavior and blames the "corporation" for being a "psychopath"
what a joke
then there were "examples" of how republicans in particular either helped deregulate some part of the economy or did something for corps to profit form them and vice versa. not 1 mention of democrats benefiting from doin deals with corporations. maybe democrats are really nice and don't get into these kind of suspect deals right? what a joke. this book sucks.
what a joke
then there were "examples" of how republicans in particular either helped deregulate some part of the economy or did something for corps to profit form them and vice versa. not 1 mention of democrats benefiting from doin deals with corporations. maybe democrats are really nice and don't get into these kind of suspect deals right? what a joke. this book sucks.