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Product Description
Product Description
In the midst of the current financial crisis, John Gray revisits his brilliant polemic against the forces of global capitalism and deregulation. Written over ten years ago, "False Dawn" is a remarkably prescient book, sharply criticising the greed and unsustainable economic practices which have proved to be the seeds of a world-wide recession. In a substantial new chapter Gray will consider how the economic landscape has shifted in a decade, and ask the crucial question: where do we go from here?
About the Author
JOHN GRAY is Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics. He is a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Times Literary Supplement and the author of over a dozen books, including Heresies and the bestselling Straw Dogs. False Dawn has been translated into fourteen languages.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
This is a slightly updated version of John Gray's book, originally published in 1998.
Given all that's gone on since he seems broadly vindicated.
The heart of Gray's thesis is that neo-liberalism has hardened into a faith which denies human and environmental realities. It's actually become a weird kind of Marxism. His other main point is that although capitalism is on the ascendency - it will take many different forms dependent on local factors (Chinese capitalism will always be dissimilar to American capitalism).
He pretty much takes apart the internal contradictions of Thatcherism/ Reaganism and the socially destructive effects of the free market (and that's its almost always imposed by state fiat), the fact that we're running hard up against global environmental constraints and the anti-social effects of letting a free market rip (1 in 200 US citizens in jail for example, largely because social cohesion has been destroyed with local labour markets).
His other major point is that the market is destabilising, and this has definitely been vindicated by recent events.
I found this book to be bracing, but ultimately a bit too pessimistic. Gray's good at laying into present mistakes but he's no better at predicting the future than anyone else. If you want a a quick guide his postscript is excellent, it condenses the whole book - very useful for students.
Given all that's gone on since he seems broadly vindicated.
The heart of Gray's thesis is that neo-liberalism has hardened into a faith which denies human and environmental realities. It's actually become a weird kind of Marxism. His other main point is that although capitalism is on the ascendency - it will take many different forms dependent on local factors (Chinese capitalism will always be dissimilar to American capitalism).
He pretty much takes apart the internal contradictions of Thatcherism/ Reaganism and the socially destructive effects of the free market (and that's its almost always imposed by state fiat), the fact that we're running hard up against global environmental constraints and the anti-social effects of letting a free market rip (1 in 200 US citizens in jail for example, largely because social cohesion has been destroyed with local labour markets).
His other major point is that the market is destabilising, and this has definitely been vindicated by recent events.
I found this book to be bracing, but ultimately a bit too pessimistic. Gray's good at laying into present mistakes but he's no better at predicting the future than anyone else. If you want a a quick guide his postscript is excellent, it condenses the whole book - very useful for students.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
What I particularly liked in this book is its description od the different economic models that currently exist. He describes in particular the US, Japan, Russia, China and Germany. His description mix historical, cultural and economic backgrounds and are very illuminating.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
The vast majority of people I know or have spoken to about the financial crisis don't know what they're talking about. They're picking up snippets and sound-bites from the media, then passing them on as facts to others which subsequently causes complete confusion. I was one of those people too.
Economics is boring. Just the word itself makes people groan because it's all math and confusing jargon, however this book gives a glorious history of how the capitalism we use has descended into chaos and will ultimately fail. The confusion is the word "capitalism" itself, and Gray explains how there are different kinds of capitalism such as that based on debt (which we in the West use) and that based on savings which is still used by the Chinese and Japanese (how else can they buy our Government debt?).
I have learned so much from this book it quite literally changed my life and I know that's an awful cliché. It goes against everything I've been taught and expected from the financial paradigm I've grown up with but has given me an understanding how I might just be able to protect myself and my children from a future of perpetual debt. I can't change Governments or stop bankers getting bonuses, but I can educate those around me in simple terms to look forward, know what to expect and to prepare for the ultimate endgame which happens with all financial systems based on fiat currency; thanks to this book.
Be warned though... it's no easy read. It's long, thorough and at times you find yourself drifting, but stick with it, you'll walk away with a knowledge that only a few people have.
Economics is boring. Just the word itself makes people groan because it's all math and confusing jargon, however this book gives a glorious history of how the capitalism we use has descended into chaos and will ultimately fail. The confusion is the word "capitalism" itself, and Gray explains how there are different kinds of capitalism such as that based on debt (which we in the West use) and that based on savings which is still used by the Chinese and Japanese (how else can they buy our Government debt?).
I have learned so much from this book it quite literally changed my life and I know that's an awful cliché. It goes against everything I've been taught and expected from the financial paradigm I've grown up with but has given me an understanding how I might just be able to protect myself and my children from a future of perpetual debt. I can't change Governments or stop bankers getting bonuses, but I can educate those around me in simple terms to look forward, know what to expect and to prepare for the ultimate endgame which happens with all financial systems based on fiat currency; thanks to this book.
Be warned though... it's no easy read. It's long, thorough and at times you find yourself drifting, but stick with it, you'll walk away with a knowledge that only a few people have.
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