- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Thorsons; First Edition edition (15 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007128983
- ISBN-13: 978-0007128983
- Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 19.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,033,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Reviews
When Anita Roddick calls her new Fair Trade agitprop handbook Take It Personally, you know that she means business. Ethical, fairly traded business, of course. Take It Personally has two hosts. Roddick herself steers the text with introductions to the essays and extracts that make up the book's five sections, headed Activism, People, Development, Environment and Money. Her hapless sidekick is George W Bush, whose unintentional humour provides the light relief in what is mostly a depressing analysis.
A focal point, naturally, is the 1999 Seattle demonstrations, and eye-witness accounts tell of the brutality protestors experienced, including Roddick, who was probably the only CEO on the streets that day. Directed at a World Trade Organisation meeting, held appropriately in the Land of the Free (Trade), the book takes similar aim, in addition to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, all guilty, in Roddick's words, of "social Darwinism". The tone of the rhetoric is striking, and though the writing can be variable, much of it is persuasive, particularly the contributions of Naomi Klein, whose book No Logo has inspired an unbranded generation, Indian activist Vandana Shiva, David Boyle (The Tyranny of Numbers) and a short interview by John Pilger with Burma's elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The graphics for this highly visual book are frequently arresting, steeped in the culture of "subvertising", and mingled with hard-hitting soundbites, as well as listings for useful, informative Web sites and magazines.
With proceeds going to NGOs and relevant organisations, Take It Personally practises what it prescribes. While the details of sweatshops, child work abuse, arms trading, poor food distribution, global warming and "profits before people" are hugely dispiriting, the contributors' consensus is the need for individual responsibility, ethical choices, to build from the bottom, from GM-free, organic grass roots, until it grows into corporate response. Biodiversity over monoculture is infinitely the most fruitful agricultural choice, and it stands as a similarly bountiful metaphor for our interconnected world. "Take It Personally" proves a vitally accessible addition to the growing debate on alternative economics and ecological awareness, alongside John Humphrys' The Great Food Gamble, George Monbiot's Captive State, and even Bjorn Lomborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist. --David Vincent
Product Description
A hard-hitting look at the myths and reality behind the spread of corporate globalization.
'Globalization is the most important change in the history of humankind, and the latest name for the conspiracy of the rich against the poor. It is the phenomenon most subject to the efforts of economists and statisticians, and the least understood and measured change in our time.'
In this extraordinary book outspoken business leader Anita Roddick brings together the voices of some of the most prominent authorities on the phenomenon of Globalization, including Susan George, David Korten and Naomi Klein. Full of hard-hitting images this full colour book gets right to the heart of the issue, exploding the myths that would have us believe Globalization is a force for good. Covering aspects of the subject as diverse as human rights, the environment, international finance, health, the food we eat and trade, the book combines medium-length articles with quotes, cases notes and interviews. This book constitutes a call to action, showing how each and every one of us can take on the corporate giants and make a real difference.
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First Sentence
Democracy and market economies are exactly what we should be seeking, because they are the foundation of equitable, self-organizing societies. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Democracy and market economies are exactly what we should be seeking, because they are the foundation of equitable, self-organizing societies. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With a focus on one of the largest untruths of our age, Take It Personally provides a colourful yet personal introduction to globalization and why it has failed to benefit all mankind in the way it's advocates declared it would.
With all the themes it tackles this could have easily turned into a wholly depressing analysis. However, the best and most useful parts of the book offer hope. Contributions from various non-governmental organisations detail the examples of success that have occurred when action is taken. This shows all is not yet lost and people can take control again in a world that is increasingly putting profit before people. There are numerous suggestions for readers to take positive steps to help in this. Many web site listings are given suggesting ways to pursue involvement further and gain a more detailed knowledge.
Anita Roddick has achieved a wonderful balance of providing an ostentatious and easily accessible addition to anyone's coffee table, whilst giving a starting point to exploring many ways and means in which anyone can get involved in making change a reality. Although mostly written before the tragedy in New York on September 11th, the author states the message Take It Personally delivers is more important than ever, to focus on the issues which are truly important, freedom and fairness.
With all the themes it tackles this could have easily turned into a wholly depressing analysis. However, the best and most useful parts of the book offer hope. Contributions from various non-governmental organisations detail the examples of success that have occurred when action is taken. This shows all is not yet lost and people can take control again in a world that is increasingly putting profit before people. There are numerous suggestions for readers to take positive steps to help in this. Many web site listings are given suggesting ways to pursue involvement further and gain a more detailed knowledge.
Anita Roddick has achieved a wonderful balance of providing an ostentatious and easily accessible addition to anyone's coffee table, whilst giving a starting point to exploring many ways and means in which anyone can get involved in making change a reality. Although mostly written before the tragedy in New York on September 11th, the author states the message Take It Personally delivers is more important than ever, to focus on the issues which are truly important, freedom and fairness.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an anti-globalisation book through and through, so don't expect any reasoned debate. If you're unfamiliar with globalisation theory, you'll need to look elsewhere. If you've looked into it, don't like what you see, and feel powerless in the face of it, then this becomes a more useful book.
Roddick's credentials in the anti-globalisation world are great - a major CEO with principles, not afraid to get her hands dirty. But Roddick is only compiling here, and although some of contributors bring something informative, some sections are paper thin, ranting, or inward-looking, like the work of an anti-globalisation in-crowd (Yes, you were tear-gassed in Seattle in 99, get over it). At times it's even rather lazy, with calls for action against 'them' that forget to mention who 'them' is. It ends up giving you a whole lot of things to be indignant about, but without quite explaining why.
Still, it's a quick read, it covers a lot of ground and serves as a good whistle-stop tour of the main issues.
Roddick's credentials in the anti-globalisation world are great - a major CEO with principles, not afraid to get her hands dirty. But Roddick is only compiling here, and although some of contributors bring something informative, some sections are paper thin, ranting, or inward-looking, like the work of an anti-globalisation in-crowd (Yes, you were tear-gassed in Seattle in 99, get over it). At times it's even rather lazy, with calls for action against 'them' that forget to mention who 'them' is. It ends up giving you a whole lot of things to be indignant about, but without quite explaining why.
Still, it's a quick read, it covers a lot of ground and serves as a good whistle-stop tour of the main issues.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Excellent info, but it doesn't deliver the "how-to."
1 Feb 2003
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A fascinating, well-made, beautifully-printed gem of a book! Stuffed with color photos, eye-catching graphics, and the kind of quotes and data that makes you think, "Ooh, I gotta paperclip this page!" I'd like to buy a copy for many other people, if I knew they'd read it.
Unfortunately, the only criticism I have is also fairly severe: the sub-title is "How to make conscious choices to change the world." Sorry to say, but the book never really goes very far into that aspect. There's meticulous detail on the nature and origins of globalization, social injustice, environmental crises, and human rights, but actual guidance to make a difference is fairly slim.
That's too bad, too, because the book excels in its ability to outrage the reader and convert you to the agreement that "this stuff really matters! It's more important than I thought!", and yet I find myself dissatisfied with the few suggested answers against the many overpowering wrongs. It's not "an action guide," but rather a fascinating and invaluable textbook.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
We know what we have to do...but help !
29 May 2002
Format:Paperback
Wonderful book.I strongly agree with the comments from one of the reader regarding information/media activism. We have to move from thinking and talking to real action. As a young activist, I would love to be coached ( like so many others ). We need a system where we could share, get support and empowerment. We learn by action not by information. Sometimes I feel kind of upset, because I feel that people that have the power, network and interest in global issue are doing this for their own ego. Bono from U2 is doing a good effort but why is he not spending his money to help young leaders ? We should invest in those people that will have a tremendous impact localy and abroad. Why not using technology to create a powerful leverage. A place where people like me could get support, coaching in my project ?
It was a great book to read, but I felt more discouraged than emporwered...
It was a great book to read, but I felt more discouraged than emporwered...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
How to Get off your Bum and Make a Difference
2 April 2002
Format:Paperback
Ms. Roddick has managed to put together some important issues, outstanding commentators, and good information design in one place with this book. I read it through from cover-to-cover (I seldom do this) and found myself both enlightened and inspired. I recommend it highly.
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