Very easy to read and accessible, with great examples. Sandell writes in a gentle way, asking questions rather than stating positions. There is some o...moreVery easy to read and accessible, with great examples. Sandell writes in a gentle way, asking questions rather than stating positions. There is some overlap with his book "Justice: what's the right thing to do?'. Some of the examples of markets he gives in this book really made me think, for example I wasn't aware that in the US blood banks don't just rely on donations, they also buy blood, leading to it being supplied by poor, unskilled, unemployed low income groups, resulting in a redistribution of blood from the poor to the rich. Also horrifying is the practice of large companies taking out insurance on their workers lives, gaining them tax-free death benefits when employees die - the money doesn't go to families it is kept by companies - a shift of life insurance being "a safety net for the bereaved into a strategy of corporate finance". Even more reason (as if there weren't enough already) to boycott Asda/Wallmart, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble and Disney. The final section on advertising discusses the commodofication of public space and the impact that has on society, which has worried me greatly since reading this book.(less)
Very easy to read, conversational in places between the two authors. On reflection there is much in it which seems to spell out in length things that...moreVery easy to read, conversational in places between the two authors. On reflection there is much in it which seems to spell out in length things that we know to be true. I like the practical examples, especially those around the environment, saving money and so on. Discussing the book with book group friends raised lots of interesting issues. For example the danger of individualising social issues and making individuals responsible for social problems. There are other influences which the authors don't take in to account. Another issue is that nudge theory assumes people to be dupes - in contrast with strategies around empowerment in which the end is negotiable and claimed by people through a process. Nudge defines outcomes and shifts people towards them. Ethics obviously arose - we are being nudged all the time for profit - is it ethical for the state to do it? It will be interesting to see how the government's Nudge Unit develops and uses some of the ideas described in this book (and whether the outcomes they seek will be reached).(less)
Lukes' writing style isn't overly accessible, but with time to concentrate the key ideas in the book do emerge, supported by some helpful examples. Di...moreLukes' writing style isn't overly accessible, but with time to concentrate the key ideas in the book do emerge, supported by some helpful examples. Discussion of the book by my book group led to interesting discussions about freedom and opportunity (Chomsky), authority and power, our feeling that there isn't a finite power pie to divvy up and a suggestion that if power is always about relationships we can always resist it. The government's Big Society idea was mused on in relation to power.
The more I read about power the more concerned I become that people have far fewer choices in their life than might appear to them. And worried about people shaping false consciousness in others. Bring on critical citizenship!(less)
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