Capital and Its Discontents

Overview

A piercing examination of capitalism

Unraveling the complicated details surrounding the world’s present economic and political climate, this collection of interviews addresses the faulty underpinnings of capitalism and discusses why the future must be economically founded otherwise. Probing into the roots of the global economic crisis, the role that debt and privatization play in dampening social revolt, and the ramifications of post-colonial mentality in the Global South, this collection provides the tools for reconsidering capitalism and solutions for surviving current crisis by learning from past mistakes. This collection includes conversations with some of the most noted thinkers and political economists on the Left, including Noam Chomsky, Tariq Ali, Mike Davis, David Harvey, Ellen Meiksins Wood, and Doug Henwood.

Reviews

"These conversations illuminate the current world situation in ways that are very useful for those hoping to orient themselves and find a way forward to effective individual and collective action. Highly recommended." —Kim Stanley Robinson, author, The Years of Rice and Salt

"This is an extremely important book. It is the most detailed, comprehensive, and best study yet published on the most recent capitalist crisis and its discontents." —Andrej Grubacic, coauthor, Wobblies and Zapatistas

"In this fine set of interviews, an A-list of radical political economists demonstrate why their skills are indispensable to understanding today’s multiple economic and ecological crises." —Raj Patel, author, Stuffed and Starved

"This collection of interviews introduces the reader to much of the best thinking about social issues on the U.S. left today." —Barbara Epstein, author, History of Consciousness

"Sasha Lilley’s Capital and Its Discontents is a superb introduction to some of the best traditions, given to us through some of the sharpest thinkers of the Global North." —Vijay Prashad, author, The Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World

"The value of this book lies in its accessibility. . . . Key points are presented quickly, clearly and in a language that is comprehensible. [This] is the perfect book for liberals and leftists who want to move beyond superficial criticism of bad policies and greedy corporate executives and toward a structural critique of capitalism and imperialism." —Indypendent (April 6, 2011)

"As a whole the book offers incredibly thought-provoking interviews, made more so by Lilley's excellent questioning, and demonstrates her deep and insightful knowledge of the issues and the thinkers with whom she engages." —www.MarxAndPhilosophy.org.uk

"This cool-headed but urgent volume--timely but sophisticated and wide-ranging enough to remain a longtime reference--will serve as an excellent introduction for readers lacking familiarity with discourse in political economy, while providing important elaboration on central themes for those with more background." —Publishers Weekly - Starred review (June 22, 2011)

Author Biography

Sasha Lilley is a writer, a broadcaster, and the program director for KPFA Radio, the flagship station of the Pacifica Network. She is the series editor of Spectre, the PM Press political economy print. She lives in Oakland, California.