The Value of Nothing

VERY important book that everyone should read. I was aware of a lot of what that was going wrong in the world, but Patel presents it in terms that easy to grasp.

Some good points in the book but I do not agree with everything he writes. Oh yes I would give the book to my Grandchild and then start to discuss about it. I find the book has too many examples,"verzettelt" therefore a bit confusing, and too one-sided to prove his point. Overall: Too much to the left, yet a good and valuable book to read.

I watched the author speak about this book on a morning Canadian TV show and it sounded interesting, so I bought it. In the interview he mentioned how a Big Mac, after adding in all the hidden costs relating to the energy and pollution costs from cow to table, is actually around $200. This part is covered in a few short pages in the book. He mentions that "Pesticide contamination, nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions are compounding the environmental debt of industrialised agriculture" and I agree. This argument is expanded on somewhat. He tells the interesting story of the Volkswagen share price defying gravity during the recent economic meltdown, causing short sellers to panic and endure great losses. However,in its entirity the book is far too academic and philosophical for the average reader, in my opinion. It does make some interesting points but takes too long to make many of them.

I have no idea which 'book' some of the 'reviewers' on here have been reading. This 'book' is a list of incoherent, rambling scenarios that have little connection to each other, let alone the title. Raj Patel is clearly neither a writer nor an economist. This individual has got away with having a'book' published as a result of pop publishers being willing to publish anything. This 'book' would have a higher value through if the value of paper could be considered. If I could give this 'book' -5 stars I would. It is utter nonsense.

Boas reflexões sobre uma sociedade onde o ter é mais importante que o ser, ou onde poderia dizer que o ter é importante para ser. Achei em certas partes prolixos ou me pareceram referências meio soltas, mas um livro que me pôs para refletir um pouco.

This is a a very readable, even engaging book. It explains the early co-evolution of market systems with social systems and how each system has adapted to conform with the other. Unequal power can be a feature of either system but with the emergence of international corporations unequal market system power can now affect, even control, social systems on a global scale. Highly recommended especially for anyone with any sense of responsibility as a citizen of our planet earth.

A bit of fresh air. Profound and entertaining and caused me rethink economics and why the system no longer works.

One of the most lucid and intelligent books on the economics of free and fair trade and the value of things on the market. I recommend this book to anyone interested in food industry economics

It was what i was expecting