The Shock Doctrine

Author: Naomi Klein

Synopsis by Faisal Quaiyyum Inan

Purchase Availability: 
Nilkhet, New Market, Aziz Super market, Amazon.com,  Rokomari.com, BoiBazar.com, Bookspider BD, MKBookhousebd, Bigglobooks,  and Tome BD
[Customization available at  Pathak Shomabesh, Pustoq, The Book Basement, Booktique]

Price Range:
BDT 550 - BDT 9000


​Synopsis:
​
The Shock Doctrine is a book that tells the gripping stories of how American neoliberal free market policies have secretly carried the domination of the world - through the exploitation of national-crises(disaster and upheavals) shocked people and countries. This book shows how the controversial and questionable policies and laws are established when the citizens are emotionally and physically vulnerable and distracted in the time of national crises to effectively resist those policies and laws. 

The book begins with a chapter that explains how the shock doctrine works by showcasing some experiments of a psychiatrist in collaboration with the CIA. In addition, the next chapter shows the author's perspectives of capitalism's domination through popularization of free market policies. In the rest of the book, the author went on to elucidate how the shock doctrines are used to transform and exploit many countries such as Poland, China, South Africa, Russia, Four Asian Tigers, Iraq and so on under the taglines of free markets. In the last part of the book, Naomi illustrates the winners and the losers of economic shock therapy.

---

Undoubtedly, the book has many critics all over the world. One of the two extremist views of the critics states that the book is just an oversimplification of more complex political and economic situations. The other extremist view states that this book is nothing but the blabbering of a pessimist human. However, most of the readers of this book seem to like this book which earned it a pretty good rating. Another interesting fact regarding this book is that it has served as the main source of a 2009 documentary film with the same title directed by Michael Winterbottom.

No prior knowledge is needed to read this book. However, basic knowledge in economics, political science and general knowledge can make this book easy-going.