- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: WW Norton; 1 edition (July 29 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0393324303
- ISBN-13: 978-0393324303
- Product Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.4 x 0.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 467 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #764,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
The editors of the Baffler, a magazine dedicated to debunking the nation's business culture, present a collection of their best articles that challenge the powerful corporate interests in society. The "new economy" of the 1990s is described as a cornucopia of absurdity fueled by a deadly failure of critical intelligence. World-renowned business journalism was frequently a hoax with its groundswell of favorable commentary on companies such as Enron and WorldCom. The hype dissolved with the destruction of $4 trillion of NASDAQ value, and famous pundits as well as ordinary reporters denied responsibility for their coverage of what turned out to be systemic financial abuse. The book's essays include topics such as Volvo's extravagant press junkets to influence reporting; a quaint Irish pub in Chicago (which is the marketing brainchild of Guinness Brewing); the supposed truth about Al Capp and his famous comic strip, Lil Abner; a "Dream Night" with Amway; and many more^B critiques of corporate power. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
For a magazine dedicated to debunking the USA's business culture, the final years of the 20th century overflowed with bounty. "It was the most spectacular outbreak of mass delirium that we are likely to see in our lifetimes", wrote the editors of "The Baffler". What was for others the dawn of a "New Economy" was for "The Baffler" a cornucopia of absurdity - the costliest political and financial hustle in living memory. Reporting from places far from the white-hot centres of the libertarian revolution, "Baffler" writers were the people of whom it was fashionable to say, "they just don't get it". While New Democrats turned somersaults for Wall Street and economic commentary became puffery, these bold, talented and very funny writers observed the crescendo of folly with which the century turned. Here their best writings are selected, updated and reaffirmed to sharpen our wits and inoculate us against follies yet to come.
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First Sentence
FOR A MAGAZINE DEDICATED to debunking the fantasies generated by the American business culture, the final years of the twentieth century overflowed with bounty. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
FOR A MAGAZINE DEDICATED to debunking the fantasies generated by the American business culture, the final years of the twentieth century overflowed with bounty. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A really mixed bag,
By
This review is from: Boob Jubilee (Paperback)
This book appears to be a collection of someone's (or some committee's) favorite articles from The Baffler, a literary magazine whose main job seems to be poking jabs at our culture. The title certainly doesn't help in determining that as "Boob" itself is such a multi-use word nowadays. Furthermore, many Americans west of the Mississippi have never heard of the New Economy and could care less about about literary criticism.I think the audience for this book is really limited and not consistent with the title or the book cover. However, once you get past the first couple of reallllly dry essays, there are some that are worthy of more attention.
5.0 out of 5 stars
fun, funny, informative,
By
This review is from: Boob Jubilee (Paperback)
The first two chapters might turn you off, I came close to stopping my reading of the book, but was urged on by friends and it payed off. The first two chapters are rather dense and not so witty, but soon after that this book really takes off. I am not totally 100% on the unifying theme of these essays, they claim to be poking a hole in the idea of the New Economy, but they all add up to more of a poking holes in various aspects of society -- of the "hip" society.The essays tend to have a sense of humor about them as they go about their disections of culture. A few take themselves too seriously, one about the Mississippi river is just bizarre. I don't know that there is anything particularly groundbreaking here, much of the exposed secrets of the New Economy can be summarized "rich man bad, poor man good." You'd think they could be a little more insightful than that. I am not fully with the politics of this book, but I give it its five stars for being quite readable and, in the end, making us think.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
They sky really did fall.,
By Jose Requena "Naïve and Proud" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Boob Jubilee (Paperback)
The wit and humor of the writers may be lost on many, their views and ideas old and cynical and their messages falling on deaf ears. Funny thing is, they know this and write anyway. The book consist of article that were written before "the bubble popped" for the new economy. They do criticize our culture and do so without flinching or holding back any idea they might have about where the American Dream is at.I thought the book was great and although some of the writing was done so in a way some might associate with pompous and cynical attitudes, I could not help but listen to their words. They were the canaries in the coal no one listened to, who warned people, judged cultures and ask for something different. I think the book is more of a "I told you so" shot by the editors, I think it is an example that people can see disaster but do nothing to stop it. I recommend this book for anyone who lost money through internet stock, anyone who searches for "real" indie rock bands, for anyone who interested in social issues or anyone simply looking for a good read. 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
it takes a sick person to laugh out loud,
By J. Stout - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Boob Jubilee (Paperback)
When my husband and I recently moved cross-country, he protested me wanting to keep my old copies of The Baffler. "Come on," he cajoled, "You're never going to read those things again." I read to him aloud from this collection as we were driving to Atlanta last week, so I think my magazines are off the chopping block for awhile.Boob Jubilee contains my all-time favorite Baffler article, "The Intern Economy and the Culture Trust." This is a must-read for all young people considering a career in the media.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Other's have been better,
By K. Ferguson - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Boob Jubilee (Paperback)
I preferred "Commodify Your Dissent" from these guys.That said, if you haven't read the former then this book may be good for you (or distasteful depending on your politcal slant). I'd recommend the read. |
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