No Logo - Naomi Klein

yummy mummy · 19th February 2004, 1:32pm

Finally made it through this book, found it utterly compelling although i'm not really one for facts and figures, and found all the stats a wee bit frustrating. Can honestly say that reading this book has changed my outlook on consumerism as a whole. Felt quite guilty after reading it, although i'm not and never really have been a big customer of the Gaps and Nikes of the world. Thought provoking stuff. Anyone else read this book?

Kenny · 19th February 2004, 6:09pm

D'you know, I never have. I probably should though. The whole poster-girl-of-the-left thing kind of puts me off a bit, and to be honest I've never been massively impressed by the stuff she writes for the Observer/Guardian.

yummy mummy · 19th February 2004, 6:26pm

yeah, I know a lot of folk who are wary of her intentions, but it's a good read and although a lot of it is kind of common knowledge now, there's still some really shocking stuff in there. The groundwork she done for it is pretty impressive too.

Hevs · 19th February 2004, 6:32pm

I read this a few months ago and have to agree with yummy - its a riveting read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you liked this you should read Them by Jon Ronson - I just finished that today and it was good

Kenny · 19th February 2004, 6:54pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummy mummy

yeah, I know a lot of folk who are wary of her intentions, but it's a good read and although a lot of it is kind of common knowledge now, there's still some really shocking stuff in there. The groundwork she done for it is pretty impressive too.

I don't mean I don't think I'll agree with her or anything - I don't doubt I (broadly) would. She just seems a bit... populist? No, perhaps not, because I like Michael Moore, and he's the ultimate populist lefty. I'm not really sure what puts me off her, to be honest. I should probably just read it and shut up.

Fitter_Happier · 19th February 2004, 6:57pm

I read 2 chapters months ago was impressed but haven't bothered 2 pick it up again.

Charlicat · 19th February 2004, 7:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santaphoto

I don't mean I don't think I'll agree with her or anything - I don't doubt I (broadly) would. She just seems a bit... populist? No, perhaps not, because I like Michael Moore, and he's the ultimate populist lefty. I'm not really sure what puts me off her, to be honest. I should probably just read it and shut up.

Hrmm, thats what I would have described her as, populist. And yet I too think Michael Moore is a big fluffy bunny. I think its cos he doesnt try and come at you from a pseudo-academic angle and then have his books sold in HMV. I dunno. If its Consumerism I want, I'll just read Ritzer or summat. All the facts without trying to be too hard to be some "message for the kids" pretentious wagon.

Deadboy · 19th February 2004, 7:27pm

This book should be required reading.

I was expecting it to be pretentious as well, but it's not.

I was also expecting it to be militantly anti-capitalist in that popular idiot kind of way, but it's not - it just points out that capitalism is being allowed to go too far, and that it needs to be monitored and controlled... i.e. there's nothing wrong with making a profit as long as you're not fucking people over while you're doing it. Which sounds fair enough to me.

yummy mummy · 19th February 2004, 9:44pm

yeah, it's not pretentious at all, considering, as Santaphoto hinted at, some of her other articles are. I don't particularly rate her per se, but this book just really struck a chord with me cos it was so accessable.

Kenny · 19th February 2004, 9:47pm

I didn't hint anything of the sort - I'd rather read something that's a bit lofty, rather than dumbed down.

yummy mummy · 19th February 2004, 10:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santaphoto

I didn't hint anything of the sort - I'd rather read something that's a bit lofty, rather than dumbed down.

sorry, unintentional, bad choice of words.

metallideth · 17th March 2004, 10:50pm

i hate to be the cynic, but i find that No Logo is complete janet and john left-wing politics. however, that isn't necessarily anything wrong on the part of klein, i think it's really a matter of how the book is perceived. i'll quite happily admit i own your "big lefty" publications like Fast Food Nation and The Best Democracy That Money Can Buy (Eric Schlosser and Greg Palast respectively), but i treat them as journalistic endeavours that help to highlight certain problems rather than as these high philosophical textbooks. the problem i have is that a lot of people are approaching this kind of stuff as if it were Marx and Engels, which it isn't - it's just investigative journalism combined with a bit of agit-prop.

basically, it's your chris martin-type politics - a lot of good and honourable intentions, but no real depth. i think that's fine for the mainstream (you can't really expect most people to be really into their politics), but if people are wishing to delve into serious political debate then i'd certainly recommend using the agit-journalism of klein and her like as a stepping stone rather than an end unto itself.

i'm glad you enjoyed it though. i might moan and bitch about it but it's still very much a good thing, too much philosophy and manic street preachers has turned me into a bit of a socialist snob.

Kenny · 17th March 2004, 11:00pm

Too MSP has rotted yer brain, more like.

XMachina · 22nd July 2004, 8:27am

Agree that No Logo is superior to most of Kleins' work in Grauniad/Observer. While I agree broadly with what Metallideth is saying it's signifcance is not limited to politics. The social and consumer angles are also worth exploring.

Ska_Bunni · 22nd July 2004, 9:30am

im half way through it. im reading it as part of my disertation. i thought it would be something nice and easy to read inbetween the more 'intelegent' and 'high brow' shit that is more required. im enjoying it. ive read quite afew of the others that you can buy in the likes of hmv, boarders etc like One no many yeses Branded and the like. theyre good because you dont have to sweat while your readng them. they are quite compeling un like Christipher Berry, Zola, McCracken, Simmel and the like. yes i think they are/were great minds but it numbs the brain after about 2 chapters and i need a rest. its good that people are getting acess to such things. you know? like if a kid reads Branded out of interest then they might move on to things like Nobrow for more info then again seek out something more obscure like Nana then from that equate those same thoughts in to other more contempory fiction like As i lay dyeing and hey presto you have a geek/someone with an active brain who is joining the white dot movement. tis a good thing.