Penguin Press The Invisible Doctrine.

by George Monbiot, Peter Hutchison

Penguin Press The Invisible Doctrine ABISBOOK Penguin Press.

Genres: Politics

Paperback

About the author

George Joshua Richard Monbiot is a British writer known for his environmental and political activism.

Reviews

[Tobias Faucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 2 groups. We - the ones who ruined everything, and We - the ones who have to clean up the mess and live with the consequences. Make no mistake, there are no more national empires only the neoliberal empire run by Oligarchs and the politicians they buy. (Ironic that I write this on a platform owned by one of the biggest of them all, thank you daddy Bezos).

[Pepijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was watching a video by Jared Henderson, he talked about this book, I tried to purchase it in the UK (London) a while ago, but they didn't have it, and then I suddenly came across it in Canterbury! Reading this short book was a mind-bending experience.

In short, you thought capitalism was bad? Lol. Meet its big brother (who is also on steroids and an evil fucking demon) 'neo-liberalism'. Give this book to all of those dumbfucks that think voting for right-wing politicians that want a smaller government and love the free market is a fantastic idea.

Do you ever wonder how clowns like Reagan, Thatcher, or more recently Wilders, Johnson, Trump, Orban, Erdogan (the list goes on) come into power, make sure all public facilities deteriorate into a fucking shitshow, enrich their lobbyist friends, and the people still think that's great because at least something is done about those damn immigrants?

Politicians are bought, the rich elite and massive corporations push their hidden agenda, they get richer (and no, dummy, it doesn't trickle down, or it already would have), and literally everyone else is worse off. No, not a conspiracy theory, hardly fiction. These demagogues hide in the shadows and convince those dumb idiots that either you are too lazy, or maybe those damn immigrants are.. doing something horrible, so focus on that and don't look while we empty your pockets and add trillions to our own wealth. Also fuck you.

The world is in flames and it's not going to get better, but most of those rich fuckheads will be dead or safe by that time anyways, they can afford it. You can't, so what are you going to do?

Now it would be improper to suggest that people should consider becoming eco-terrorists to combat the industries destroying the planet and it would be worse to suggest that we 'eat the rich' as the saying goes, but oh well, this is just a review.

Pretty thought-provoking book, quick and easy read, but definitely an eye-opener.

[Leon Spence · Rating 1 out of 5]

Around half way through the book, in a chapter titled "When Neoliberals Get Everything They Want - A Case Study" the authors write of former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, stating she "was the co-author of a book called Britannia Unchained, a semi-literate polemic..." They seem to be unaware that this also happens to be the perfect review for The Invisible Doctrine.

This is a truly awful short polemic, drenched in a hatred for a contested political ideology that, rightly, deserves criticism and renewal. It is impossible to undertake that form of assessment without acknowledging the benefits that a system brings (and there are some, such as technical innovation) and only focus on its disadvantages. This is ultimately the downfall of this book.

It is towards the end of the book that the authors start writing about proposed solutions to neoliberalism with a suggestion of reintroducing commons, using an example of allotments as being some sort of utopian ideal. All I would suggest is that anyone with experience of allotments and their societies would never consider making such a suggestion in a book of this sort. Have the authors any idea of the sort of petty rules and regulations, and characters, that align themselves to the organisations? Radical solutions are not solutions if they are not deliverable.

But it is the simplistic interpretation that 'neoliberalism' = 'bad' that is the books greatest failing. Toward the end the authors write "While we all possess some degree of selfishness and greed, these are not our dominant values. Most people are primarily motivated by more social values: altruism, empathy, family, community and the pursuit of a better world."

This is the main failing. If we accept that people's values are on a scale, then we must accept that concepts are too. It is what The Invisible Doctrine singularly fails to do.

[Olivier Beys · Rating 4 out of 5]

One would think everyone has heard enough about the (terrible) influence of neoliberalism on contemporary society and politics, as the cause of economic immiseration, inequality and breakdown of communities worldwide. But Monbiot and Hutchinson still believe there is an audience for an incendiary takedown of the rich and powerful's favourite ideology.

The book covers 25 chapters, all very short and snappy. Consider them as 25 longread columns in say the Guardian. Readers with a bit of background will see many familiar points and stories, so the book is ideal for those making their first forays into understanding politics and power. For the initiated, you will probably not gain any major new insights, but it's a pleasure to read how they carve neoliberalism to bits of stale and childish political philosophy.

The first chapters follow neatly after one another, but later on you can tell that Monbiot or Hutchinson are pulling ideas and hobby horses that they have developed in more detail in other work. For instance, 'a new story', was expertedly lain out by Monbiot in his book 'Out of the Wreckage'. In that sense, it's a perfect entry point. Tease people in, then get them hooked with more of that good stuff.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a brilliant analysis of the truly pernicious ideology neoliberalism which sits under the publics perception of what they think democracy is. This book exposes the ideology originally popularised by Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig Von Mises and then brought into the mainstream economic culture by Milton Friedman. Criminal Politicians and leaders who are deeply flawed human beings with oversized egos and pathological insecurities like Victor Oban, Narenda Modi, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and jail Bolsono have all been enabled by neoliberal ideologies that competition, deregulation,and privatisation will lead to wealth that will enrich everyone when what has been the case historically has that neoliberalism has made the wealthy even wealthier leading to the exploitation and endangerment of workers and as in the financial crisis of 2008 led to financial collapse bank bail ins and huge transfers of wealth to the richest 5 percent reminiscent of feudalism. The authors Hutchinson and Monbiot explain the neoliberal confidence trick in a passionate and informed way and explain the existential crisis it has created removing the scales from our eyes and giving us some hope an alternative world is possible.

[Alfred Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political texts like these are really necessary once in a while: incendiary, frustrating, efficient. While light on in-depth history (not to be confused with light on fact, as the thorough index of citations would prove) this is brimming with highly quotable, emotionally charged aphorisms that add flavour to an already engaging essay. Would recommend keeping a highlighter close.

[Misrab · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed perspective for our time.

Can get a bit ideological, when in fact I think there are stronger mathematical or game-theoretic arguments for why extreme capitalism doesn't lead to desirable outcomes in all cases (obviously?).

But it's a quick read, and very interesting.

[Bronwen Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to what is neo-liberalism. A book to make you angry! But as often with these books the solution as to what we should do about the destruction of our planet, and the huge wealth that is being accumulated by the few, is less easy to predict or hope for.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible and descriptive, though for a book / essay with a tone of resistance, it is a little light on details of “what to do next”.

[Oliver Titheradge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serves really well as an overview of the rise of neoliberalism. A great entry point to critical political reading

[Roman Bazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important topic to highlight. There is plenty of information floating around on this subject, and the book helps organize it.

The book cover is way more daring than the content itself.

[Sharon Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book before you choose who to vote for.

[Ivana :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish more people would read this