Book Review: The Value of Nothing

Raj Patel's most recent book, The Value of Nothing, is about economics and democracy. Most people would stop right there and just return it to the library, or maybe not even get that far. You should be one of the people who is smart enough to enjoy this book.

Patel is essentially talking about how our market society places value on things that do not help us to live, like gold. And markets undervalue things we do need to live, like food. This is because corporations are not held responsible for the amount of damage your Big Mac does to the environment. He goes on to talk about how these things affect our democracy.

Raj Patel

He then outlines ways in which we can attempt to try and fix our wrongs. He is a brilliant economist and activist, and this is one of those books that will at least make you think every time you bite into your "$200 hamburger." If you want a book that addresses the current state of our nation and the world, and offers practical solutions and smart commentary this is it. I could barely put it down. The book is a hard read, but come on, all you people read is Twilight and Harry Potter, give your brain a workout.