Grim ... A compact and vivid account of several centuries of capitalist expansion ... Jackson has written a smoothly readable account while sacrificing none of its complexity.
Jackson is a lucid and engaging writer, demonstrating a mastery of this fast-growing field ... What truly sets The Insatiable Machine apart from a crowded field, however, is the incisiveness of Jackson’s analysis. Wry, knowing, and with little patience for too-neat explanations or just-so bromides, Jackson darts nimbly from epoch to epoch, crisis to crisis, bringing sense and satisfaction to some five centuries of history.
Capitalism and mass consumption are not the only ways to live, and Jackson prompts readers to recognize that they have the power to bring about change. Readers who are curious about the history, economics, and the environmental impact of capitalism will find this book interesting.
