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Introduction

Capitalism and Its Critics: A History by John Cassidy offers a fresh lens on the economic system that shapes our world—revealing its triumphs and exposing its tensions through the voices of those who challenged it. As a Financial Times Most Anticipated Book of 2025, this sweeping narrative spans from the early days of the East India Company to today’s debates over artificial intelligence, inequality, and climate change.

Body

  1. A Kaleidoscopic Structure
    Cassidy organizes the book into 28 chapters, each centered on a critic or movement—from the English Luddites rebelling against early factory automation to modern degrowth advocates. This biography-anchored approach makes dense economic theory accessible and engaging, blending rich storytelling with rigorous analysis.

  2. Global and Historical Reach

    • 18th–19th Centuries: Explores Adam Smith’s invisible hand alongside early dissenters like Thomas Carlyle and Flora Tristan.
    • 20th Century: Illuminates Marxist debates in Germany and Russia, Latin American dependistas, and the international Wages for Housework campaign.
    • Contemporary Era: Examines how AI, trade wars, and a right-wing populist backlash are reshaping capitalism’s critics, showing that debate remains as vital now as ever.

  3. Authoritative Insight

    • Release Information: Published May 13, 2025 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 624 pages.
    • Critical Acclaim: Becca Rothfeld of The Washington Post calls it a “magisterial new study” that balances depth with readability.

  4. Why It Matters Today
    In an age of AI-driven automation and rising inequality, understanding capitalism’s critics helps us ask: can markets be harnessed for progressive ends? Cassidy doesn’t prescribe solutions but reminds us that capitalism has always been contested—and alternatives have always been conceivable.

Personal Recommendation

As an entrepreneur and critical thinker, you’ll appreciate Cassidy’s methodical tracing of ideas across centuries. His vivid portraits of lesser-known figures (e.g., J. C. Kumarappa’s Gandhian economics, Joan Robinson’s Keynesian critiques) illuminate how economic systems evolve under pressure. This book equips you with historical context to assess current business and policy debates—and inspires strategic reflection on capitalism’s next chapter.

Call to Action

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