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What is the book that changed your views? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago by Different_pie@lemmy.world to c/books@lemmy.ml

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Please share books that affected your worldview or changed your thoughts.

For me, it’s A People’s History of the World by Chris Harman. I studied business and work in finance, and before reading it, I never questioned the idea that capitalism was just the natural way of things. This book made me realize that capitalism is man made. It had a beginning and it can have an end. Wealth and poverty are not just inevitable, they are created by human decisions. That perspective really shook me.

Do you have a book that had a similar impact on you?

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[–] Sirus@lemm.ee 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Grapes of Wrath. Until I read that I never thought of the human side and impact of the industrial revolution. Eye opening.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Interesting, my experience was that it was more a critique of capitalism than about industrialization itself ...

[–] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It was both. Industrialization cuts out a lot of need for human workers. Capitalism cuts out the needs of humans in the drive for profit.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

sure, of course - I just meant my memory of the book wasn't that it emphasized industrialization in particular - I remember the evils of poverty, and of company towns, and so on ... automation wasn't a theme I particularly remember from the book, even if it is certainly related. That said, I read the book decades ago, lol

[–] WarmRegards@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

Reading East of Eden right now and need to get to Grapes soon.