Official Review: Structure by Andrew Plotner

[kandscreeley]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Structure" by Andrew Plotner.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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I have a confession to make. I don't know as much about our capitalistic government as I should. I learned in school about the three branches of government, but that's all I remember. So when I had the opportunity to read Structure, I jumped at it.

In the words of Andrew Plotner, the author, the purpose of the book is "to explore the systematic structure of Capitalism and expose the origins of the flaws and contradictions contained within it." The author defines capitalism, including all relevant terms, discusses exploitation of labor, and then explores what he feels the goals for growth should be.

As you might expect, certain parts of the book are quite advanced and difficult to understand. Yet, other parts are quite straightforward and definable. It was a dichotomy that was hard to resolve. The author tries to present the ideas in simplistic ways that much of the population could understand. He gives examples and charts, but he also reviews the appropriate terms. The problem, though, comes especially with the formulas. These passages I had to reread in order to grasp the meaning. I'm not even sure the numerous formulas were necessary. Still, understanding these parts was not a requirement for enjoying the book. There were so many interesting tidbits that I picked up that reading the book was not a waste.

I most appreciated the effort the author put into making this subject approachable. In fact, in the very beginning, the author tells you which chapters to read in order to get the most out of the book depending on your goal. Therefore, the book need not necessarily be read cover to cover, which increases the audience base.

I had two parts of the narrative that I most enjoyed. The first was discussing the exploitation of labor internationally. Mr. Plotner uses examples from the world stage to bring his points home. The second was the discussion of communism. I had some misconceptions that the author broke down.

My biggest question about this book was, "Is it possible?" I wondered if the author's ideas were obtainable. But, then, I decided it didn't really matter. The author puts forth his goals, his ideas, his dreams. He has a vision for society, which is more than most can say. I think it's worth discussing at the very least.

Unfortunately, the book was not professionally edited. I found more than the required ten errors. These consisted of capitalization errors as well as errors in possessives and missing words. In addition, sentence fragments were prevalent; the author often seemed to split up one sentence into two. A simple proofreader would improve the readability of the information presented.

All in all, I rate Structure 3 out of 4 stars due in large part to the errors. I didn't lower my rating despite the more technical passages because there was so much more information that was interesting and uncomplicated. Anyone interested in learning more about the capitalist economy and our political system in general would enjoy this book. I highly recommend it to all who are unsatisfied with the current state of affairs in the US, but don't be afraid to read the book in an unconventional manner. I, for one, am glad I read it.

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Structure
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[rumik]

I believe the book I last read leaned heavily towards capitalism, haha. I myself am more fond of socialism. This looks like a nice read; I might try it. Thanks for the review!

[kandscreeley]

I believe the book I last read leaned heavily towards capitalism, haha. I myself am more fond of socialism. This looks like a nice read; I might try it. Thanks for the review!

It's an intriguing concept. The book is well done, so I definitely recommend it. It made me think! Thanks.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

Like you, I have limited knowledge of the capitalistic government, but this book sounds less intimidating than some of the others that are out there. Thanks for your insightful review!

[Sydney Nyamasoka]

Thanks for the informative review. It's of great importance to understand systems of governance. In spite of not being a USA citizen, I might add the contents of the book to my understanding of international politics and systems of governance by reading this book.

[kandscreeley]

Like you, I have limited knowledge of the capitalistic government, but this book sounds less intimidating than some of the others that are out there. Thanks for your insightful review!

It's great especially if you follow the author's advice and only read certain chapters. It's definitely interesting. Thanks.

[kandscreeley]

Thanks for the informative review. It's of great importance to understand systems of governance. In spite of not being a USA citizen, I might add the contents of the book to my understanding of international politics and systems of governance by reading this book.

This is one that could be enjoyed by people of various countries. There are international references as well. I definitely recommend it. Thanks.

[Makaylaparker]

I am not easily familiar with how the United States government functions, but reading this book could help me understand. In spite of the errors, I like that the author catered toward the needs of the reader by explaining each chapter's purpose. Thank you for this review.

[Nisha Ward]

There's one thing you said that I have to disagree with you on slightly. I do think it matters if the author's ideas can be achieved. Discussion is great and needed but part of why I get so discouraged by American leftists on the internet is because of their lofty ideals that can't feasibly be put into long term action and the refusal to take steps to get there. That being said, I think the rest of your review is pretty spot on and, if it weren't for the errors within, I'd definitely give this a try.

[Fazzier]

Sounds like an informative read. It is observed that economies of capitalistic governments tend to be stronger, generally. I'm curious why that is the case, and a book that enables one to learn more about the capitalist economy is definitely a must-read for me. Thank you for the excellent review and for the recommendation!

[kandscreeley]

I am not easily familiar with how the United States government functions, but reading this book could help me understand. In spite of the errors, I like that the author catered toward the needs of the reader by explaining each chapter's purpose. Thank you for this review.

If you're looking for the best of the US, this may not be the book to read. This one more covers the flaws of our system. It's an interesting read, though. Thanks.

[kandscreeley]

There's one thing you said that I have to disagree with you on slightly. I do think it matters if the author's ideas can be achieved. Discussion is great and needed but part of why I get so discouraged by American leftists on the internet is because of their lofty ideals that can't feasibly be put into long term action and the refusal to take steps to get there. That being said, I think the rest of your review is pretty spot on and, if it weren't for the errors within, I'd definitely give this a try.

I didn't get the sense from the author of someone just spouting these lofty ideals. Rather, it felt like someone frustrated with the flaws and trying to find a way to do better. Thanks!

[kandscreeley]

Sounds like an informative read. It is observed that economies of capitalistic governments tend to be stronger, generally. I'm curious why that is the case, and a book that enables one to learn more about the capitalist economy is definitely a must-read for me. Thank you for the excellent review and for the recommendation!

If you're wanting to learn more about capitalism, this is the book for you. And the author definitely explains why the economy is "stronger." You might not like the answer, though.

[LauraLeeWasHere]

Really! Is there any topic that you won't take a bite out of?!

I agree that we should all be aware of at least the basics of how our country is structured and governed. However, I live in Canada and looking for a four-leaf clover in an alfalfa field would be more entertaining.

When you said that the author had cleared up some misconceptions you had, I got nervous. One intelligent man able to express himself doesn't necessarily mean we are hearing the truth. But then you said,

I think it's worth discussing at the very least.

and I decided to settle down.

Once again, you've taken on a book review and gave us all we needed to know, and then some.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

[kandscreeley]

Really! Is there any topic that you won't take a bite out of?!

I agree that we should all be aware of at least the basics of how our country is structured and governed. However, I live in Canada and looking for a four-leaf clover in an alfalfa field would be more entertaining.

When you said that the author had cleared up some misconceptions you had, I got nervous. One intelligent man able to express himself doesn't necessarily mean we are hearing the truth. But then you said,

I think it's worth discussing at the very least.

and I decided to settle down.

Once again, you've taken on a book review and gave us all we needed to know, and then some.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

The author presents some compelling arguments. Am I completely converted to socialism now? No. Do I recognize that there are issues that need to be addressed? Absolutely! Am I more clear what the issues are? For sure! That's the strength of the book. Thanks!