Why read The New Prophets of Capital?

Book cover of The New Prophets of Capital

Book description

As severe environmental degradation, breathtaking inequality, and increasing alienation push capitalism against its own contradictions, mythmaking has become as central to sustaining our economy as profitmaking.

Enter the new prophets of capital: Sheryl Sandberg touting the capitalist work ethic as the antidote to gender inequality; John Mackey promising that free…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The New Prophets of Capital as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Will Kitchen

Author

Religious ideas are alive and well, sometimes in the most secular of places.

In this book, Nicole Aschoff explains how four contemporary prophets–Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg, the Gates Foundation, and John Mackey (founder of Whole Foods)–help to sustain capitalism by appropriating forces of socio-political and environmental critique.

Drawing upon the work of Luc Boltanski, Aschoff’s sociological analysis is vibrant, insightful, and (at a mere 150 pages) refreshingly economical.

From Will's 3 favorite reads in 2023.