Super Short Summary

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein critiques neoliberalism, arguing that free-market policies, particularly those popularized by economist Milton Friedman, are often advanced without democratic consent through "shock therapy"—a strategy where crises are exploited to implement unpopular legislation. Klein examines this in the context of geopolitical events such as the Iraq War, showing how crises like 9/11 facilitated these tactics, ultimately benefiting a select few while harming broader society. The book explores the origins of "shock therapy," its historical applications in countries like Chile, South Africa, and during the Iraq invasion, and critiques institutions like the IMF and World Bank for their roles in perpetuating these practices.