The illusion of choice: how the market economy shapes our destiny

Readers drawn to Mr. Schmookler's work can look forward to a very engaging book. The pace and tempo serve to guide the reader along to the conclusion that the market economy is the principal cause of the destruction of traditional community structures. However, those looking for a truly challenging of market capitalism should look elsewhere. Anyone who has dieted upon Marxian critiques of the market is likely to find the radical critique offered by Schmookler to be rather disappointing. On the one hand, his arguments are superficial, replete with assertions and reflect little new scholarship; while on the other hand, he promises more than he delivers. Ironically, despite the author's hostility for the market, his book might actually become commercially successful due to the easy pace of a breathless string of simplistic assertions which he offers. Casual or sympathetic readers may not readily identify the blurred mix of emotion with rational argument. A complete riposte to these unsupported claims against the desfmctive impact of the market goes beyond the brief of a reviewer. Therefore, the comments which follow will be more general rather than detailed.