Product Description

Schlosser explores three prominent and little understood features of globalisation: drugs, pornography and migrant labour. REEFER MADNESS traces the history of the contemporary war on drugs from its origins in Reagan's social conservatism through toits profound impact on civil society. AN EMPIRE OF THE OBSCENE tells the story of Reuben Sturman, who most effectively exploited economies of scale to create a business that now saturates America and the world with graphic sexual imagery. IN THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS shows how public demand for a soft red fruit is causing mass migration from Central America and changing California's political economy forever. Overall, the business of America is business. And much of it is underground.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #223536 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

About the Author
Eric Schlosser is an author and investigative journalist based in New York. His first book, FAST FOOD NATION, was a major international bestseller (Allen Lane, 2001). His work has appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone and the Guardian.

Customer Reviews

An enjoying read
The book is split into 3 essays each dealing with a different topic.

The first essay concerns the unjust American laws concerning marijuana and mandatory minimum sentances. The second deals with the exploitation of illegal immigrants in the strawberry fields of california. The third and final essay deals with the porn industry and how the American government attempts to hide its own freedom of press laws.

I found the first essay the most interesting, however all three were shocking in their own rights. If you have read the others other book - 'Fast Food Nation' i would recommend this book, if you have not, i'd recommend reading that first!

As a whole i thought the book was very interesting reassuring my beliefs that, while America is a nice place to visit, you wouldnt wanna live there!

Highly recommended
Don't be freaked by the title. This is an excellently researched and documented book about some aspects of American life : marijuana laws, pornography and cheap Mexican labour in the southern states...

I find the way of writing thouroughly enjoyable and appreciate the author's point of view on some of these subjects - the hypocrisy that pervades. Indeed, how is it possible that, in some US states a convicted murderer will remain six years in jail while a person possessing limited quantities of marijuana (but caught for the third time : "Three strikes and you're out!") will be in prison for life ? Why does the US government claim to want to boot out the Mexican farmers of the South on the basis that "they are taking our jobs" when, clearly they bring a lot of riches to the country while receiving none themselves ? Perhaps this is the most moving chapter of the book... The description of the way in which these Mexican immigrants have to live is deeply shocking.

A great book.

Another great work by Eric Schlosser
Having read 'Fast Food Nation' (FFN) when it first came out and enjoyed knowing all about what is wrong with the fast food industry I knew 'Reefer Madness' was a very similar book just from reading its back cover.

There are three totally self-contained chapters on the subjects of the commerce and consumption of marijuana, migrant and immigrant workers in California's fruit picking industry and the production and consumption of pornography.

And I was not disappointed. 'Reefer Madness' succintly exposes some idiosyncrasies in American society with the same coolness, wit and depth of FFN. Each chapter traces out a short history of the subject, which in the case of Marijuana goes back to just after the independence, in 1776. Schlosser keeps a very cool head and includes the odd fun fact that will make you laugh inside. He doesn't come out explicitly for one side of the discussion (which inevitably there is) until the very last chapter, where he wraps everything up. Until then, the only clue about Schlosser's opinion lies in the fact that he sometimes uses irony (but never sarchasm) to describe the actions of someone he either feels sorry for or totally disagrees with and that he always treats extremely fairly the people and views that he seems to be supporting. Which is more than understanding.

If your political background is more on the right/conservative side you will be relieved to hear that the author, although siding with the left side of the spectrum on these same issues, writes in a very impartial, reasoned and informed way. So please don't dismiss the author and the book as 'something written by a leftie': besides being out of fashion these days, that kind of thinking will only lead you to closing up your eyes to some of the most stupid and thoughtless contradictions in USA's society, a society which still manages to exhert considerable influence over the rest of the world. If, however, like me, you think it's ridiculous that the possession of a pound of weed should make you spend the rest of your life in jail while many murders and rapes don't, you should definitely read this book.