The first line, of this lyrical anthem against the modern age, is an apt lens to view WORLD ON FIRE. the view of oil rigs, the black beating heart of the men and corporate entities who drive the machinery of poisnous transnational capitalism. The bleached sky is a fitting metaphor for the books central polemic of man's perversion of nature.

That polemic, is as grand a vision of a wasteland between men as I have yet seen. Technology, Capital ,the innovations of our time gnaw on the bonds of our relationships,our humanity , of our context of reality. The billions toiling for the good of the few. Mother earth being trampled by the needs of the stockholders, the profiteers the transnational capitlaists.

However the disintegration of society by the very things it covets, is both the book's peak and valley. He is all over the place: THe myriad forms of propagandist infomercial,personal narative, and [messed] up narrative analysis are not for everybody. THe attack on the beef industry, televsion,globalization, Modern medicine and [imitations], Corporate identity and Social hierarchy will be uncomfortbale for many. But thats the point kids. It is a passionate scream for a return to something cleaner, an end to imperalism a rebirth of man.

Brownstein is a cynical idealist, and the horrors of the poem hide shards of hope. but this is a gritty mood trip callculated to make u distrust the new world order.. a Derivative, freshly antagnistic , contrasting, combabtitive, fast read.... If your lookign for a more Level headed examination (and critique) of Globaliztion and its discontents try Thomas FRiedman's THe Lexus and the Olive Tree.

But, Friedman has obligations to the system, and where his cautious review ends, Brownstein's takes aim at the enormous white sun........

The author's honesty and truth about what is happening in the world is most impressive. His depth of thinking and feeling is shocking. Except for Voltaire, no author has given me such an accurate description of good and evil, about who the real devils are in this world. I am proud to review this great book. Almost every sentence deserves to be permanently written and saved in a personal journal. Reading this book has added a great value to my existing knowledge of the external world.
I am going to read it for a second time with great pleasure.

Brandon

Brilliantly depicts the transition point in New York City's downtown culture between the hunger artists of the 60's and 70's and the gourmand diners of the 80's and 90's.

Weak, sophmoric, hysterical, not worth the time. I know this was supposed to be allegorical, but even allegory has to touch ground occasionally. Instead of Ship of Fools - this is House of ... . Read Magic Mountain instead. Read anything instead.