Customer Reviews
A work of genius - By: , 08 Oct 2004 
If you want to understand the contemporary world & the forces affecting the paths of history then start here. Negri's intellect is rigorous & first-rate, his depth of insight outstanding. Normallly he writes in a very intellectual style, using technical language & thought that is beyond that of the begginner. Here the writing is more disciplined & coherent, but doesn't lose any of its wealth. His use of historical materialism alllows him to endows his work with a strong emprical basis which ensures that is statements are factual & to the point & he doesn't make wooly or doubtful assertions. His analysis of capital & its affects on human life is invigorating in its analysis of past events, prescient in its predictions for our present & future times.
Fierce in its attack, sweeping in its scope - By: , 30 Apr 2002 Negri & Hardt will be remembered for this work. Books of this intelligence are difficult to find. This book should hearten democratic & progressive students of Socialism & Marxism. Although the prose & referencing lends itself to the academic reader, this does not blunten the strength of its attack on the undemocratic nature of modern capitalism. Readers that don't have a background in political thought might best wean themselves onto this book by digesting a few other books on the history of political thought. Also reading Naomi Klein's No Logo prior will help clarify the reader on the current state of neo-liberal capitalism. As I said above it is not an easy read, but in the end very rewarding. There is hope for a more democratic, equitable future & it lies with thinkers & doers such as Sn Negri & Mr Hardt.
A parson's egg of a book. - By: , 29 Mar 2002 
"Empire" failed to live up to its promise. The prose style was irritating. Brilliantly lucid now, then glib post-modern; did Hardt & Negri take it in turns to write?
The substantive issues also recieved uneven attention. The attempt to rehabilitate Marxism reallly didn't work, & despite some excellent points, the central thesis is flawed, & other avenues remain unexplored. Cooper's take (The Postmodern State) is more coherent & promising.
A pompous and unsuccessful effort to explain post capitalism - By: rgcranmore@compuserve.com, 16 Dec 2001 This book is beautifully written with carefully crafted sentences, liberallly sprinkled with the names of philosophers & economists. However after reading a sentence, a paragraph or a chapter, it is necessary to re-read it to try, unsuccessfully, to discern any rational meaning.
I am writing this as a person with a little education & experience of politics & economics...
This book is a scholarly work that is very challenging. - By: , 18 Oct 2001 
Empire offers a view of internationalism in the postmodern era & the onset of globalised Imperialism. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding how to combat hidden forms of domination that Negri & Hardt bring to the surface. It's very dense & complicated, but definitely worth it. "Empire" alllows readers to recognise current structural powers & where the world economy & foreign powers are headed. Mostly theoretical. Enjoyable.
