What an exceptionally detailed and shocking local and global history over several hundred years about the massive influence of a product most of us never even think about on governmental development and policies, social systems, industrialization, brutal oppression to create cheap labor, communication networks, markets, and more. The author wove ( pun intended) myriad points into a picture of change and adjustment (often violent) region by region as well as the global big picture, reminding the listener at times with summaries of what had been discussed, as he described how the production of cotton and cloth evolved over the centuries affecting systems - and humanity - throughout the world. An astonishing history lesson. Developing a cohesive picture of the influence of cotton on local and global communities and systems from what seems to have been a massive research project, is impressive. While it may seem dry to some, since it is no novel written as a page-turning best-selling thriller, I was fascinated by the constant changes of so many aspect of human societies throughout the world, era by era, wrought by cotton. I was eager to learn about New England cotton manufacturing in the early-mid 1900s because my grandfather was a manager of a cotton mill. Based on the book it must have been one of the last ones in New England and then he followed the industry to SE Asia where labor was, and still is, so cheap. I wonder what he thought of the conditions created to bring us cotton goods so cheaply - conditions that remain today.

Amazing historical journey. Had to “hold on by my fingernails “,at times, however , because it would often be like reading a textbook. I learned a lot!

I wish to learn something new when I choose this book, but it was a disappointment