Bad Samaritans was an introduction to open-minded economists a nd political free-thinkers to Ha-Joon Chang's theo r ies of the dangers of free-trade. With irreverent wit, an engagingly personal style, a nd a keen grasp of histo r y, Chang blasts holes in the ",Wo r ld Is Flat", o r thodoxy of Thomas Friedman a nd others who argue that only unfettered capitalism a nd wide-open international trade can lift struggling nations out of poverty. On the contrary, Chang shows, today's economic superpowers-fr om the U.S. to Britain to his native Ko r ea-all attained prosperity by shameless protectionism a nd government intervention in industry, a fact conveniently fo r gotten now that they want to compete in fo r eign markets. Chang's cage-rattling, contrarian histo r y of global capital appeals to readers new to economic theo r y as well as members of the old school looking fo r a fresh take.