In "The McDonaldization of Society," Ritzer takes the fast-food industry and its principles of business as an organizational template for emerging postmodern society. He points out that the book in not a criticism of McDonald's, nor even the fast-food business, but an analysis of how fast-food organizational practices have permeated into myriad aspects of our social lives. His marshalling of evidience for this trend is compelling. Using many examples from such disparate social institutions as family life, higher education, the funeral business, health care, and entertainment, Ritzer illuminates the broader trends within the "taken for granted" daily routines of life. He does so with a keen sociological eye, but also with a very wry sense of irreverence that adds a sardonic touch of humor to the expose.
The fast-food model, according to Ritzer, has a manner of pushing us towards ever greater reliance on the fostering of quantity over quality, attainment of efficiency, creation of predictability, and reducing much of our life experience to a coldly calculated "value." As one reads further and takes in the diverse landscape of specific illustrations for these trends, one begins to see the "McDonalized" influence everywhere. Then too, one will also grasp why so many of us are bemoaning the demise of free time in our lives, and how we have become unwitting captives of the mindless inertia of "I want it fast, I want it now, I want what's next" mentalities.
Fortunately, Ritzer includes a chapter on what to do about living in a "McDonalized" world. He points out that we do have choices, and responsibilities, shoud we choose to accept them. One can learn to march to a less frantic pace of social organization, and recognize that many of the promised "rewards" of such an accelerated lifestyle are simply false and hollow.
After reading a book like this, one feels compelled to begin thinking through the relationship between personal life and institutional pressures for faster living. That alone is a solid reason to have a copy of this book. It will uncover some unpleasant realities, but at the same time challenge one to get beyond the defeatist attitude of "well, what you gonna' do?"
"McDonaldization of Society" is indeed a wake-up call, but also a consciousness altering work that underscores the important truth: just because the rest of society seems to be running faster and without real purpose, it doesn't mean that one must fall in line. My advice: Purchase this insightful book, take time to read and think about it... read it, in fact, at a favorite "Ma and Pa" type diner, where they won't encourage you to rush out the door and will ask you to wait awhile while the cook fusses over that blue-plate special. A choice, you see.
My only caveat is that now the term "Wal-Mart-ization, is probably more apropos given the rapid expanse of this enterprise. Two reasons why Wal-Mart is more appropriate. First, McDonalds is merely one small department within a Wal-Mart. And secondly, Wal-Marts have a detrimental effect (debate this on your own if you like) on the local economy. McDonalds, rarely had the kind of economic impact on their environs as Wal-marts do. I understand that McDonalds came first, though - so okay.
There are other aspects that I'd like to see discussed in the book: 1. The factoid I've heard that countries with McDonalds don't go to war with each other; and 2. Is the deteriorating level of service at places like McDonalds indicative of a decline with something else in our society? I don't know what neighborhood Ritzer is from, but I wouldn't go in to the McDonalds near my college campus if you paid me. It also seems to be the place where the panhandlers are most prevalent. These would make for a nice epilogue to any new editions; I read the first.