2030

The Real Story of What Happens to America

By: Albert Brooks

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Is this what's in store? June 12, 2030, started out like any other day in memory---and by then, memories were long. Since cancer had been cured fifteen years before, America's population was aging rapidly. That sounds like good news, but consider this: millions of baby boomers, with a big natural predator picked off, were sucking dry benefits and resources that were never meant to hold them into their eighties and beyond. Young people around the country simmered with resentment toward "the olds" and anger at the treadmill they could never get off of just to maintain their parents' entitlement programs. But on that June 12th, everything changed: a massive earthquake devastated Los Angeles, and the government, always teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, was unable to respond. The fallout from the earthquake sets in motion a sweeping novel of ideas that pits national hope for the future against assurances from the past and is peopled by a memorable cast of refugees and billionaires, presidents and revolutionaries, all struggling to find their way. In 2030, the author's all-too-believable imagining of where today's challenges could lead us tomorrow makes for gripping and thought-provoking listening.

©2011 Albert Brooks (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This is an intriguing vision of America's future. Recommended for fans of futuristic dystopian fiction." ( Library Journal)

Albert Brooks/ Dick Hill?!?

I got about 10 mins in and am now looking for ways to see if I can get a refund or maybe at least a swap to print since Amazon owns Aud now. Dick needs to retire. I didn't even look at the narrator when I bought because no human who has any experience here would expect Dick Hill to read Albert Brooks. I am truly happy that Albert is doing so well that he has NO clue who is reading his book. I am sad that I'll probably not hear or read it. I am blessed that I can throw away a credit. Sorry Dick...it's time to STFU. Albert ...Write on!

A dissapiontment

Any additional comments?

A disappointment (& I'm an Albert Brooks fan). So tedious I was never able to finish part one on a cross country drive. I wish I had waited on some reviews before ordering.

Depressing Disappointment

Albert Brooks has been so brilliant over the years.. I had high expectations for this book. The book is a fictional look at the USA in 2030.

The characters are unlikable, the storyline is bleak and depressing, and suprisingly, there is very little humor in this book. There's not even that much creativity in his foreseeing of the future - stuff like "cancer is cured", "a giant earthquake hits california", and the Health Insurance system continues to suck, are not really innovative predictions. If the book would have been funny, or there would have been some heartwarming characters who were worth rooting for, I could say something nice about it. But I cant really think of any redeeming qualities about this book. I'm not even fond of Dick Hill (known as the voice in the Jack Reacher series) as a reader.

Love ya Albert, but sorry.. gotta give this book thumbs down.

Had potential but becomes uber lefty preach-a-thon

Keep in mind I only got half way through it but that was all I could take. perhaps it got better (It could have happened, I guess) Well narrated, some interesting ideas, but what starts as a one sided world view perspective devolved into a slanted theme and then later just became so deeply rooted in ideological presumptions to the point where it stopped being an interesting story. Not for me.

The topic has potential, but....

...this book does not really take advantange of the potential of this topic: The U.S. is buried under a mountain of Chinese debt, and then experinences a massive natural disaster and has to try to rebuild with no money.

The characters are uninspiring and I had a hard time caring about what happended to them next.

The narration is fine, in fact, I think it makes sense to have older narrator since so much of this book deals with the challenge of the country dealing with a huge, older population.

But in terms of plot, characters, pacing, or creativity this book falls short.

Weak

I really like Albert Brooks, “Defending Your Life” was a wonderful story and a definite favorite of mine. I only found this book after seeing his recent documentary.

I’ll let most of the way off-base predictions he makes from 2010 onward slide, having had the benefit of living through the time period so badly predicted. I will say he tried to come up with way too many wild ideas for a fast approaching time frame. Many authors make this easily prevented mistake. He should’ve just set the time frame much farther into the future and then it wouldn’t be so laughable.

I liked his overall idea about the unfairness of our society when it comes to young people. Although, someone could’ve at least mentioned that young people do turn into old people eventually and would ultimately also appreciate longer lives too.

I was disappointed that he didn’t seem to consult any experts concerning the many topics he doesn’t know very much about. It would’ve been a much better story if he had tried to make it a little realistic. Brooks is a brilliant man, but this came across as very “phoned in” to me. Authors should at least consult with experts or do more research when they delve into topics like healthcare, finance and government. I found his foray into those areas highly inauthentic and almost childish.

I liked some of the characters, especially Lee, the Chinese healthcare savior. I did appreciate that the solution came from an unexpected outsider with fresh ideas.

I also found the narration tedious.