The Mandibles

A Family, 2029-2047

By: Lionel Shriver

Narrated by: George Newbern

Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

With dry wit and psychological acuity, this near-future novel explores the aftershocks of an economically devastating US sovereign debt default on four generations of a once-prosperous American family. Down-to-earth and perfectly realistic in scale, this is not an over-the-top Blade Runner tale. It is not science fiction.

In 2029 the United States is engaged in a bloodless world war that will wipe out the savings of millions of American families. Overnight, on the international currency exchange, the "almighty dollar" plummets in value, to be replaced by a new global currency: the "bancor". In retaliation the president declares that America will default on its loans. With "Deadbeat Nation" being unable to borrow, the government prints money to cover its bills. What little remains for savers is rapidly eaten away by runaway inflation.

The Mandibles have been counting on a sizable fortune filtering down when their 97-year-old patriarch dies. Once the inheritance turns to ash, each family member must contend with disappointment but also - as the US economy spirals into dysfunction - the challenge of sheer survival.

Recently affluent, Avery is petulant that she can't buy olive oil while her sister, Florence, absorbs strays into her cramped household. An expat author, their aunt Nollie returns from abroad at 73 to a country that's unrecognizable. Her brother, Carter, fumes at caring for their demented stepmother now that an assisted living facility isn't affordable. Only Florence's oddball teenage son, Willing, an economics autodidact, will save this formerly august American family from the streets.

The Mandibles is about money. Thus it is necessarily about bitterness, rivalry, and selfishness - but also about surreal generosity, sacrifice, and transformative adaptation to changing circumstances.

©2016 Lionel Shriver (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

current statism extrapolated

spot on realistic outline.
a 'middle of the road' extrapolation, without any 'black swans' for or against.
obvious linear progression of current corrupt socialism (two words with the same meaning).
mixed execution.

When reality is stranger than fiction

Read this book in 2021 (post-COVID-19 lockdowns and shortages), and let’s just say I don’t recommend falling asleep to this book. For a book written back in 2016, there may be opportunity yet for some of these scenarios to happen in real life. Entertaining, and informative to those who are concerned with global economic disaster.

Good read!

It is definitely a interesting book and how it is very applicable to today’s political and social climate

Chilling look at a potential future

The most haunting thing is the logic is flawless and could pan out exactly like this. The only thing that really stood out was birth rates going up across the world.

Not Shriver's best, but her books are always worth a read

When the book sticks to the story and the wonderful characters, it's compelling. Unfortunately, the prose all too frequently mires in lengthy, tedious, largely irrelevant economic theorizing. The story itself provides great demonstrations of the dramatic economic situations; showing works, telling doesn't. Often witty, this book is a must for us Shriver devotees. I'd recommend many other titles to the uninitiated.

Most Excellent!

Should be required reading for every US citizen. We all need to be more mindful of the future our countries current "Economic Policy" is creating. This is only scary because of how close to reality the facts of the book truly are.

Dark, Smart, Funny

Tart prose, black humor, great dialogue, highly recommend. It's an American story , not far fetched.

Super fun!!

For economists and preppers alike. Not a doomsday shootout, but a thoughtful, realistic vision of a family trying to live and be happy.

Frighteningly Spot On

Anyone with an interest in the future of the American economy and culture must make this required reading. Ms. Shrivel has captured the distopic future of our current economic trajectory. Read it and weep for our children and grandchildren.

Clever, bleak & believable dystopia novel

Would you consider the audio edition of The Mandibles to be better than the print version?

Having both read and listened to the book I don't think the audio edition added or detracted from the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Great grandfather Mandible because he sacrificed for the family. Also the Aunt who toted around copies of her book and had a remarkable surprise at the end of the book.

Have you listened to any of George Newbern’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He was great in Father of the Bride and did a competent job on this.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very poignant chapter when the son brings his father and his wife home from the luxury retirement hotel after losing his entire fortune.

Any additional comments?

I didn't "enjoy" the dystopian story but I took away many lessons from it. Shriver writes with such conviction and authenticity that you can't look away. My husband didn't want to listen to the audiotape because he found the characters depressing or despicable, but I felt compelled to read it to the end. Post President-Elect Trump the picture of American in free fall is all the more believable and terrifying.