End This Depression Now!

By: Paul Krugman

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro, Paul Krugman

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The Great Recession that began in 2007 is now more than four years old - and counting. Some 24 million Americans are unemployed or underemployed, and at recent rates of job creation we won’t be back to normal levels of employment until late this decade. This is a tragedy. Do we have to accept it?

"No!" is the resounding answer given by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman in this call to arms. We have seen this situation before and we know how to fix it; all we lack is the political will to take action. Krugman walks us through the financial crisis that triggered the greatest downturn since the Great Depression and outlines the efforts that have been made thus far.

The way forward is clear: Our priority must be to get ourselves back on the path to growth; every day that we lag behind normal production levels only adds to the astronomical economic loss of this depression. What we need for a rapid, powerful recovery is precisely what we've needed in crises past - a burst of government spending to jump-start the economy. We owe it not only to the unemployed, but to everyone affected by this tragedy to end this depression now.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2012 Paul Krugman (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“An important contribution to the current study of economics and a reason for hope that effective solutions will be implemented again.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“An important contribution to the current study of economics and a reason for hope that effective solutions will be implemented again.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Krugman , winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics, takes an edifying and often humorous journalistic approach to the current economic crisis in this accessible and timely study. Rather than provide a mere postmortem on the 2008 collapse (though relevant history lessons are provided), Krugman aims to plot a path out of this depression. Krugman has consistently called for more liberal economic policies, but his wit and bipartisanship ensure that this book will appeal to a broad swath of readers - from the Left to the Right, from the 99% to the 1%.” (Publishers Weekly)

after all the dumb things you can get it right

If you could sum up End This Depression Now! in three words, what would they be?

an enlightened way

What other book might you compare End This Depression Now! to and why?

Charles darwin's Origin of the Species

What does Rob Shapiro and Paul Krugman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The Rob Shipiro input allows you to feel the emotion and desperation emphasis which the book alone can't deliver

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me rethink current populist economic dogma just like Origin of the Species on how man was created and to free myself from a self serving economic religion.

Any additional comments?

You must read this to understand the fundamental wrong headed ness of current ecomomic dogma

Puts solutions to jobs problem in focus

What did you love best about End This Depression Now!?

It provides a very logical explanation of what led to the great recession and what can be done to get us out of it. He also details what is wrong-headed about the concentration on deficits and how spending less will actually prolong the problem. Furthermore, he provides EVIDENCE rather than hust an ideological position.

Keynes, Krugman, and "End This Depression Now"

I learned many things from reading Krugman's new book. 3 of which I will share:

1. That I like Paul Krugman's books better than I like his NYT's column.

2. That a high unemployment, stratified and slow-growing economy is most likely our "new normal."

3. That we need to have a serious (and hopefully informed) discussion in this country about Keynesian economics.

On the first point, I think that Paul Krugman does better with a book length format than the near sound-bite space available in a column. Krugman is clearly livid that the the Obama administration failed to push forward a stimulus plan that he considers anywhere near large enough to bring down high unemployment, but his arguments in End This Depression Now! come across as more balanced and measured than his NYT's writing.
The long form of a book allows Krugman the space to develop his arguments and to support his points with evidence and historical examples. While the book contains plenty of politics and descriptions of the failings of politicians (of both parties), it is more of an economic than a political treatise. I always felt that Krugman was on surer ground when explaining economic principles rather than political motivations, a belief that reading End This Depression Now! only reinforces.

Should you read this book? If you are already predisposed to the core Keynesian belief that government should have a role in stimulating demand (by spending) during a recession (low consumer/business spending and idle economic capacity) then reading this book will only strengthen this belief. Getting a good grasp on the fundamental economic arguments (both for and against) for Keynesian type stimulus is a worthwhile activity for anyone interested in the workings of the economy.

But what if you are of a more conservative bent, outside of Krugman's usual readership? For you I have an even greater hope that you will read End This Depression Now! so that we can go to coffee (I'm buying) and we can discuss what you make of Krugman's arguments. I found Krugman to be persuasive, and I'd like to hear your arguments in response.

What are you reading?

He reviews the situation clearly and logically

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommended - Great survey of how we got here - what are the issues facing us and what we need to do - Backed up with facts, figures, history and a workable model of the economy. I can see what he got his Nobel Prize.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could

Excellent explanation of the economy & how to fix

If you could sum up End This Depression Now! in three words, what would they be?

clear, correct, and compelling

Any additional comments?

This audiobook is perhaps the best I've heard on economics and related topics. The writing is clear and the arguments are compelling. The only downside is that Krugman makes the emotional anguish of living through a depression worse by showing how it is self-inflicted (or more accurately, inflicted by ideological leaders and misguided economists who have not thought clearly about what a depression really is). The performance is also excellent.

Great Book, but why the hatred...

What did you love best about End This Depression Now!?

This book, especially towards the end, put together a well reasoned practical way to end this depression. I in general lean toward smaller governments with less spending in normal times and appreciate how the author (when not making personal attacks on Republicans) lays out the reasoning and historical examples for his policy. It's best quality is that it does not assume that there is a simple solution to a simple problem for many of our current calamities and explains the problems in depth along with a reasonable sounding solution.

My problem with this book is that in the beginning it seems to just be a I hate republicans lets bash them book. An example is that he continues the myth that rich people and corporation give all their money to Republicans, sites like opensecrets tend to show that Politian in power get the lion's share of the money.

This is a shame, because the book is really good (so if you are an open-minded Right leaner like me keep listening). This book has the best detailed explanations of the 2007/8 mortgage crisis, European debt problems, unemployment and why the Bush/Obama economic stimulus package failed out there.

Sensible economics masterfully explained

Krugman brilliantly explains and documents how we will all be better off in the long run and short run by unfreezing the economy by embracing the time honored principles of Keynesian economics. A must read.

Perfect Narration for a Vital Economics Book

What did you love best about End This Depression Now!?

Nobel-Princeton economist Krugman explains a complex situation so clearly, calmly, and factually. As an investor I need accurate and complete facts, not spin and shouting. But too many PhD economists these days emphasize spin and political bias over facts and logic.

What does Rob Shapiro and Paul Krugman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Rob Shapiro also narrates "Predator Nation" a 2012 book by the award winning Charles H. Ferguson. I am halfway through it now. Another A+ narration.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The economy could easily have been cured in 2009 by applying basic freshman Economics 101. And it is not too late to do so now.

Too vague a solutiom

An adequate analysis that does support efficientlly the solution proposed. Nonetheless, it makes for a very interesting audio book.

Krugman is in DEMAND, pun intended

Krugman expertly, yet informally explains the progressive case for first all stimulus and the near and long term losses of austerity on the middle class and working people.