Aftershock

The Next Economy and America’s Future

By: Robert B. Reich

Narrated by: Robert Reich

Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of 12 acclaimed books, Robert B. Reich is a Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and has served in three national administrations.

While many blamed Wall Street for the financial meltdown, Aftershock points a finger at a national economy in which wealth is increasingly concentrated at the top - and where a grasping middle class simply does not have the resources to remain viable.

©2010 Robert B. Reich (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Reich's thesis is well argued and frighteningly plausible: without a return to the 'basic bargain' (that workers are also consumers), the "aftershock" of the Great Recession includes long-term high unemployment and a political backlash - a crisis, he notes with a sort of grim optimism, that just might be painful enough to encourage necessary structural reforms." ( Publishers Weekly)

a compelling argument clearly delivered

Robert Reich has a gift for explaining complex economic arguments in a language a non-economist can understand. His argument here is very compelling and goes down easy read in his friendly, familiar voice. I give it 4 instead of 5 stars because the last third of the audio book seems like filler added at the insistence of a publisher, not necessary to make his argument. But the whole is a very pleasant listen and certainly convinced me that tea party demogagues notwithstanding, the American public is looking not for smaller but for fairer government, and getting there is critical to economic recovery and to the recovery of the legitimacy of our political system.

It's a perspective.

He draws a line in the sand, just like everybody else with an economic viewpoint. Had a hard time accepting some of what he said as true. Just like every other "research based" opinion I think we can manipulate the data in almost any direction to support our beliefs. Isn't that what we do? Interesting though and worth a listen. The narration was good although I thought it was funny that everyone he quoted sounded like the voice I imagine the snarky old lady (Maxine) on the greeting cards would have.

Read last chapter first

Though written in 2010, what he proposes as the future aftershock of economic and political events unfold today. His final thoughts on solutions to problems he foresees are very relevant today. Reading the final chapter will convince you the first chapters of the book set a very real basis for actions we may, or may not, take advantage of now.

Well done. Fair and balanced.

Too many books these days waiver from facts and reality due to personal and/or political reasons - this one does not. Mr Reich stays with the facts and properly places history in perspective. The times of today are not exactly like economic history, and those that hang on to those 'old' economic beliefs will be left behind. This informative book was a quick 'read' and I'll likely give it another listen.

Bob Reich knows how to be ahead of his time!

Robert Reich is and will always be ahead of his time. Even in 2010, he was for Medicare for All.

An eye-opener

Concise, clearly-expressed analysis of current economic conditions. A very convincing argument by a credible commentator.

Interesting but then gets weird.

What did you like best about Aftershock? What did you like least?

Some interesting thoguhts about the economy but then it gets way out there at the end. Too far for me to take seriously.

Do you think Aftershock needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No- I won't read it.

Any additional comments?

Interesting book, but at the end the author loses or perhaps I should say passes the point of disbelief. His ideas about what will happen or has to happen feel far too sci-fi.
Having a political science/legal/government back ground myself, I felt the author needed to do a bit more research on constitutional law as well as how city bonds and city governments work.
People too often don't understand how cities are chartered and this affects local economies on a far greater level than a mortgage scam or ponzi scheme. When the local economy is going or not going so does the nation.

mr reich has got it down, the truth and thats it

Would you listen to Aftershock again? Why?

yes, it actually needs a second listen to see what happened and where the country is headed

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the demise of our economy driven by greed and no thought of the average american

Which character – as performed by Robert Reich – was your favorite?

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

the whole book was very well written and moments of disappointment in the so called leadership in washington.

Any additional comments?

good listen, get it and dont be fooled by the spin from the greed and con bunch such as FOX news. just listen and look for facts and make your own judgement. the simple mind is what the right wants to win their votes by smoke and mirrors and outright lies. mr reich delivers with this book and more power to him!

Very accurate view of the US economy

Robert Reich provides a very accurate view of the US economy and the reasons for its current troubles.

Thought Provoking

The narrator who is also the author read it well. The material was thought provoking.