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)

This man makes sense!

Robert Reich knows what he is talking about and makes a lot of sense. This is a short book, but well worth listening to. IT is not really a story just like a long paper; but good!

What we need to do.

Robert Reich present a clear, concise and logical explanation of what has happened in our society and economy in recent years, some of the causes and what we need to do. His presentation of income inequality in U.S. society and its consequences are particularly enlightening and echo the analyses of many other economists, sociologists and political scientists writing today. After listening to this book, if you want more in depth analysis, you might read (not on Audible) the books Spirit Level by Wilkinson and Pickett (Reich wrote an introduction) or Poverty and Income Distribution by Wolff--there are also many others. But Reich makes the case succinctly. Definitely worth a listen.

Robert Reich is brilliant!!!

Once again Robert Reich nails it!!!
Very clearly explains how we got in the financial mess, and his suggested ideas to correct it and to keep it from happening again.
This book has really stimulated my thinking, and made me realize how wrong the current experts are in the way they are trying to address the challenges, with old solutions, that have been proven not to work.

Highly recomended.

Warren B. White
Nashville, TN

How do we get back on our feet After Shock?

It is difficult to write about a book that tells us how we as a society have gone wrong after all if you don't like the book what exactly are you saying? I chose this book to try to understand at a greater depth what has happened to our economy and how perhaps it can be right-sided again. I did however have 2 apprehensions as I clicked the download button.

First it is narrated by the author. Not always a good listen in my experience and opinion however Reich does a good job. His voice is provides for easy listening and he doesn't over emphasize for drama as many self read authors do, in my opinion.

Second, would I "get it"? After all this is not the easiest topic to digest and has great potential for being as dry as toast. Reich however does a fantastic job of "dumbing this down" so that any listener can comprehend the issues at hand.

I also think that Reich does a great job of providing us a history lesson to aid in our understanding of the economic cycles. He explains the politics, in a non-biased fashion and helps the reader comprehend how Wall Street has taken over Main Street. I found it valuable to read how we got here and hear some potential solutions for how we might get out.

Most importantly I think I understand(sadly) why my middle class income feels tight and is getting tighter and why my children will likely struggle in ways I did not in my early adult years. And I feel that the suggested solutions that Reich offers are valid and will shape my choices for political candidates moving forward---just not sure that this will be enough. Definitely scary times ahead.

readable

What made the experience of listening to Aftershock the most enjoyable?

i.m going to read this again . I've recommended it on facebook .1st time I've ever done that

Devastatingly predictive

This book should be required reading whatever your political leaning. It uses non-disputible facts to make predictions of where our economy will be headed given what has recently happened to our current economy.

This book was written a year or so ago. What is scary is that some of Reich's predictions *are already coming true.*

Some of Reich's proposed fixes sound controversial, even for a liberal like me. However, the idea of Social Security probably sounded just as foreign in 1937.

To all our current, future, or would-like-to-be political leaders. You all have a reading assignment: this book.

Love it or hate it, but it makes you think

Any additional comments?

I can't say whether or not I agree with Prof. Reich's opinions, but they are well laid out and they make you stop and think.

Enjoyed but probably needs updating.

Reich is a entertaining narrator and the book was engaging. I will definitely look for later books to see if and how he shifts his thinking.

A way forward

Would you listen to Aftershock again? Why?

Robert Reich has written a pithy, accessible explanation of the core economic problem surrounding income disparity. HIs analysis is spot-on, and although you may not fully agree with his proposed solution(s), I certainly wish he had been on President Obama's economic A team.

Too liberal!

What disappointed you about Aftershock?

His disproven remedies for an economic fix.

What was most disappointing about Robert Reich’s story?

Many of his assertions were not factual

What three words best describe Robert Reich’s performance?

Skewed point of view

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Aftershock?

His assumptions about governments role in the economy.

Any additional comments?

Do not recommend this book for a novice on economics.