Rendezvous with Oblivion

Reports from a Sinking Society

By: Thomas Frank

Narrated by: Thomas Frank

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

From the acclaimed author of Listen, Liberal and What’s the Matter with Kansas, a scathing collection of his incisive commentary on our cruel times - perfect for this political moment.

What does a middle-class democracy look like when it comes apart? When, after 40 years of economic triumph, America’s winners persuade themselves that they owe nothing to the rest of the country?

With his sharp eye for detail, Thomas Frank takes us on a wide-ranging tour through present-day America, showing us a society in the late stages of disintegration and describing the worlds of both the winners and the losers - the sprawling mansion districts as well as the lives of fast-food workers.

Rendezvous with Oblivion is a collection of interlocking essays examining how inequality has manifested itself in our cities, in our jobs, in the way we travel - and of course in our politics, where in 2016, millions of anxious ordinary people rallied to the presidential campaign of a billionaire who meant them no good.

These accounts of folly and exploitation are here brought together in a single audiobook unified by Frank’s distinctive voice, sardonic wit, and anti-orthodox perspective. It captures a society where every status signifier is hollow, where the allure of mobility is just another con game, and where rebellion too often yields nothing.

For those who despair of the future of our country and of reason itself, Rendezvous with Oblivion is a booster shot of energy, reality, and moral outrage.

©2018 Thomas Frank (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Well worth the time to read/listen.

Thomas Frank nails it again. Take the time and read this book, it won't disappoint.

Political wisdom

Thomas Frank, arguably the best commentator on American politics, shows what has gone wrong and what needs to be done. Full of wisdom and insight. I cannot recommend this book too highly.

Excellent narration!

Thomas Frank talks politics with eloquence and incisive wit! Yet, his ideas are as straightforward as they are insightful. We should all heed Frank's call to action in his writing.

Excellent insight and delivery

Thomas Frank has a rare understanding of what’s going on in society and politics - like Chris Hedges, but with levity. And his narration kept me awake and focused. The final chapters were my favorite.

A Critical Look at Why 2016 Happened

A hard hitting look at how Trump isn't the problem, he a symptom of the problem.

A convincing take on why the Democrats need to do a critical autopsy of their party after 2016.

Hopefully not a Cassandra

The Cassandra appellation is something of a cliche but then cliches become cliches for a reason. Winston Churchill once said, “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else.” The problem may be that there is too much of everything else to exhaust and too many seem to want to keep trying the same thing over and over again.

book of our times

wish it was longer, the essays are so enjoyable and well written. author does great reading his own work

quality!

A refreshingly plausible description of modern America and what ails it. This guy needs more air time!

Thomas Frank at his best

the stories he tells are depressing but true and as compelling as any he's written in his ongoing career of deeply unique insight

Gets Most Things Right

Frank's entire gig is about taking an objective look at the political and societal reality of our times, and while he does a great job of this most of the time,he also occasionally slips and reveals his personal biases.

This time around, Frank hits the nail on the head when calling out the Democratic establishment, and he supports his assertions with illuminating anecdotes and eye-opening insights. He speaks clearly about how and why Donald Trump became president and offers some valuable thought fodder for might come next. But interestingly, while presenting a reasoned indictment of the Democrat's embrace of meritocracy, Frank nearly gives academia a free pass for their part.

Citing the ridiculous cost of a college education in the 21st Century, Frank gives but tepid criticism of role played by the academics themselves and instead points the finger of blame squarely at administration. According to Frank, one of the most significant causes of increased tuition is the huge number of administrators busily supplanting the faculty and wasting time on process improvement. Never mind that the educational system has largely gone unchanged for a century, or that the reason for process improvement is to improve efficiency and reduce cost. Note to Thomas Frank: there's plenty of room to improve the education system both on the instructional and administrative side, and if those involved in the process are just adding to the cost, then they're not doing their job.

In spite of Frank's naive view of higher education and utter lack of knowledge on the discipline of process improvement, he hits another home run with Rendezvous with Oblivion. I highly recommend the book for its content and style, and find frank himself to be an excellent narrator.