Griftopia

Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America

De: Matt Taibbi

Narrado por: Patrick Egan

The dramatic story behind the most audacious power grab in American history

The financial crisis that exploded in 2008 isn’t past but prologue. The stunning rise, fall, and rescue of Wall Street in the bubble-and-bailout era was the coming-out party for the network of looters who sit at the nexus of American political and economic power. The grifter class—made up of the largest players in the financial industry and the politicians who do their bidding—has been growing in power for a generation, transferring wealth upward through increasingly complex financial mechanisms and political maneuvers. The crisis was only one terrifying manifestation of how they’ve hijacked America’s political and economic life.

Rolling Stone’sMatt Taibbi here unravels the whole fiendish story, digging beyond the headlines to get into the deeper roots and wider implications of the rise of the grifters. He traces the movement’s origins to the cult of Ayn Rand and her most influential—and possibly weirdest—acolyte, Alan Greenspan, and offers fresh reporting on the backroom deals that decided the winners and losers in the government bailouts. He uncovers the hidden commodities bubble that transferred billions of dollars to Wall Street while creating food shortages around the world, and he shows how finance dominates politics, from the story of investment bankers auctioning off America’s infrastructure to an inside account of the high-stakes battle for health-care reform—a battle the true reformers lost. Finally, he tells the story of Goldman Sachs, the “vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity.”

Taibbi has combined deep sources, trailblazing reportage, and provocative analysis to create the most lucid, emotionally galvanizing, and scathingly funny account yet written of the ongoing political and financial crisis in America. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the labyrinthine inner workings of politics and finance in this country, and the profound consequences for us all.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A stinging new history of the financial crisis that heralds a return of Menckenesque, dirt-under-the-fingernails American journalism.”—GQ

“A relentlessly disturbing, penetrating exploration of the root causes of the trauma that upended economic security in millions of American homes . . . a full-scale indictment of Wall Street and Washington.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Matt Taibbi is [Hunter S.] Thompson’s heir. . . . [Griftopia] is the most lucid, justifiably angry description of what happened and what continues to happen to our nation’s economy.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Taibbi chronicles the corruption of the political process with indignation and dark humor. The takeaway? Be angry, but blame the right culprits.”—Time

great read

Enjoyed this book very much, made what could have been dull into an interesting and insightful experience.

No pulled punches

I've read many books about the financial collapse. This one was by far the most entertaining-perhaps because it didn't hold onto some sort of reverence for the financial elite while discussing the topic.

Disturbing, unsettling and eye opening.

Very entertaining and even funny at times but scary as hell. If what Mr. Tabbai purports is true, the United States as we "know" it is already dead.

Amazing but scary

One of the best books dealing with the financial meltdown. If this book doesn't shake you up, nothing will. The only reason these crooks haven't been indicted is because once you started arresting people you wouldn't know when to stop. This is a perfect illustration of Obama's dilemma, keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer.

Almost stopped listening after 20 minutes, but...

I'm glad I didn't. He starts out like some bleeding liberal but moves on pretty quickly. Despite his obvious leanings (I mean, c'mon...he writes for Rolling Stone) I still think Taibbi does a great job by factually drilling down, putting his bias aside...somewhat, and writing what I consider to be a pretty compelling, illuminating and at times, humorous accounting of just how rigged the financial system is. Great job and I loved Egan's narration. He sounds like Peter Coyote but with more liveliness. I'm looking for more of this guy's stuff.