Marketcrafters

The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy

De: Chris Hughes

Narrado por: Sean Patrick Hopkins

A revelatory and unexpected history of the rise of American capitalism—and an argument that entrepreneurial leaders in government, not the mythical “free market,” created the most dynamic economy the world has ever known.

For many decades, a sacred myth has ruled the minds of policymakers and business leaders: free markets, untouched by the soiled hands of government, bring us prosperity and stability. But it’s wrong. American policy makers, on the right and the left, have spent much of the past century actively shaping our markets for social and political goals. Their work behind the scenes and out of the headlines has served as a kind of “marketcraft,” resembling the statecraft of international relations.

Economist and writer Chris Hughes takes us on a journey through the modern history of American capitalism, relating the captivating stories of the most effective marketcrafters and the ones who bungled the job. He reveals how both Republicans and Democrats have consistently attempted to organize markets for social and political reasons, like avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering the American aviation and semiconductor industries, fighting climate change, and supporting financial innovation.

In recent decades, the art of marketcraft has been lost to history, replaced by the myth that markets work best when they are unfettered and free. Hughes argues that by rediscovering the triumphs and failures of past marketcrafters, we can shape future markets, such as those in artificial intelligence and clean power production, to be innovative, stable, and inclusive. Groundbreaking, timely, and illuminating, this is a must-hear for anyone interested in economic policy, financial markets, and the future of the American economy.

©2025 Chris Hughes (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Social media is distorting reality

I truly enjoyed the book. It's well researched, providing reality in what our government is doing and why. It would be nice if our news organizations and social media could work their way back to the fundamentals versus the spin on drama. Thank you for writing it.

Interesting Ideas, But a Tough Listen

I really wanted to love Marketcrafters. The premise—exploring the century-long tug-of-war over who shapes the American economy—sounded right up my alley. And there’s definitely a lot of valuable information here. Chris Hughes brings deep research and some compelling historical narratives to the table, especially when tracing the evolution of economic policy through a political lens.

But the truth is, this one just didn’t click for me. I’m not deeply immersed in economics, and a lot of the content—while clearly well-informed—felt dense and hard to follow. It reads more like a scholarly text than a popular nonfiction audiobook, and I found myself drifting more than I’d like.

The narration didn’t help. Sean Patrick Hopkins has a clear voice, but the pacing felt flat and slow, which made it hard to stay engaged through longer chapters. I kept waiting to be pulled in, but the spark never really came.

That said, if you're more versed in economic theory or public policy, this might land better for you. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally.

Three stars for effort and content, but a challenging listen overall.

How government really works

If your idea of a good listen is a lecture on how the u.s. Government works or does not work this provides insights dating Back to the early 20th century. For students of how economies are created to best serve the nation this gives lengthy lessons full of solid insights. It is particularly valuable in explaining FDRs new deal and later how Obama saved the economy in his day facing almost impossible odds. It continued to be insightful through Biden overcoming the pandemic and reviving America as a player in the face of the rise of China. Sadly the brilliant storytelling flops with Trumps second term as prez. The author seems rushed to both end his otherwise excellent book and include the early Trump era. His efforts fail to grasp how Trump and his unqualified cabinet picks would turn the past progress into a messy folly. Still the lessons that fill much of his tome are worth a listen for those who still dream of building a nation for everyone and not just to make the rich richer.