Third World America

How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream

By: Arianna Huffington

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

It's not an exaggeration to say that middle-class Americans are an endangered species and that the American Dream of a secure, comfortable standard of living has become as outdated as an Edsel with an eight-track player - that the United States of America is in danger of becoming a third world nation. The evidence is all around us: Our industrial base is vanishing, taking with it the kind of jobs that have formed the backbone of our economy for more than a century; our education system is in shambles, making it harder for tomorrow’s workforce to acquire the information and training it needs to land good twenty-first-century jobs; our infrastructure - our roads, our bridges, our sewage and water, our transportation and electrical systems - is crumbling; our economic system has been reduced to recurring episodes of Corporations Gone Wild; our political system is broken, in thrall to a small financial elite using the power of the checkbook to control both parties.

And America's middle class, the driver of so much of our economic success and political stability, is rapidly disappearing, forcing us to confront the fear that we are slipping as a nation - that our children and grandchildren will enjoy fewer opportunities and face a lower standard of living than we did. It's the dark flipside of the American Dream - an American Nightmare of our own making.

Arianna Huffington, who, with the must-read Huffington Post, has her finger on the pulse of America, unflinchingly tracks the gradual demise of America as an industrial, political, and economic leader. In the vein of her fiery bestseller Pigs at the Trough, Third World America points fingers, names names, and details who is killing the American Dream. Finally, calling on the can-do attitude that is part of America's DNA, Huffington shows precisely what we need to do to stop our freefall and keep America from turning into a third world nation.

Third World America is a must-listen for anyone disturbed by our country's Third World America is a must-read for anyone disturbed by our country's steady descent from 20th century superpower to backwater banana republic.

©2010 Christabella, Inc. (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Luckily for Congress, the White House, and Corporate America, no one reads anymore, because if people discover this book, America will become a very different place." (Bill Maher)

.Heartbreaking overview of America

If you could sum up Third World America in three words, what would they be?

Clear annalisis of the situation in America today

Any additional comments?

I thhiught the injection of true stories of people who have or are suffering because of the situation added to the pathos of the book.

America... whose country?

Arianna gives an all too acurate account of what the politicians have done to OUR nation with OUR money. This book is one everyone should take the time to read or listen to (check the facts, her accounts are the truth). Having knowledge is the first step, taking action is our only chance.

This book is a must read!

Sad... but with a ray of hope

The book is definitely saddening. Even though I'm not American, just living here for the time being, I'm really sad to see how the rulers of this land (aka "representatives") are being bought to represent the "special interests" and don't give a damn about the people. That is until the election day.
And here is the hope (according to the author): do not let the money win the election, do not vote for these, who spend the most campaigning!
So, because the system is beyond the point of being able to fix itself from within, it must be fixed by the people. And the people will organize to do something only after someone, as the author says about Dr King, "turns up the heat across the country".
I would really love to see the US to once again be by the people and for the people! Good luck America, before it is too late!

No surprises here

Would you try another book from Arianna Huffington and/or Coleen Marlo?

No. Not because it was bad, but even as a member of the middle class that this book was about, I was bored.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

How do you make economics enjoyable?

Did Coleen Marlo do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Bad question, this is non-fiction.

Was Third World America worth the listening time?

Yes, but I wouldn't listen again.

you need to listen real good

Would you listen to Third World America again? Why?

yes, truthful and warning to americans

What did you like best about this story?

the honesty and straight forward delivery

What does Coleen Marlo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

dont know

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

tidbit? its a mouthful of info that shocks and slaps you into a state of awareness, stop watching dancing with the stars and reality tv, get educated and stop wasting what nature gave you, a brain to think!

Any additional comments?

no, carry on............

Ouch :(

If you needed that last little push to slash your wrist, here it is. Even though the information in this book is correct, timely, and deserving of our awareness and attention, the way it is presented is oppressive and disheartening in the extreme. I tried to get through it, hoping there would be some uplifting guidance at some point, but I just couldn't make it. I don't wish to stick my head in the sand, but I don't wish to have it crushed with narrow focused negativity either. Sorry, but I cant recommend this book.