American Amnesia

How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Rich

By: Jacob S. Hacker, Paul Pierson

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

From the groundbreaking author team behind the best-selling Winner-Take-All Politics, a timely and topical work that examines what's good for American business and what's good for Americans - and why those interests are misaligned.

In Winner-Take-All Politics, Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson explain how political elites have enabled and propelled plutocracy. They trace the economic and political history of the United States over the last century and show how a viable mixed economy has long been the dominant engine of America's prosperity.

Like every other prospering democracy, the United States developed a mixed economy that channeled the spirit of capitalism into strong growth and healthy social development. In this bargain, government and business were as much partners as rivals. Public investments in education, science, transportation, and technology laid the foundation for broadly based prosperity. Programs of economic security and progressive taxation provided a floor of protection, and business focused on the pursuit of profit - and government addressed needs business could not.

The mixed economy was the most important social innovation of the 20th century. It spread a previously unimaginable level of broad prosperity. It enabled steep increases in education, health, longevity, and economic security. And yet, extraordinarily, it is anathema to many current economic and political elites. And as the advocates of antigovernment free-market fundamentalism have gained power, they are hell-bent on scrapping the instrument of nearly a century of unprecedented economic and social progress. In American Amnesia, Hacker and Pierson explain how - and why - they must be stopped.

©2016 Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Great Reading for Informed Citizens

This is a fantastic work on many of the ills plaguing our government while also providing a detailed history of the mixed economy and the prosperity it brought us. I fear that those who really need to read this will casually dismiss its arguments and evidence.

Though the book does rightly focus much of the blame on the GOP and segments of the business community, I deducted one star for not providing more analysis (there is some) on how the political left's leadership mucked up or did not fight against assaults on the deregulation of the economy and government's longstanding role in the mixed economy of our past.

must read for every American

loved it, but I wish this could reach the people who really need to hear it, those who forget what history taught us about business elite and gov't competency.
very well written and informative, particularly relating to the founders and the purpose of empowering a federal system.

Interesting book

American Amnesia provides a level-headed insight into our current U.S. political landscape, with an excellent historic context. Can be a bit of a downer, but there are recommendations at the end for how change could be brought about. Great narration.

The best Political/Govt Books I've Read

I've read at least 25 recent books on these topics. There was only one weak point, their prescriptions. But since it was written before Trump was elected, and yes he was elected, it's hard to blame them for those few paragraphs. Anyway, the rest was very entertaining & much terribly funny, and I mean terribly. It was gallows humor, as in I wanted to string some congress people up, as I was laughing, crying and other. The reading was in a 93.5% range. The data was well presented, and i did not think it was too technical or data thick in the beginning or otherwise. It was presented well. I liked their tone, it seemed more honest than preachy or political. I mean the tone not the perspective, which was focused on how the republicans have chewed up government for no good purpose. Except that their Randian ideology makes them chew like cows on their cud, then crap on anyone not as extreme as they are. Small government isn't even an idea, it's just a small brain stem reflex.

our government or lack there of

Koch brother, you should be ashamed of yourselves for taking advantage of a country that has given you so much.

Well researched and well written

This is not political propaganda but a well researched and well written analysis of how government has been defamed and enfeebled. Millions of dollars have been invested in efforts to undermine the effectiveness of government and to sway public opinion into believing that government is inept and overreaching.
It explains how government and private industry can work together to increase quality of life and make us a stronger country.

Americans: you are disillusioned [despite your political party]

This book is essential reading for anyone who cares about the current state of politics in America and the negative imposition of this poor state on our future. We’re conditioned to believe that the mixed economy is a danger to our well-being and that political steadfastness is the solution. The reality is contrary to this belief, and we must embrace the facts if we’re to liberate this country from the chains of modern political discourse.

Excellent history

This book is an excellent history of the role of government in 20th century US economy. Makes the case that markets do not operate effectively on a modern economy without the oversight and control of government regulations . And that since the 1980s government regulation has been the constant target of right wing attacks, and has had no
vocal defenders. And this has harmed our nation and our economy.

Very insightful! Technical at first but a must read for today's political environment!!

Overall I like the book because it takes you through the whole process of why we are here today politically. Towards the beginning it was a little technical with information meant to inform and not remember from. Afterwards, they use that information to explain what events took place and continue to take place to make that happen. It's a vicious cycle at this point but there is glimmer of hope! The key is to start utilizing all resources and stop looking for the magic pill to fix it all. I personally think people who automatically believe anything the right wing propaganda is spewing out should read this book to understand where their point of view is actually coming from. There is a reason why they are seeing things from an ultra conservative view. This book is not necessarily anti republican or democrat. It's anti corruption and pro equality with the pursuit of liberty and freedom wherever it may come from.

A Mixed Economy is the Best Economy

Great breakdown of what actually made America Great, and why its slipping away. Capital is at its best using the trails that Government has blazed for it and thus should pay its fair share of taxes.