Tailspin

The People and Forces Behind America's Fifty-Year Fall - and Those Fighting to Reverse It

By: Steven Brill

Narrated by: Dan Woren

Length: 16 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this revelatory narrative covering the years 1967 to 2017, Steven Brill gives us a stunningly cogent picture of the broken system at the heart of our society. He shows us how, over the last half-century, America's core values - meritocracy, innovation, due process, free speech, and even democracy itself - have somehow managed to power its decline into dysfunction. They have isolated our best and brightest, whose positions at the top have never been more secure or more remote. The result has been an erosion of responsibility and accountability, an epidemic of shortsightedness, an increasingly hollow economic and political center, and millions of Americans gripped by apathy and hopelessness. 

By examining the people and forces behind the rise of big-money lobbying, legal and financial engineering, the demise of private-sector unions, and a hamstrung bureaucracy, Brill answers the question on everyone's mind: How did we end up this way? Finally, he introduces us to those working quietly and effectively to repair the damages. 

At once a diagnosis of our national ills, a history of their development, and a prescription for a brighter future, Tailspin is a work of riveting journalism - and a welcome antidote to political despair.

©2018 Steven Brill (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Persuasive, bracing...an essential read if you want to understand the pressures that have brought a sclerotic Uncle Sam to his knees." (Alexander C. Kafka, Los Angeles Review of Books) 

“Tailspin distinguishes itself within the America Gone Wrong genre.... All of the book’s chapters on the law crackle with energy.... In a downbeat era, Tailspin offers some modest ammunition for hope.” (Daniel W. Drezner, The New York Times Book Review) 

 

"Steven Brill's Tailspin does precisely what the daily torrent of news does not: make sense. The book is nothing less than a unified (and persuasive) theory of everything - including politics, business, culture - and it even includes several glimmers of hope amid the pervasive darkness." (Jeffrey Toobin, author of American Heiress)

Shorter would have been Better

I really liked Bitter Pill, Brill's expose of modern American medicine. I agreed with his premise in this book, and was hoping for great things. However, there is just too much information, and many of his points could have been made just as well in a much shorter version.
Nevertheless, the country is in big trouble, as his points make abundantly clear.

An important book that should be read by every member of Congress.

Our democracy is in deep trouble. While we are distracted by the political partisanship and daily controversies focused on by the media, the Tailspin continues. Brill provides a compelling diagnosis of the reasons for our present plight. The actions needed to slow the descent however seem overwhelming in our present political environment. The responsibility for a more positive future falls on the electorate. Unfortunately, the moneyed interests have the power. Will the public finally see the danger for our children and grandchildren and be motivated to reclaim our democracy from the aristocracy? That is the critical question in mind?
The book is well written and the information presented with clarity and evidence.

Time to stop hitting the snooze button.

For years I convinced myself that just showing up and voting was enough. Not only was it not enough, but given the political/social anti democratic structural forces outlined in Tailspin, just voting may have been a waste of time. It is obvious to me now that my vote must be the result of being a part of a sustainable movement for concrete measures to improve life on this planet. This book outlined many, many of what should have been wake up calls, but me and those like me, just kept hitting the snooze button.

Many good points but excellent example of cognitive bias

Lots of good ideas presented. Excellent criticism of one political party but relatively blind to the corruption and misdeeds of the other.

Eye opening and substantive

Provides a compelling case for how we got here, and references some studies that outline solutions. I feel more informed, and am glad to hear of various pathways forward, but am a bit pessimistic that this book will reach people that actually need to read it.

constantly skipping choppy listening exp

a good book too bad it lacks flow due to skips in narratio patterns. had to piece segments together at times to complete thoughts and ideas presented

Speechless

Felt like my intellectual horizon has been expanded even while having many disagreements! A book for people of all political stripes!

Pretty dismal

The author seems to think that what is wrong with higher education, is that not enough under privileged talent is being directed there. He doesn't seem to realise that higher education today is not a portal to knowledge, but at most a window to eat from the public trough and call yourself a servant of those who are coerced into financing it.
This while conformist students cower in place in their safe spaces if a dissending opinion is suspected. If they do not violently attack it. The universities are a place for diversity in everything except views and opinions. Had to stop listening. Better to read 'panic attack' by Robby Soave. Or Douglas Murray's The madness of crowds.

Get ready to take back our country!

This was a well-written and researched macro perspective at the policies and leaders over the past 50 years and how it has led to (intended or not) consequences many of us now at the height of feeling the effects. Day to day news consumption is overwhelming in what each move or decision actually means, so to have a fact based view point from the last 5 decades gives the perspective we all need to start being active and well-educated in selecting our leaders. It takes very difficult concepts for regular Americans to digest, or even want to discuss, and brings them to light in a way that it can be conceived by all who are willing. Worth the read for everyone living in a democracy!

A collection of collectivist manifestos does not a book make

Bought this book with the hope that it would be an objective analysis of the shortcomings from both the left and the right. However, when the author writes about financial and legal engineering but ignores social engineering, describes missteps by the Republican Congress but ignores the failures of the Democrat Congress, ignores what he knew and the public now knows about Hillary’s issues and the FBI ‘moat’, and not so subtly blames the Trump presidency on misinformed, it is very obvious that this is a far left-wing hit piece demonizing Trumo supporters. Yes, Mr. Brill, it is a swamp to those voting for economic and religious freedom for ALL. Not just those who advocate identity politics and demonization. Mr. Brill’s explanation of moats is a perfect example of identity politics and demonization by grouping people and businesses (made up of people) within this moat or that moat.

Still, I encourage all critical thinking people to read his book to better understand where the far left gets their talking points.