Vulture Capitalism

Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

By: Grace Blakeley

Narrated by: Grace Blakeley

Winner of the 2025 Ellen Meiksins Wood Prize

In the vein of The Shock Doctrine and Evil Geniuses, this timely and “galvanizing” (Naomi Klein, New York Times bestselling author) manifesto illustrates how corporate and political power brokers have used capitalism to advance their own interests at the expense of the rest of us—and how we can take back our economy.

It’s easy to look at the state of the world around us and feel hopeless. We live in an era marked by war, climate crisis, political polarization, and acute inequality—and yet many of us feel powerless to do anything about these profound issues. We’ve been assured that unfettered capitalism is necessary to ensure our freedom and prosperity but why, in our age of unchecked corporate power, are most of us living paycheck to paycheck? When the economy falters, why do governments bail out corporations and shareholders but leave everyday people in the dust?

Now, acclaimed journalist and progressive star on the rise Grace Blakeley exposes the corrupt system that is failing all around us, pulling back the curtain on the free-market mythology we have been sold. She also clearly illustrates how, as corporate interests have taken hold, governments have historically been shifting away from competition and democracy towards monopoly and oligarchy.

Tracing over a century of neoliberal planning and backdoor bailouts, Blakeley takes us on a deeply reported tour of the corporate crimes, political maneuvering, and economic manipulation that elites have used to enshrine a global system of “vulture capitalism”—planned capitalist economies that benefit corporations and the uber-wealthy at the expense of the rest of us.

As “the sort of book that will help us make a better world” (Rob Delaney, New York Times bestselling author), Vulture Capitalism exposes the cracks already emerging within capitalism, lighting a path forward for how we can democratize our economy, not just our politics, to ensure true freedom for all.

An informative and inspiring look at our current system and what is possible beyond it.

There is nothing to dislike in this book. She gives great examples of movements for change, grassroots democracy in workplaces and countries. the book brings us hope for a better future.

This book brings the truth to light like no other

I have tried to explain the thesis of this book to people for many years now. Grace does a better job with more specifics than I ever could. I used to say that capitalism has only ever existed as an idea

Excellent coverage

This work covers a great number of topics and historical events to reach a more holistic understanding of the causes of our world’s current state.

Excellent background knowledge

Great, historical context . The offer gives great historical background related to the historical development of capitalism.

well done

finally for me someone ( grace Blakeney) has put together a vision of a direction one might look to.