Who Stole the American Dream?

De: Hedrick Smith

Narrado por: Rob Shapiro

Pulitzer Prize winner Hedrick Smith’s new book is an extraordinary achievement, an eye-opening account of how, over the past four decades, the American Dream has been dismantled and we became two Americas.

In his bestselling The Russians, Smith took millions of readers inside the Soviet Union. In The Power Game, he took us inside Washington’s corridors of power. Now Smith takes us across America to show how seismic changes, sparked by a sequence of landmark political and economic decisions, have transformed America. As only a veteran reporter can, Smith fits the puzzle together, starting with Lewis Powell’s provocative memo that triggered a political rebellion that dramatically altered the landscape of power from then until today.

This is a book full of surprises and revelations—the accidental beginnings of the 401(k) plan, with disastrous economic consequences for many; the major policy changes that began under Jimmy Carter; how the New Economy disrupted America’s engine of shared prosperity, the “virtuous circle” of growth, and how America lost the title of “Land of Opportunity.” Smith documents the transfer of $6 trillion in middle-class wealth from homeowners to banks even before the housing boom went bust, and how the U.S. policy tilt favoring the rich is stunting America’s economic growth.

This book is essential reading for all of us who want to understand America today, or why average Americans are struggling to keep afloat. Smith reveals how pivotal laws and policies were altered while the public wasn’t looking, how Congress often ignores public opinion, why moderate politicians got shoved to the sidelines, and how Wall Street often wins politically by hiring over 1,400 former government officials as lobbyists.

Smith talks to a wide range of people, telling the stories of Americans high and low. From political leaders such as Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to CEOs such as Al Dunlap, Bob Galvin, and Andy Grove, to heartland Middle Americans such as airline mechanic Pat O’Neill, software systems manager Kristine Serrano, small businessman John Terboss, and subcontractor Eliseo Guardado, Smith puts a human face on how middle-class America and the American Dream have been undermined.

This magnificent work of history and reportage is filled with the penetrating insights, provocative discoveries, and the great empathy of a master journalist. Finally, Smith offers ideas for restoring America’s great promise and reclaiming the American Dream.

Praise for Who Stole the American Dream?

“[A] sweeping, authoritative examination of the last four decades of the American economic experience.”—The Huffington Post

“Some fine work has been done in explaining the mess we’re in. . . . But no book goes to the headwaters with the precision, detail and accessibility of Smith.”—The Seattle Times

“Sweeping in scope . . . [Smith] posits some steps that could alleviate the problems of the United States.”—USA Today

“Brilliant . . . [a] remarkably comprehensive and coherent analysis of and prescriptions for America’s contemporary economic malaise.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Smith enlivens his narrative with portraits of the people caught up in events, humanizing complex subjects often rendered sterile in economic analysis. . . . The human face of the story is inseparable from the history.”—Reuters

Reseñas de la Crítica

“[A] sweeping, authoritative examination of the last four decades of the American economic experience.”—The Huffington Post

“Some fine work has been done in explaining the mess we’re in. . . . But no book goes to the headwaters with the precision, detail and accessibility of Smith.”—The Seattle Times

“Sweeping in scope . . . [Smith] posits some steps that could alleviate the problems of the United States.”—USA Today

“Brilliant . . . [a] remarkably comprehensive and coherent analysis of and prescriptions for America’s contemporary economic malaise.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Smith enlivens his narrative with portraits of the people caught up in events, humanizing complex subjects often rendered sterile in economic analysis. . . . The human face of the story is inseparable from the history.”—Reuters

The reality that we live on!

I absolutely loved this book. It made me realize how ignorant I am about the system that we are part of. This book should be mandatory in every school but of course this is the stuff that gets hidden from us. I want to thank Mr. Smith for enlightening me and start being a contributor to make changes on my part. I recommend this book to anyone that cares about their own future. If people remain ignorant they are simply going to keep paying the price of ignorance. It's sad to me that I posted this book on Facebook and I got little feedback on it. On the other hand, when I post a dumb video the feedback is out of this world. It almost seems that people do not want to face reality. If it is not fun or funny they don't want to know about it. I hope people start taking responsibility of their own lives by educating themselves. Good luck!

an insightful look at corps and gov

This is a good book for a less conservative look at the role of government and corporations in American culture.

amazingly informative, thorough & well-researched

If you could sum up Who Stole the American Dream? in three words, what would they be?

I am an Economics gluton (ingesting at least 3 books weekly) and this book ranks among the best that I have heard in years. The author manages to explain the cataclysmic shifts taking place in the US concisely yet thoroughly.

What did you like best about this story?

Hmmm.... though the book was painful and difficult to listen to, I know that everything the author describes is accurate, relevant and frightening. He once again inspired me to become an tireless activist and relentless watchdog over the politicians in Washington DC and the evil greedy thieves on Wall Street.

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

I have a learning disability which makes it difficult for me to retain what I read. However, I have an audiographic memory and can easily synthesize and comprehend information auditorily.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There is no way any human could tolerate listening to the honest, direct and overwhelming information this author shares. I would break it up into manageable chunks so that you can ingest the information conveyed.

Insightful take on recent economic history

What made the experience of listening to Who Stole the American Dream? the most enjoyable?

Wide variety of facts to support Smith's main message.

What other book might you compare Who Stole the American Dream? to and why?

Endgame by John Mauldin and Paper Promises by Philip Coggan.

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

One of the best narrators from Audible.

Great book with caveat!!

Excellent analysis, research and explication of how and why "The American Dream" has been eradicated. But, I almost quit listening in first half hour due to author's decision to narrate first 40 minutes. Quite self-indulgent! Once the professional narrator took over I could concentrate on substance of book instead of wondering if I should quit. Very insightful book.