Outstanding! Reich is clear, concise. Missing is the ad nauseam partisan blame game and overly technical terminology that discourages the layman reader. He clearly presents the dysfunction, gives profound examples, and finally proposes great food for thought on how to make this system work... for all. A must read! ( )

Professor Reich explains what is happening in our economic system and why changes over the last 30 years favor corporations and wealthy individuals. The poor are growing and the middle is shrinking while more and more wealth goes to the top. The rules by which the economy works can be changed to be fairer to working people, it is not a matter of big or small government. Robert Reich is a Professor at the University of California, he has been Secretary of Labor and a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. ( )

I just read a similar book by a British author. I have to say that beyond what I expected, more optimism (I think they put something in the water in the US), this book is way more interesting and features fewer angry lizard people accusations and is more about the mechanics of political power. It merits an extra star even if only for the optimism. It's nice to read people who are optimistic because they're full of ideas rather than resentment. ( )

Everyone needs to read this book. Reich is brilliant, insightful, and supports his work with solid data. I highly recommend this book! ( )

Abandoned it at 25%. The big ideas are understandable. I got bogged down in much of the explanations and the book is due back at the library soon. I skimmed through the rest of it and think I got the gist. The decision is not between "free market" or more government, but it is about good enforced laws concerning the market. The laws are currently tilted to increase the wealth of the wealthy at the expense of the 99%. Those who benefit from those laws have the power to influence lawmakers. In order to tilt the laws the other way, the 99% need to work together rather than bicker over what does not matter. This seems to be the agenda of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.