by Steven Brill
First published 2018
Steven Brill examines the collapse of American institutions between 1967 and 2017. The journalist and author of America's Bitter Pill investigates why major organizations no longer serve the public interest. He argues that core American principles like meritocracy and innovation actually accelerated national decline. These values created an isolated elite whose power remains unshakeable while millions of citizens face apathy and despair. Brill explores big-money lobbying, financial engineering, union decline, and bureaucratic paralysis to explain America's current dysfunction. He reveals how accountability eroded and shortsightedness spread throughout the system. The book also profiles individuals and groups working to restore institutional effectiveness. Brill provides both historical analysis of how problems developed and practical solutions for moving forward. This work combines rigorous journalism with hope for meaningful reform.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, social-commentary
Period: 1967-2017
464 pages · Hardcover · Knopf