First published 2012
For three decades, powerful forces have systematically dismantled what made America exceptional. The twentieth century middle class built the world's greatest consumer economy through their labor, skills, and purchasing power. This system created unprecedented prosperity and birthed the American dream: work hard, follow the rules, and you and your children will thrive. That promise drew talented immigrants and offered opportunity to every citizen. It ranks alongside the Bill of Rights, Gettysburg, and the space program in national importance. Yet government officials and corporate leaders have conspired to reverse this progress. What once belonged to millions now serves only a privileged elite. Two veteran investigative reporters expose how America's middle class has been deliberately impoverished while a new ruling class accumulates wealth and power. Their research reveals the mechanisms behind this transformation and documents the systematic destruction of middle class prospects.
Genres: business, political-science, economics, social-issues, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary, systemic-issues
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · PublicAffairs