The Betrayal of the American Dream, James B. Steele
The Betrayal of the American Dream, James B. Steele
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The Betrayal of the American Dream

Author: James B. Steele, Donald L. Barlett

Narrator: Wes Talbot

Unabridged: 7 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 09/11/2012


Synopsis

America’s unique prosperity is based on its creation of a middle class. In the twentieth century, that middle class provided the workforce, the educated skills, and the demand that gave life to the world’s greatest consumer economy. It was innovative and dynamic; it eclipsed old imperial systems and colonial archetypes. It gave rise to a dream: that if you worked hard and followed the rules you would prosper in America, and your children would enjoy a better life than yours.

The American dream was the lure to gifted immigrants and the birthright opportunity for every American citizen. It is as important a part of the history of the country as the passing of the Bill of Rights, the outcome of the battle of Gettysburg, or the space program. Incredibly, however, for more than thirty years, government and big business in America have conspired to roll back the American dream. What was once accessible to a wide swath of the population is increasingly open only to a privileged few.

The story of how the American middle class has been systematically impoverished and its prospects thwarted in favor of a new ruling elite is at the heart of this extraordinarily timely and revealing audiobook, whose devastating findings from two of the finest investigative reporters in the country will leave you astonished and angry.

About James B. Steele

Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele have worked together for more than three decades, first at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where they won two Pulitzer Prizes, and then at Time magazine, where they earned two National Magazine Awards. They have written seven books together.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sheryl on October 27, 2012

This was one of the most depressing books I have read in a long time. Even if only half of what Barlett and Steele have to say is true, we are seriously screwed. Being 50 years old, I have seen firsthand what has been happening to the middle class in this country. Barlett and Steele lay out the myria......more

Goodreads review by Earl on September 18, 2012

Evils of capitalism unchecked. This is not your American capitalists - the pirate barons, John Jacob Astor, Bill Gates, who build an empire by bulldozing all opponents and become obscenely rich. No, this is the new capitalism - multinational corporations + Wall St. + US Congress, the Unholy Trio (my......more

Goodreads review by Debbie on September 23, 2012

Reading this book was both inspiring and depressing. It gives example after example of how our government is not on the side of the middle class and that the American Dream is not what it once was in a previous generation. In reading this book, you come to realize that our parents have it best, havin......more

Goodreads review by Public on February 09, 2017

The third book I've read by Bartlett and Steele. I'd recommend their work to anyone. These two do a fantastic job laying out precisely how the rich screw everybody else.......more

Goodreads review by Hazel on January 30, 2019

I read this book in 2015 and it still haunts me. Example after example of how the ultrarich and billion dollar corporations are colluding with political insiders globally to squeeze the lifeblood out of everyone who can't fight them. Bartlett and Steele have given us a gift with this book. It's live......more