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Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent HistoryNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER When did America give up on fairness? The author of Fantasyland tells the epic history of how America decided that big business gets whatever it wants, only the rich get richer, and nothing should ever change and charts a way back to the future. "The one book everyone must read as we figure out how to rebuild our country." Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci During the twentieth century, America
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - When did America give up on fairness? The author of Fantasyland tells the epic history of how America decided that big business gets whatever it wants, only the rich get richer, and nothing should ever change--and charts a way back to the future.
"The one book everyone must read as we figure out how to rebuild our country."--Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci
During the twentieth century, America managed to make its economic and social systems both more and more fair and more and more prosperous. A huge, secure, and contented middle class emerged. All boats rose together. But then the New Deal gave way to the Raw Deal. Beginning in the early 1970s, by means of a long war conceived of and executed by a confederacy of big business CEOs, the superrich, and right-wing zealots, the rules and norms that made the American middle class possible were undermined and dismantled. The clock was turned back on a century of economic progress, making greed good, workers powerless, and the market all-powerful while weaponizing nostalgia, lifting up an oligarchy that served only its own interests, and leaving the huge majority of Americans with dwindling economic prospects and hope.
Why and how did America take such a wrong turn? In this deeply researched and brilliantly woven cultural, economic, and political chronicle, Kurt Andersen offers a fresh, provocative, and eye-opening history of America's undoing, naming names, showing receipts, and unsparingly assigning blame--to the radical right in economics and the law, the high priests of high finance, a complacent and complicit Establishment, and liberal "useful idiots," among whom he includes himself.
Only a writer with Andersen's crackling energy, deep insight, and ability to connect disparate dots and see complex systems with clarity could make such a book both intellectually formidable and vastly entertaining. And only a writer of Andersen's vision could reckon with our current high-stakes inflection point, and show the way out of this man-made disaster.
Review Citations:
- Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2020 (EAN 9781984801340, Hardcover)
- Publishers Weekly 08/03/2020 (EAN 9781984801340, Hardcover)
- Library Journal 08/28/2020 pg. 1 (EAN 9781984801340, Hardcover)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kurt Andersen is the bestselling author of the novels Heyday, Turn of the Century, and True Believers. He contributes to Vanity Fair and The New York Times and was the host and co-creator of Studio 360, the Peabody Award-winning public radio show and podcast. He also writes for television, film, and the stage. Andersen co-founded Spy magazine, served as editor in chief of New York, and was a cultural columnist and critic for Time and The New Yorker. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, where he was an editor of The Harvard Lampoon. He lives in Brooklyn.
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4.0 ★★★★★
Based on 22 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 3
Now what I was looking for
Format: Paperback
I was looking more for advice on getting from a major with no clear career applications(ie. not doctor, lawyer or teacher) to a career that I would be able to live with and perhaps enjoy. This guide helps you more if you have a pretty clear idea what you want to do and are ready to make a full time job of finding your career, especially if you are not willing to settle for "paying the bills" or "get out of the parents' house". For those of you lucky enough to have not picked a major yet, just remember that picking a major needs to corrolate to getting a job, not just "learning stuff". For everyone else, if you have a dream, seems like this book will help you get there. If you don't yet have a dream, I would strongly suggest tackling that area first. This book mainly just suggests getting a career profile(which is more of other people telling you what you should do, instead of you finding out what you want to do). There's a lot of really helpful and very current information in here. You have to be ready to jump on it though.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2012
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding! An absolute must for college students
Format: Paperback
I picked this book up hoping it would prepare me for the job market, which I was already pretty confident about. It was incredibly eye opening, and enlightened me about dozens of things I was overlooking--like using Facebook as my "professional friend" and getting a linkedin account. It was a little stressful seeing how much I could do, but I've been working through the tips one at a time and its really built momentum in my professional brand even as an undergraduate. Now, I have something to do to build my career everyday.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2012
★★★★★ 5
Most liked
Format: Hardcover
Great book
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Made Me Examine My Own Hidden Prisons -- Powerful and Empowering
Format: Hardcover
I was fortunate to read Shaka's book early, and it stands as one of the most profound self-help books I've ever encountered. The experience reminded me of reading MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING -- that rare combination of beautiful, raw writing paired with hard-earned wisdom born from lived experience.
What sets HOW TO BE FREE apart are the "Digging Deeper" sections at the end of each chapter, which offer straightforward, specific guidance for breaking free from the hidden prisons that keep us from reaching our potential. These aren't vague platitudes; they're practical tools you can actually use.
While my privileged upbringing couldn't be more different from the experiences Shaka writes about, I quickly discovered that the hidden prisons he explores -- grief, anger, struggles with forgiveness and vulnerability, etc -- are universal. They affect all of us, regardless of our background or circumstances. As someone who loves introspection, I found myself genuinely engaged in examining my own hidden prisons and what holds me back. The book doesn't just tell you about these barriers -- it makes you want to dig into your own.
What his journey gave me wasn't just insight, but confidence. If he could find his version of freedom from solitary confinement, then I have no excuse not to pursue mine.
The writing itself is incredible -- authentic, compelling, and beautifully crafted. I'd read anything Shaka wrote. This book doesn't just teach you about freedom; it shows you the path to find your own.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Feeling Stuck in Self-Doubt or Fear? This Book Unlocks the Hidden Prisons Holding You Back!
Format: Hardcover
That’s exactly where I was—stuck in what Shaka calls “Hidden Prisons.” Reading How to Be Free felt like someone handed me the key I didn’t know I already had. This isn’t just another “self-help” book filled with fluffy affirmations. Shaka earned his wisdom the hard way—19 years behind bars, 7 of them in solitary confinement. And yet, out of that darkness, he forged a blueprint for freedom that applies to EVERYONE: CEOs, parents, students, athletes… anyone who’s tired of being stuck.
What I loved most? The book doesn’t just inspire—it gives you tools you can actually use. Daily practices like journaling, mindfulness, and meditation aren’t presented as clichés but as lifelines. I tried just one of the exercises and immediately noticed a shift in my mindset.
🔥 My biggest takeaways:
Your setbacks can fuel your greatest comebacks.
Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s power.
Protecting your peace is just as important as chasing success.
True freedom starts in the mind, long before circumstances change.
If you’ve ever battled shame, anger, or the feeling that life is slipping through your fingers—this book is the wake-up call you need. By the time you finish How to Be Free, you won’t just believe change is possible—you’ll have a clear path to living it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2025
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