Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Beyond Outrage (Expanded Edition): What has gone wrong with our economy and our democracy, and how to fix it
America’s economy and democracy are working for the benefit of an ever-fewer privileged and powerful people. But rather than just complain about it or give up on the system, we must join together and make it work for all of us.
In this timely book, Robert B. Reich argues that nothing good happens in Washington unless citizens are energized and organized to make sure Washin...more
In this timely book, Robert B. Reich argues that nothing good happens in Washington unless citizens are energized and organized to make sure Washin...more
ebook, 224 pages
Published
September 4th 2012
by Vintage
(first published April 17th 2012)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,303)
Beyond Outrage: What has gone wrong with our economy and our democracy, and how to fix it by Robert B. Reich
“Beyond Outrage” is a plea for action for those who care about the Future of America. Accomplished author of twelve books and current Professor of Public Policy, Robert Reich provides insight to what happened to our economy and how to fix it. In a lucid and persuasive manner, Reich provides compelling arguments in support of his main thesis: that our economy and democracy has been manipula...more
“Beyond Outrage” is a plea for action for those who care about the Future of America. Accomplished author of twelve books and current Professor of Public Policy, Robert Reich provides insight to what happened to our economy and how to fix it. In a lucid and persuasive manner, Reich provides compelling arguments in support of his main thesis: that our economy and democracy has been manipula...more
He makes some interesting points in regards to wage stagnation. He's absolutely right - the long term problem isn't how many jobs are being created, it's how little they pay, particularly in a consumption based economy. I don't agree with his idea that charity donations to cultural endeavors are by and for the rich alone. Any poor college student who has purchased symphony/ theatre tickets for practically nothing has donors to thank. Art museums are affordable because of contributions from donor...more
Beyond Outrage is a short and accessible primer on the problems plaguing America's economic and political culture from a "progressive" standpoint. Reich, former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, discusses the disparities between high-income and low-income earners and the shrinking of the middle class, a trend which has emerged with an alarming severity during the "neoliberal" era of the last three decades.
Government-corporate collusion favoring the richest Americans over the public good, t...more
Government-corporate collusion favoring the richest Americans over the public good, t...more
I just finished hearing this book: Beyond Outrage, well read passionately by the author. A wonderful and convincing book laying out the arguments for lies of the Republican establishment and their ideologies promoted ever since President Herbert Hubert--the ideology of Social Darwinism in turn promoted by Prof. Summner in early 20 century. The truth about deficit, tax codes, role of the government, etc. must be told and spread over and against the lies. The super rich cannot continue to gather m...more
May 19, 2012
Stephanie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in the Occupy Wall Street Movement, those who want to get involved in politics.
I'm a follower of Dr. Robert Reich, so I expected to like and relate well to this book. I was not expecting many huge or overwhelmingly outrageous ideas because I know fairly well how he thinks (because I think along the same lines).
Setting aside ideals and common values - his writing is simple. A kind of a 'bonk me on the head, yeah, I get it' kind of style. A lot of the ideas are repeated throughout the book, just in different ways and from different angles.
This book is (I think) dedicated t...more
Setting aside ideals and common values - his writing is simple. A kind of a 'bonk me on the head, yeah, I get it' kind of style. A lot of the ideas are repeated throughout the book, just in different ways and from different angles.
This book is (I think) dedicated t...more
If it were possible to give a book 10 stars, I would give this one the full 10. Robert Reich, former Clinton economic advisor, clearly, concisely and with irrefutable facts, lays out how tightly intertwined the political and financial systems have become. He begins the book with seven key points regarding the economy (some points dating back to the 1970's), then moves on to how the Right has moved farther right and now wants to move America back to a less open, tolerant, healthy nation, back to...more
As always with Reich, this is well-written, passionate, makes a lot of sense and... all seems very common sense to me. The problem I have with it is not anything about the book, it's that I didn't really learn anything new here. The economic disparities Reich points out are obvious to anyone paying attention, unfortunately the people who need this wake-up call won't believe it because:
A) They don't want to think about it
B) They think Reich is a liberal propagandist and thus will think all he's d...more
A) They don't want to think about it
B) They think Reich is a liberal propagandist and thus will think all he's d...more
I admit to being a fan of Robert Reich, the outspoken U.C. Berkeley professor. He's knowledgeable, he's on my side (a progressive) and, maybe most important of all, I can understand him. I confess that to read his works is me listening to him singing to the choir.
Having said all that, I heartily recommend this "single" book, published only as an e-book. The material is brief and as easy an explanation of U.S. economic matters as is possible. It's also scary. Dr. Reich intends that to be so as h...more
Having said all that, I heartily recommend this "single" book, published only as an e-book. The material is brief and as easy an explanation of U.S. economic matters as is possible. It's also scary. Dr. Reich intends that to be so as h...more
Apr 28, 2012
Sandy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE
Recommended to Sandy by:
Rachel Maddow Show
This was an excellent read. Reich was able to explain a lot about the financial mess the country is in today without being financially technical. Anyone who can balance a checkbook will understand this book. Easy to read, easy to understand. But explosive!
If 'we the people' continue to go from one day to the next only worrying about our own lives and not the bigger picture, the powers that be - the top 5% of income earners, will continue to erode our economy. What good does the medium to large b...more
If 'we the people' continue to go from one day to the next only worrying about our own lives and not the bigger picture, the powers that be - the top 5% of income earners, will continue to erode our economy. What good does the medium to large b...more
Beyond outrage is a quick and informative read. My other half is very fiscally conservative and a business owner with a degree in Economics. Although I took macroeconomics and accounting as a undergrad and have had nearly 20 years of practical experience as his business partner, I have found myself looking at the Husband and saying "that isn't right economically and logically speaking is it?" whenever we watch cable news or Sunday talking heads. His answer is "NO isn't not correct" Beyond Outrag...more
Wonderful "single" e-book containing suggestions from Robert B. Reich about identifying the problems the United States is facing. HIs focus on the future of the United States in the economy, and the lives of the people living here. He provides a simple and clear explanation for the causes of our problems, what is happening now, and what needs to happen in the future. Reich also reminds people that it can take years to accomplish changes. The enhanced edition contains videos which provide further...more
This is mostly a rant, so I started skimming. I respect Reich and his point of view. He has been behind the scenes of the administration. However, he makes us little folk hate the rich people and think all rich people are selfish about their money.
He really meant extremist in his diatribe. He is angry they are trying to convince our country to return to the early 1900 and a society built on social Darwinism: survival of the fittest in respect to money, intellect, and political power.
The most us...more
He really meant extremist in his diatribe. He is angry they are trying to convince our country to return to the early 1900 and a society built on social Darwinism: survival of the fittest in respect to money, intellect, and political power.
The most us...more
for a quick read this offers a good insight on our current status for the recession, what went wrong, and how to fix it. while I consider my political views predominantly democratic, his views steer over to the extremist side of democracy; talking about 70% tax on the rich, complete overhaul of the conservative side of the government by grassroots organizations, and nonstop protesting. while I still say he has a message worth hearing, his political views are just as extreme as those staunch repu...more
Beyond Outrage is a book which deals with the growing gap between rich and poor. Reich explains the frustration which has led to the Occupy movement. Quoting Reich, "Yet when real people without money assemble to express their dissatisfaction with all this, they're told the First Amendment doesn't apply. Instead, they're clubbed, pepper sprayed, thrown out of public parks, and evicted from public spaces. Across America, public officials have said Occupiers have to go."
This is a timely book as we...more
This is a timely book as we...more
Reich does an excellent job of outlining the ways in which America has taken a series of wrong turns in the last ten years. One of the most interesting parts was his comparison of how the Chinese think and plan, versus the Americans. It's pretty clear that we are headed for second world status unless we stop giving huge amounts of money to the very very rich and stop distracting ourselves with cultural issues, so we can fix the more pressing problems. He quotes Louis Brandeis, former Supreme Co...more
A VIB -- Very Important Book -- that advocates going beyond the self-defeated feeling that most of us have which tells us the world is so stacked against us that we can never win. We can. This book is the beginning of a manifesto on how to make it happen. Reading this book will raise your anger levels through the roof as Reich sets up the facts of what happened to this country and how a powerful few have come close to ruining everything for the rest of us, but get beyond that outrage and encoura...more
2 likes · like · see review
This book, by former Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich, explains in understandable terms what is wrong with the US economy and the entire political system as it is today. It also gives historic examples and what we should do to correct it.
I found one passage from the book that summarizes the problem very well: "We're not in trouble because gays want to marry or because women want to have some control over when they have babies. We're in trouble because CEOs are collecting exorbitant pay while...more
I found one passage from the book that summarizes the problem very well: "We're not in trouble because gays want to marry or because women want to have some control over when they have babies. We're in trouble because CEOs are collecting exorbitant pay while...more
It was thoughtfully written. Although he is obviously left of center politically, his critique of what is wrong didn't spare either side. While many readers may not agree with some or all of his suggestions on what can be done to address the issues he covers, I think that everyone can learn something useful by reading this relatively short piece from a man who knows Washington from the inside. I found his point about the few consolidating not merely money but money for the power and influence it...more
I liked what Robert Reich has to say about the lopsided influence that very wealthy people enjoy and I liked his idea about a corporate pledge of allegiance. I think capitalism is the best system to motivate people, but there must be a hierarchy of allegiance where corporations put their countries above sheer profits. As it stands now, corporations only care about themselves and do not really care about any country they do business in. Americans feel it, but politicians would be called every pej...more
Dec 03, 2012
Marc Stanley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
policy-economics,
political-theory
i was lucky enough to have received this book throught the Giveaway process. My second such "award". I have read several of Mr. Reich's works over the past decade. His writing is passionate, insightful and and geared for those whose politics lean left. I would include myself in that demographic. Mr. Reich has powerful feelings for what is needed to move our country back towards a sustainable economy and tax base. I'm sorry to say this, but there is a class struggle in our nation, and it is creat...more
This book is accessible and well written, but it is extremely liberal and fairly limited in its views. I think it would be a lot better if it went into greater detail in explaining the right wing alternatives to the author's views. Without explaining the other views, it becomes very one-sided. Of course, he does present other arguments, but I think he does it weakly because he makes little effort to present them in an unbiased way and it seemed like he only brought up the most extreme right wing...more
Reich has written a good overview of the economic and political problems we face today in America and how we got here. His liberal perspective is persuasive in its logic. He also has many suggestions about how to fix what's broken in politics and the economy. The book is touting the progressive view of Obama vs what he terms the regressive view of the right wing of the Republican Party. The basic problem as he sees it is the disparity in income between the middle class and the rich. The first ti...more
This is a polemic. So, if you're a conservative, you're probably not going to like this book. Reich believes, essentially, that you are destroying whatever is good about the United States and he's pretty clear on how you're doing it and how you have to be stopped.
Reich provides some evidence behind his claims, but, it's pretty inconsistent. So, the discussion about the increasing poverty of people in the US since Reagan, is compelling. But, there are other assertions that are really just asserti...more
Reich provides some evidence behind his claims, but, it's pretty inconsistent. So, the discussion about the increasing poverty of people in the US since Reagan, is compelling. But, there are other assertions that are really just asserti...more
Very clear, succinct, and accessible explanation of what's wrong with our current economic situation. I liked his focus on what to do about it, instead of just outlining the problem. I only wished that he had also included some analysis of the economic effect of peak oil and global warming here - obviously, with limited natural resources, a focus on improving the economy through consumption is not the solution. But getting money out of politics and mediating the political power of corporations w...more
The title of this book is well chosen. Outrage - both authentic outrage and faux-outrage manufactured by paid marketing strategists in partisan think tanks - is something we're all too familiar with these days.
It's time to move beyond that, because real change is going to require more than pressing a button in the voting booth in November.
It is going to require active, adult citizens demanding a basic social contract that says that anyone who works hard ought to be able to create a better life...more
It's time to move beyond that, because real change is going to require more than pressing a button in the voting booth in November.
It is going to require active, adult citizens demanding a basic social contract that says that anyone who works hard ought to be able to create a better life...more
Everything I have long thought about society generally is in this book. I couldn't believe it - Robert reich is so right. Okay, so the book is written around the US, but it is little different in the UK. A very small elite is getting richer, whilst the masses are getting poorer. The solutions to the economy are tired and will not work because they are simply wrong.
If I could give this book ten stars I would. Wake up world and act aginst what is being done to you by what seems almost to be accept...more
If I could give this book ten stars I would. Wake up world and act aginst what is being done to you by what seems almost to be accept...more
I found this book in the contest section of goodreads.com
This is a book written by a liberal, giving a liberal perspective of what has gone wrong with our economy and our democracy. I chose this book because I consider myself an extremely Progressive person. Where do I get my ideas; well, I listen to the news (on several different stations), I listen to talk shows (again, several different types), I read newspaper and magazines (again, several not one specifically) and I listen to people comp...more
This is a book written by a liberal, giving a liberal perspective of what has gone wrong with our economy and our democracy. I chose this book because I consider myself an extremely Progressive person. Where do I get my ideas; well, I listen to the news (on several different stations), I listen to talk shows (again, several different types), I read newspaper and magazines (again, several not one specifically) and I listen to people comp...more
By all means you should buy your own copy of Robert B. Reich’s Beyond Outrage! What is really quite complex, he makes simple to understand. His facility with language puts him on TV often these days as a guest commentator, he has many books in print, and he's a Professor at UC Berkeley.
You will want to highlight many passages in the book that get to the truth about the regressive economic policies and practices of our government, the implications of which you may have either forgotten, or never...more
You will want to highlight many passages in the book that get to the truth about the regressive economic policies and practices of our government, the implications of which you may have either forgotten, or never...more
Am not quite finished with this book, but am very impressed with it. I don't normally write emails to scads of friend extolling the virtues of a book, but a week ago I did with this one.
Reich has managed something quite tricky here: to compile in a succinct and frankly worded way a thorough but relatively short compilation of distressing and depressing facts about our economy and our political system, but to not utterly disarm and discourage the reader. Indeed, Reich's stated objective in pennin...more
Reich has managed something quite tricky here: to compile in a succinct and frankly worded way a thorough but relatively short compilation of distressing and depressing facts about our economy and our political system, but to not utterly disarm and discourage the reader. Indeed, Reich's stated objective in pennin...more
If you follow Reich's blog, what he says here is pretty familiar. I liked it, because it was all in one place and presented as an overall policy position. I've read The Work of Nations as well, and I really liked that. This was a Kindle edition and included some online resources. The only part that seemed weak to me was a sort of cheerleading prescription about what to do to oppose the reactionary forces in politics and finance that are taking the country back into some sort of Gilded Age of no...more
3 likes · like · see review
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Robert Bernard Reich is an American politician, academic, and political commentator. He served as Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997. Reich is a former Harvard University professor and the former Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He is currently a professor at the Un...more
More about Robert B. Reich...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Apr 22, 2012 08:08pm