Come Home, America: The Rise and Fall (and Redeeming Promise) of Our Country

by William Greider

Perhaps no one is better equipped to analyze the current state of our democracy than legendary reporter William Greider. He has covered politics from the nation's capital for four decades—for the Washington Post , Rolling Stone , and most recently The Nation —and has earned a reputation as one of our most incisive, uncompromising truth-tellers and social critics.
In his bestseller Who Will Tell the People , Greider opened the American public's eyes to the hidden relationships that link politicians with corporations and the wealthy, often subverting the needs of ordinary citizens. Now, in Come Home, America , his first book on our democracy in years, Greider examines the impact of current American policy, revealing how our obsession with remaining "Number One" in the world has caused us to stray from the democratic values and ideals upon which our country was founded.
By examining the economic and political forces that have brought us to where we are today—financial crisis, deepening indebtedness to other nations, the loss of productive assets and jobs, the militarization of U.S. foreign policy, and more—Greider offers, in a powerful and conversational tone, clarity on the consequences and long-term implications of our national predicament. He then offers optimism that our young country can put aside its adolescent impulses and grow up so that we can "come home" to what is really important—a return to our nation's core values and the freedom to create a better, more fulfilling society.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2009

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2009 and it's so sad to read it and know that all of the hope and optimism that the author poured into it has not been realized. The author expounds on many of the villains and the stupid and greedy acts and policies that have combined to attack the poor and middle class, and it's very hard to disagree with him, although I have a couple of candidates that weren't mentioned. He points out that there is very little difference between the two parties, and proposes as a solution that Americans band together and work towards a true realization of the democracy that was promised us. This has actually come to pass, and the appalling 2016 election has finally galvanized Americans as nothing else has. Much of the blame for what has happened to the poor and middle class goes to Obama and other corporate Democrats for throwing away the enthusiastic activism of the people who elected him in the pathetic hopes that obstructionist reactionaries would work with him to make things a little less horrible for the American people and the world. Most blame, of course, goes to those traitorous reactionaries who are now running our country. But Americans have banded together and are trying to overthrow the corporate politicians who are bent on destroying the middle class and poor in service of endless greed and the worship of materialism. Unfortunately, fascists, neo-Nazis and other violent hate groups have also banded together. I can only hope that the media, who were entranced by the ratings Trump brought them, give them outsized coverage and that they really aren't as numerous as they seem to be. Maybe there is hope for the future, but Americans are going to have to bestir themselves to get educated and take their civic responsibilities seriously, and actively participate and work towards taking back our lives and our futures. Even though the media and establishment politicians conspired against him, Bernie almost won the primary and was headed for the White House. The media and corporate politicians haven't learned anything, but maybe some Americans have. My son said it is going to have to get much worse before Americans work to make things better, and maybe it's finally happening.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

William Greider was one of my favorite Rolling Stone political writers so I was pretty excited to get this from the library.

Unfortunately the book really isn't much different (on the right or left) than many of the books out there that seek to inspire American voters to mobilize and and renew their values. I think Greider has some great insight due to his experience as a long-time, old school reporter. But I caught myself several times only able to read 10-15 pages in a sitting because it simply got too boring. The middle of the book where he began railing against the financial sector's collapse almost made me give up on reading the book all together.

I loved William Greider growing up. He was the trifecta to me along with Hunter S. Thompson and P.J. O'Rourke. Maybe he does better writing in short pieces rather than books. His writing just was not as compelling and interesting in this long format. Since some of his anecdotes were definitely inspirational I give it 2 stars but can't justify much more.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Greider does a magnificent job turning his 40 years as a globe-trotting business journalist into a deeply insightful discussion of the challenges facing the United States as an economy and a democracy. (His 1997 book on globalization, "One World, Ready or Not" is a classic, and maybe the best book on globalization ever written.) I deeply appreciated his very accessible discussion of the role that Federal Reserve policies, America's military buildup, the U.S. trade deficit, anti-socialist biases and corporations' sole focus on profits have all had on the decline of America's economy since the 1970's. I like that he proposes solutions that would deepen the role of each citizen in our democracy, too.

[J Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent and worthwhile book, though not unlike many other I’ve read. The downside to this one was the fact that I read it years after it came out, and books based on current politics always suffer when you read them a few years after the fact. The author offers up novel solutions to our current issues, though many people like myself simply conclude we’re too far gone for redemption at this point. Additionally, the type of people who can read a book like this are fewer in number, which limits the potential that can be spread to the masses.

[Mary Ficalora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greider's work on the Federal Reserve was very important in my research for my own book. Now he has a book that puts our last hope of being all we say we want to be in the United States into the people's hands! Can't agree more. Only we, the people, who "know" will be able to set this Nation back on course.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Bill Greider's Secrets of the Temple for a class many years ago. Another outstanding effort.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Democrat,Republican,Independent,conservative or liberal,Come Home is a provocative,eye-opening must read.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, but after reading it I am left with the rather large question of "So what do we do now?"

[Bradleyreginald]

Please read this! It's very NOW in more than just politics.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not quite as optimistic as Mr. Greider but I am like-minded. I especially like the "clubs for America" idea.

[Bill Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart breaking but necessary