Abundance

By: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson

Narrated by: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A terrific book...Powerful and persuasive.” —Fareed Zakaria

“Spectacular…Offers a comprehensive indictment of the current problems and a clear path forward…Klein and Thompson usher in a mood shift. They inspire hope and enlarge the imagination.” —David Brooks, The New York Times

From bestselling authors and journalistic titans Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Abundance is a once-in-a-generation, paradigm-shifting call to renew a politics of plenty, face up to the failures of liberal governance, and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life.

To trace the history of the twenty-first century so far is to trace a history of unaffordability and shortage. After years of refusing to build sufficient housing, America has a national housing crisis. After years of limiting immigration, we don’t have enough workers. Despite decades of being warned about the consequences of climate change, we haven’t built anything close to the clean-energy infrastructure we need. Ambitious public projects are finished late and over budget—if they are ever finished at all. The crisis that’s clicking into focus now has been building for decades—because we haven’t been building enough.

Abundance explains that our problems today are not the results of yesteryear’s villains. Rather, one generation’s solutions have become the next gener­ation’s problems. Rules and regulations designed to solve the problems of the 1970s often prevent urban-density and green-energy projects that would help solve the problems of the 2020s. Laws meant to ensure that government considers the consequences of its actions have made it too difficult for government to act consequentially. In the last few decades, our capacity to see problems has sharpened while our ability to solve them has diminished.

Progress requires facing up to the institutions in life that are not working as they need to. It means, for liberals, recognizing when the government is failing. It means, for conservatives, recognizing when the government is needed. In a book exploring how we can move from a liberalism that not only protects and pre­serves but also builds, Klein and Thompson trace the political, economic, and cultural barriers to progress and propose a path toward a politics of abundance. At a time when movements of scarcity are gaining power in country after country, this is an answer that meets the challenges of the moment while grappling honestly with the fury so many rightfully feel.

©2024 Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

A must read for those who want America to Build

If you're disenchanted by the extremes on the right and left, this book will give you some hope about the future of the US. It is centrist, well researched, interesting, and thoughtful. The conclusions plot a path to an optimistic future.

Simultaneously enraging and inspiring

Appreciate the deep dive in to why things aren't working and what we can *hopefully* do to improve our chances for a prosperous and healthy future.

truth

hard to flow sometimes could be dense if you're not an economist
still mostly accessible a ND I hope people across spectrum read it yes yes yw a yes yes yes yes yes no no

Ideas that were well thought out and original.

I like living on the land. I am 😟 concerned regarding how do we balance economy of scale in food production, like cell grown meat, with individual food sovereignty and the right to individual liberty and ability to grow your food on your own land.

A balanced view

I appreciate the authors being able to remain neutral, and not just blame one side for all our problems. Instead of this just being a book to tar and feather republicans, it’s a book with nuance and tact.

Bold new ideas for a better future

Too much of our recent politics has focused on the negative - from both the right and the left there is a deep pessimism. In such an era, Abundance is a breath of fresh air. Klein and Thompson lay out a compelling case for how many of our biggest societal challenges, from housing to energy, are a result of many specific political choices that (intentionally or not) constituted a pursuit of scarcity. Just as these choices were made, often out of the sight of public, they sketch outlines of how different choices could create a better world. Those who long for a political vision that is more positive, productive, and successful would do well to start with this book.

Brilliant examination of what is holding the country back and how we might move forward.

A fantastic illuminating listen to what keeps us from growing as a country. It will (hopefully) change your view of why we struggle to build a bigger better future for America.

delivers on its premise. Hopeful it will meet the authors intent

Great overall look at the pitfalls of the political left's transition away from new deal politics. I like the specifics where the use them and the generalities elsewhere.

Good, but I was hoping for a bit more.

I have been following Ezra Klein for a long time and I was looking forward to this book. I liked the deep dive into the history and practice of bureaucratic morass. I like how the authors found areas of success 2.2 as potential models for the future and I can definitely see how all of these subjects can face the same types of obstacles to actually getting stuff done, but at times the book felt disorganized. Still, I am hoping that this attitude can inspire those of us on the progressive side to make some changes that actually accomplish the goals that we wish to see embodied.

Timely assessment of modern America

Critical of both sides of American politics, this book calls for us to build, invent, and develop more rather than just say we will. It outlines the mechanisms both parties have used to hamstring construction and innovation through politically motivated legislative barriers. It’s a great assessment of where we’re at and uses solid historical examples of how it can change. Great read!