Abundance

De: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson

Narrado por: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson

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

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.

Well researched with factual data

An absolute must listen. Well illustrated with historical facts in a story telling format.
Bravo.
The Trump/MAGA Cult politics is definitely not pro-abundance, it’s 180 degrees opposite.

Incredible

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson hit it out of the park on this one. They explain the paradox of our modern stagnation while giving hope for what changes can propel us into the future.

Should be required reading for all Americans

Finally, someone with a clear vision, an incisive critique of both the left and the right, and the data to back it up. It’s not often that a book on politics leaves me feeling hopeful, but this one does.

A hopeful synthesis of ideas pointing to a new way forward

“Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson is a hopeful vision of the future, offering a notable departure from scarcity politics. It tracks the development of supply-side challenges like NIMBYism, sclerosis in innovation, and legal obstacles and their role in our current political situations. While some themes might be familiar to regular listeners of Klein’s podcast (which I follow, but I haven’t listened to Thompson’s), they’re neatly synthesized into a concise, accessible read, with Thompson adding fresh insights. Chapters are short, but linked thematically. The book’s optimistic take, along with its clear terminology, offers a compelling vision forward that is a refreshing departure from the status quo. Highly recommended for those interested in pragmatic paths forward and finding a vision for something better.

In terms of audio production quality, both authors self-narrate, and they do a nice job given their previous history with the audio format.

Abundance is a great goal for Democrats and Republicans

I loved the argument this book makes for a new politics of abundance. Klein and Thompson lay out a vision for a better future. Their analysis of where American liberalism went wrong and how it can improve is very timely.

This is what we need to be talking about.

Let’s talk about this and not all the other BS we’re inundated with. We need to shift the conversation

The perspective we need to move forward.

I wish this was required reading prior to the next election, not just for voters but for politicians. Get as many people as you can to read and share this title. If you’re stressed about the future of this country, this is a fantastic outline of how we can adjust our expectations, policies and future plans going forward.

Asking the right questions!

I think this is a timely book, and enjoyed the premise, the stories, and above all the questions it poses. For example: What is scarce that should be abundant? VERY good question!

Truly Make America Great Again

this a a lens you can use to examine the changes we need to make to improve our country for our people and for our world