Davos Man

How the Billionaires Devoured the World

By: Peter S. Goodman

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell

A San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller • An NPR Best Book of the Year

The New York Times’s Global Economics Correspondent masterfully reveals how billionaires’ systematic plunder of the world—brazenly accelerated during the pandemic—has transformed 21st-century life and dangerously destabilized democracy.

“Davos Man will be read a hundred years from now as a warning.” —Evan Osnos

“Excellent. A powerful, fiery book, and it could well be an essential one.” —NPR.org

The history of the last half century in America, Europe, and other major economies is in large part the story of wealth flowing upward. The most affluent people emerged from capitalism’s triumph in the Cold War to loot the peace, depriving governments of the resources needed to serve their people, and leaving them tragically unprepared for the worst pandemic in a century.

Drawing on decades of experience covering the global economy, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman profiles five representative “Davos Men”—members of the billionaire class—chronicling how their shocking exploitation of the global pandemic has hastened a fifty-year trend of wealth centralization. Alongside this reporting, Goodman delivers textured portraits of those caught in Davos Man’s wake, including a former steelworker in the American Midwest, a Bangladeshi migrant in Qatar, a Seattle doctor on the front lines of the fight against COVID, blue-collar workers in the tenements of Buenos Aires, an African immigrant in Sweden, a textile manufacturer in Italy, an Amazon warehouse employee in New York City, and more.

Goodman’s revelatory exposé of the global billionaire class reveals their hidden impact on nearly every aspect of modern society: widening wealth inequality, the rise of anti-democratic nationalism, the shrinking opportunity to earn a livable wage, the vulnerabilities of our health-care systems, access to affordable housing, unequal taxation, and even the quality of the shirt on your back. Meticulously reported yet compulsively readable, Davos Man is an essential read for anyone concerned about economic justice, the capacity of societies to grapple with their greatest challenges, and the sanctity of representative government.

©2022 Peter S. Goodman (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Astounding and succint

Some stuff you think you know but to hear it. It is enlightening and simultaneously disheartening. Author did very well ensuring that this is easily digestible. I can't wait to run it back.

Maga had the right idea 💡 wrong leader wrong enemy

Fantastic read the best of 2022 so far & if this were required reading by ALL civil servants Davos Men & every reading -abled American we would demand an economic paradigm shift lest the top 1% move into their underground condos & flee for their homes outside the US in an attempt to stave off what they deem an unfair charge to “eat the rich” which is the cosmic lie /1% has double the wealth of 95% combined this is the insanity that Trump supporters defend against their own interests together the masses hold the power to revolt change

An eye opener

Every one interested in reducing inequality and preserving our democracy in America should read this.

Half the story

The author does a good job at identifying the and explaining the manipulation of the global billionaires. He uses fair statistics to emphasize these points.

However, he completely minimizes the problems of mass immigration and uses anecdotal stories to explain away the native westerners concerns.

Amazing and Insightful Book

This book was incredibly informative and challenges you to think about the world happenings in a new light by backing up that perspective with facts.

Who's The Real Enemy Of Working Class Americans?

It's not Clinton, or Trump or (you name them)....it's both. Until the majority of working class Americans understand this and stop fighting each other, and unite against our real enemies, our life qualities will continue to be reduced and eventually removed for good. Do You Understand?

Great until Part 3, when author advocates for trillions in new spending

I really enjoyed the first two parts of this book. The skewering of Jamie Dimon and Marc Beniof et all is so highly enjoyable. But then in Part 3, the author argues for TRILLIONS in new spending to provide “universal minimum income” with absolutely no mechanism to pay for it (etc). A let-down.

Focused read. Don't listen to crying Trump people.

Well-written and researched. Many examples of the unwavering appetite of the ultra-wealthy to do anything to avoid paying taxes while maximizing government handouts (all while using the same placating rhetoric).

Goodman shines a light on the blatant hypocrisy of Davos Man and the WEF...who all constantly talk of altruism while destroying entire job markets in pursuit of even more money. Modern Robber Barons all dressed up in socially and environmentally conscience garb.

Like the title says pay no attention to the Trump cry babies....he was the President during the period being written about, seems natural that there's a fair amount of criticism. There's also criticism of the Dems, as well (tho nobody seems to cry about that!)

Excellent examples w clear conclusion

I’d like to copy and share a couple of Goodman’s succinct Conclusion paragraphs w many people.

It would also be good to hear/read a sequel that links in the Bildeberg(sp) group. Many same powerful players, w globalist ideology, meeting in secret since WW2, billionaires looking at the world like a big Monopoly playing board, without borders, creating means to guide/control political leadership and thought influencers, in ways that concentrate wealth and power on an unprecedented scale.

All the while, wrapping their rhetoric in social virtue signaling and don’t-rock-the-boat warnings to anyone questioning the outcomes and wealth of global oligarchs.

Very eye-opening read w plenty of specifics, historical context and color content. Well done!

The Answer To WTF Has Happened to Society?

Do you look around and wonder why does every city seem to be falling apart? Do you you look at your pay check and wonder why it's so hard to get ahead? Do you see the incredible and growing wealth gap and wonder how? This book has the answers for you.