The People, No

A Brief History of Anti-Populism

By: Thomas Frank

Narrated by: Thomas Frank

From the prophetic author of the now-classic What’s the Matter with Kansas? and Listen, Liberal, an eye-opening account of populism, the most important - and misunderstood - movement of our time.

Rarely does a work of history contain startling implications for the present, but in The People, No, Thomas Frank pulls off that explosive effect by showing us that everything we think we know about populism is wrong. Today "populism" is seen as a frightening thing, a term pundits use to describe the racist philosophy of Donald Trump and European extremists. But this is a mistake.

The real story of populism is an account of enlightenment and liberation; it is the story of American democracy itself, of its ever-widening promise of a decent life for all. Taking us from the tumultuous 1890s, when the radical left-wing Populist Party - the biggest mass movement in American history - fought Gilded Age plutocrats to the reformers’ great triumphs under Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, Frank reminds us how much we owe to the populist ethos. Frank also shows that elitist groups have reliably detested populism, lashing out at working-class concerns. The anti-populist vituperations by the Washington centrists of today are only the latest expression.

Frank pummels the elites, revisits the movement’s provocative politics, and declares true populism to be the language of promise and optimism. The People, No is a ringing affirmation of a movement that, Frank shows us, is not the problem of our times, but the solution for what ails us.

A Macmillan Audio production from Metropolitan Books

©2020 Thomas Frank (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Holes in my education!

Frank helps me understand why nothing I was faithfully doing for the betterment of my countrymen was landing or even feeling fully authentic, let alone defeating of , “divide and conquer.” I needed the history at the start of the book, because I never got it I in High School or college. In fact, I was operating on fallacies promoted by after-the-fact historians motivated by biases and bigotry wanting revisionism. Once armed with well-researched and very entertaining history, modern circumstances and conditions make sense. I have a new optimism I didn’t think possible! The Audio version is great. Frank reads his work in a manner funny and entertaining. Read/listen to “The People, No!” ASAP.

A must read but only a good listen

I absolutely love this book. Eye opening in many ways cliff notes in others and essential reading for anyone who cares about this country. that being said mr. Frank is not the best narrator. he has a tendency to add emphasis in areas that make it sound strange. his inflection is often distracting and sometimes misleading. what I mean by that is sometimes he seems to disparage someone unintentionally by the inflection of his voice. I would have preferred a professional narrator tackle this project but Mr Frank is a brilliant author and deserves the right to narrate his own title obviously. Regardless, buy this, steal it, pirate it. But Read It.

History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Rhymes

Thoroughly researched and written analysis of pluralism's original party roots and the many times the party system duopoly has effectively painted pluralists as unintelligent know nothings deserving others' dictates. Unsurprisingly, the mislabeling of pluralism as racist rather than classist has occurred since the term's first use and has continued for over a century into the 2016 US election and likely beyond.

I don’t give many five stars

Keeping people divided who might unite and oppose them may be exactly what the lobbying class wants or perhaps more accurately what those who hire them want. Identity politics is not consensus building. Frank’s book points this out and supports it with evidence. He does an excellent job of filling in parts of history that I certainly never got much exposure to or at least that I never appreciated at the time. For example, William Jennings Bryan’s rhetoric about a cross of gold never made much sense to me before; although,the farmers of the day knew exactly what he meant. Once you understand what was really going on, it’s not nearly as bombastic as it might seem. Turns out that the gold standard maintained something pretty close to involuntary servitude. If I had to state a criticism, it would be that Frank scolds people for scolding people (so I guess that makes me a scold too).

An important message, crisp delivery, amusing

The history of populism provides great insight on the failures of modern American leadership.

The first book I ever recommend.

If everyone listened to this book the world be a better place. I’m a farmer. I studied aeronautical engineering in college. I am married and a father of 2 boys. If I had a coffee table I’d always make sure this book was sitting on top of the pile.

Must recommend

My self, family, friends, & highest dreams were populist. Didn't know. Now we do. Thanks

Amazing

This book is one of the most important summation of American political history, and written in a narrative way that holds your attention. Listening to the author read his own work was a bonus.

Reclaiming populism from elites back to the people

Frank dives into the 100+ year history of populism and anti populism. He exposes the hollow lies and contradictions of rightwing populism as defined by liberals who share common cause with the right to eradicate democratic reform from the bottom up. Frank too makes the enduring case for a populism by the people and for the people. An informative and insightful book. Highly recommend to all.

sheds light on what happened to The Democrats

I've wondered how the Democrats turned away from being a party for people. I've also wondered why people hate educated elites so much. this was quite informative. and he wasn't annoying to listen to at all