Why Nothing Works

Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back

By: Marc J. Dunkelman

Narrated by: David de Vries

A provocative exploration about the architecture of power, the forces that stifle us from getting things done, and how we can restore confidence in democratically elected government.

America was once a country that did big things—we built the world’s greatest rail network, a vast electrical grid, interstate highways, abundant housing, the Social Security system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and more. But today, even while facing a host of pressing challenges—a housing shortage, a climate crisis, a dilapidated infrastructure—we feel stuck, unable to move the needle. Why?

America is today the victim of a vetocracy that allows nearly anyone to stifle progress. While conservatives deserve some blame, progressives have overlooked an unlikely culprit: their own fears of “The Establishment.” A half-century ago, progressivism’s designs on getting stuff done were eclipsed by a desire to box in government. Reformers put speaking truth to power ahead of exercising that power for good. The ensuing gridlock has pummeled faith in public institutions of all sorts, stifled the movement’s ability to deliver on its promises, and, most perversely, opened the door for MAGA-style populism.

A century ago, Americans were similarly frustrated—and progressivism pointed the way out. The same can happen again. Marc J. Dunkelman vividly illustrates what progressives must do if they are going to break through today’s paralysis and restore, once again, confidence in democratically elected government. To get there, reformers will need to acknowledge where they’ve gone wrong. Progressivism’s success moving forward hinges on the movement’s willingness to rediscover its roots.

©2025 Marc J. Dunkelman (P)2025 PublicAffairs

Critic reviews

“Why America can’t build is the central economic and political question of our time. In Why Nothing Works Marc Dunkelman asks progressives to reflect on how their own ideas have stymied the nation’s ability to address the housing and climate crises and slashed national ambition in public works projects. A fantastic thinker, Dunkelman has written an essential book for anyone seeking to understand how Americans have lost faith in democratic institutions that over-promise and under-deliver.”—Jerusalem Demsas, The Atlantic

“America is living the truth of the old saying: Any old jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one. Today, it feels like anyone can stop progress, but nobody’s capable of starting it. I got into politics because when I was a kid, government delivered big things for my little corner of Louisiana—roads, and canals, and electricity. If you want to know why that happened back then, why it’s not happening now, and how we can start doing and building big things again, then this is the book for you.”—James Carville

“Anyone who has been frustrated with the inefficiency of government must read this book. Dunkelman takes us on a sweeping investigation of how, over the course of the twentieth century, the public sector has been increasingly paralyzed from exercising authority, demonstrating convincingly that the Progressive Left has been as much at fault in undermining popular trust as the Conservative Right. This beautifully written book cuts to the central dilemma of our day: how to empower a strong central government that works while still respecting the will of the people and inviting democratic participation. Dunkelman has confidence that we can do better—and he shows us how.”—Lizabeth Cohen, Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies, Harvard University, and author of Saving America’s Cities

“Friends of democracy typically hold two honorable impulses in tension: Power should be widely dispersed, and citizens should control the decisions affecting their lives; and democratic government should be able to accomplish big things and undertake big projects. Dunkelman’s provocative, well-argued thesis is that errors made in the name of the first objective have prevented democracy from achieving the second. Why Nothing Works is a spirited and thoughtful intervention in the debate progressives need to have.”—E.J. Dionne Jr., author of Why Americans Hate Politics

Sort of boring

While the intro was fun, they bulk of the book ended up reading as a somewhat tedious history. There was an interesting story in the end about Massachusetts-Quebec power pipeline. The book would have benefited from more of these

Bad sound quality!

I downloaded three times thinking it was my fault. Recording has por sound quality and needs to be remastered.

Only through the beginning, so still on the fence about the argument. Why was Biden so unpopular if he was doing the right thing?