Christopher Hayes
4.0 out of 5 stars Strongest on Collapse Part, Very Weak on What Next…,July 1, 2012
This is one of two books I read on the plane back to DC from Seattle, the other was Van Jones' Rebuild the Dream
This is a light book with a poor bibliography, more of an essay turned into a book than a book proper. The author focuses on the “near total collapse of every pillar institution of our society.” Yes, this is not news. Many of us have been saying this for some time, my own 2008 version is easily found by looking for < Paradigms of Failure >, free online.
The author loses one star for being so oblivious to the reality of 9/11 such as any informed citizen can determine (see the 30+ Amazon reviews easily found as a group at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog).
He touches on three themes generally, in a useful juxtaposition:
1) The ignorance of the elites
2) The end of upward mobility in the US economy
3) The evaporation of trust, the collapse of trust
While I find his essay interesting, I am continuously disappointed by the narrowness of his reading. Matt Taibbi's brilliant Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History, a work I consider seminal and of lasting value to future generations, is not noticed by this author.
Continue reading “Review: Twilight of the Elites – America After Meritocracy”
